Now, you may think that you are a fan of Malayalam cinema, then 2025 has been a cinematic buffet. The large screen has not died out, yet the manner in which the viewers watch movies has undergone a complete make-over. OTT channels such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, Manorama Max, ZEE5 and even minor players such as SunNxt and Aha have become the destination of Malayalam story-telling.
The number of films released online is not the only thing that makes this year special. For years, more and more varieties of stories have been released online. Be it light comedies that leave you laughing to death, to court cases that fill you with debatable issues and even supernatural based thrillers, that may leave you with goose bumps. Mollywood in 2025 is showing us that no genre is too bold for OTT.
Let’s take a walk through some of the most talked-about Malayalam OTT releases of 2025, and what makes them worth adding to your weekend binge list.
Malayalam OTT Releases 2025
Here’s a quick cheat sheet for Malayalam OTT fans in 2025:
| Movie / Show (OTT Release Date) | Streaming On |
|---|---|
| Hunt (streaming from May 23, 2025) | Amazon Prime |
| Abhilasham (streaming from May 23, 2025) | On Amazon Prime Video / Simply South (global) |
| Thudarum (streaming from May 30, 2025) | On JioHotstar |
| Jerry (streaming from May 30, 2025) | On Manorama Max / Airtel Xstream |
| Padakkalam (streaming from Jun 10, 2025) | On JioHotstar |
| Kerala Crime Files Season 2 (streaming from Jun 20, 2025) | On JioHotstar |
| Samshayam (streaming from Jul 24, 2025) | On Manorama Max |
| Nadikar (streaming from Aug 8, 2025) | On SainaPlay |
| Manasa Vacha (streaming from Aug 9, 2025) | On Manorama Max |
| Vyasanasametham Bandhumithradhikal (streaming from Aug 14, 2025) | On Manorama Max |
| Janaki V v/s State of Kerala (streaming from Aug 15, 2025) | On ZEE5 |
| Soothravakyam (streaming from Aug 21