Best dark & gritty Malayalam movies on ZEE5 in India

By the KyaDekhu team · Updated 23 October 2026 · Availability for India from JustWatch, ratings from IMDb

28 movies on ZEE5 in India match this list, with an average IMDb rating of 6.0. Ranked by vote-weighted IMDb rating and popularity.

1. Virus (2019)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 32m · U · Drama, Thriller · IMDb 7.7 (6.0K votes)

Edge-of-seatFamily-friendlySeriousDark & gritty

A real life account of the deadly Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, and the courageous fight put on by several individuals which helped to contain the epidemic.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
2. Big B (2007)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 10m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.7 (4.5K votes)

Dark & grittyFast-pacedEdge-of-seat

Four brothers try to find the mystery behind the murder of woman who raised them.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
3. Identity (2025)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 36m · UA · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.0 (11.5K votes)

TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seatFast-paced

A sketch artist and a cop work together to unravel the identity of an elusive killer using the descriptions of his face, etched into the memory of an eye-witness to the brutal crime

ZEE5
4. Moothon (2019)

Movie · Malayalam · 1h 50m · UA · Crime, Drama · IMDb 7.3 (2.5K votes)

Dark & gritty

A child from Lakshadweep sets off to Mumbai in pursuit of Akbar, an elder brother who left the island and never returned.

ZEE5
5. Urumi (2011)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 40m · U · War, Action · IMDb 7.1 (2.5K votes)

Visually stunningTwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty

A young man who discovers his ancestral connection to a 16th century warrior who sought revenge against Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Blending history and legend, the story traces a rebellion fueled by betrayal, courage, and the fight against colonial conquest.

ZEE5 · free with ads
6. The Great Father (2017)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 27m · UA · Action, Crime · IMDb 6.8 (8.3K votes)

Dark & grittyMatureFast-pacedEdge-of-seat

A businessman who is trying hard to be a good father to his daughter has a run-in with malevolent policeman.

ZEE5
7. Forensic (2020)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 14m · U · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 6.8 (7.2K votes)

Dark & grittyCold & detachedTwistyEdge-of-seat

A forensic analyst and an investigation officer are on a chase to hunt down a gruesome serial killer and crack one of the most famous cold cases in the history of their departments.

Netflix ZEE5
8. Kala (2021)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 7m · A · Action, Thriller · IMDb 6.7 (4.3K votes)

Edge-of-seatCold & detachedMatureDark & gritty

The life of Shaji, a laid-back youngster, turns upside down when someone from his past pays him a visit.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
9. Paappan (2022)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 42m · UA · Drama, Action · IMDb 6.7 (2.8K votes)

TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seatFast-paced

Abraham Mathew Mathan aka Paappan, a voluntarily retired S.P. from the Crime Branch who is unwillingly reinstated to the force for investigating a long-standing murder case.

ZEE5 · free with ads
10. Prathi Poovankozhi (2019)

Movie · Malayalam · 1h 42m · U · Drama · IMDb 6.8 (1.6K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seat

Madhuri is assaulted on a bus one day and won't rest till she hits back at the man

ZEE5
11. Dominic and the Ladies' Purse (2025)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 31m · UA · Thriller, Mystery · IMDb 6.6 (5.4K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & grittyCold & detached

Dominic, a disgraced ex-cop turned detective, takes on a seemingly simple case to locate a purse's owner, which unveils a dark web of missing persons, murder, a stalker and the mysterious dancer Nandhita.

ZEE5
12. August 1 (1988)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 24m · A · Crime · IMDb 7.4 (521 votes)

Cold & detachedEdge-of-seatDark & grittyMature

After a keenly fought election, MKR becomes the new chief minister. When the opponents hire a psychotic killer to assassinate him, Perumal, a crime branch officer, is assigned to stop him.

ZEE5
13. Isha (2020)

Movie · Malayalam · 1h 58m · Horror · IMDb 7.1 (516 votes)

Dark & grittyCold & detachedEdge-of-seatStraightforward

Revolving around a young girl who gets possessed, Isha is a horror film that will leave you with goosebumps.

ZEE5 · free with ads
14. Puthiya Niyamam (2016)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 13m · UA · Drama, Family · IMDb 6.5 (2.0K votes)

MatureDark & gritty

Louis Pothen is an all rounder. He is divorce lawyer, he participates in live TV channel debates on various topics, and he is a film critic, too. His wife Vasuki Iyer is a Kathakali artist, and together with his school-going daughter, they live in a city highrise. The story further focuses on an incident that sort of

ZEE5 · free with ads
15. Anwar (2010)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 10m · UA · Action, Thriller · IMDb 6.5 (1.1K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & grittyFast-paced

Anwar becomes entangled with a terrorist group after personal tragedy leads him down a dark path. As he infiltrates their network, his true motives and loyalties are revealed in a tense battle between faith, vengeance, and redemption.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
16. Ini Utharam (2022)

Movie · Malayalam · 1h 59m · UA · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 6.4 (1.3K votes)

TwistyDark & grittyCold & detachedEdge-of-seat

A woman goes to a police station claiming she had murdered one person. Though the police suspect foul play, the investigation starts.

ZEE5
17. Ranam (2018)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 22m · UA · Action · IMDb 6.4 (1.8K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detachedMature

The story of the Indian immigrant community in Detroit, where a garage mechanic gets unwillingly involved in the criminal world as a getaway driver.

JioHotstar ZEE5 · free with ads
18. Patriot (2026)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 57m · U/A 16+ · Action, Drama · IMDb 6.2 (2.8K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & grittyFast-paced

When a Malayali DRW analyst tries to expose a corrupt regional politician from Kerala and his malpractices regarding spyware, he goes on the run, becomes a vlogger, and must clear his name of the false allegations levelled against him.

ZEE5
19. Paathirathri (2025)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 4m · U/A 13+ · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 5.7 (1.1K votes)

TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detached

A strange incident during their routine night duty pulls SI Jancy and Hareesh into a dangerous investigation. As secrets unfold, they must face their fears and the choices that could define their futures.

ZEE5
20. Aadupuliyattam (2016)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 25m · UA · Comedy, Family · IMDb 4.2 (369 votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detached

A man and his family move into a house haunted by the spirit of an ancient queen.

ZEE5 · free with ads
21. Chathur Mukham (2021)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 18m · UA · Horror, Thriller · IMDb 5.7 (1.9K votes)

Dark & grittyCold & detachedEdge-of-seatSerious

An ambitious young woman faces a supernatural force through technology. Will she be able to survive the onslaught and solve this unheard phenomenon?

ZEE5 · free with ads
22. Lokpal (2013)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 15m · U · Crime, Drama · IMDb 3.2 (391 votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seat

Chef Nandagopal (Mohanlal), while publicly known as the chef of the popular Nandu's Food Court, is also 'Lokpal' (Peoples' Protector), who fights corruption. The film does a flashback to Nandagopal's backstory which involves "attempted murder, a juvenile home and unrequited love

ZEE5 · free with ads
23. JSK - Janaki V vs State of Kerala (2025)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 36m · U/A 16+ · Drama, Thriller · IMDb 5.7 (2.9K votes)

MatureTwistyCold & detachedDark & gritty

Janaki, an IT professional from Bangalore, returns to her hometown in Kerala for a quiet vacation. But her peace is shattered when she becomes the victim of a horrific incident. As she begins her fight for justice, the case takes an unexpected turn with the entry of Advocate David Abel Donovan.

ZEE5
24. Geethanjali (2013)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 30m · UA · Horror, Mystery · IMDb 4.0 (671 votes)

Dark & grittyTwistyCold & detachedEdge-of-seat

Anjali, whose sister Geeta has committed suicide, is haunted by her spirit upon her return to her mother's home. When psychologist Dr Sunny tries to help Anjali, he makes a shocking discovery.

JioHotstar Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
25. Aakashaganga 2 (2019)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 23m · UA · Horror · IMDb 2.1 (326 votes)

Dark & grittyTwistyEdge-of-seatCold & detached

Arathi, accepts a challenge to test the authenticity of an 'Ashram' that claims to help its followers talk to the dead. To her surprise, she communicates with her dead mother who leads her to the dark and hidden secrets of her own family.

ZEE5 · free with ads
26. Parole (2018)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 30m · U · Action, Family · IMDb 4.8 (1.4K votes)

TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seat

Alex is a comrade and an active communist leader. Due to some unfortunate events, Alex gets arrested and is imprisoned but is compelled to come out on Parole to solve a mystery he left behind.

ZEE5
27. Varavu (2026)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 23m · U/A 16+ · Action, Thriller · IMDb 4.2 (1.3K votes)

Edge-of-seatDark & grittyCold & detachedSerious

A family falls victim to the powerful elite in a small town. Time passes, wounds fester. One man's return forces a confrontation that will expose decades of lies and corruption.

ZEE5
28. Odiyan (2018)

Movie · Malayalam · 2h 47m · U · Drama, Action · IMDb 5.2 (4.3K votes)

Visually stunningEdge-of-seatDark & grittyCold & detached

With the arrival of electricity in the region under the British rule, the Odiyan clan that possesses the supernatural powers to assume animal form find it difficult to survive as they are ruthlessly captured and killed by the British. How the last Odiyan tries to save his clan with his stealth attacks, forms the crux.

ZEE5 · free with ads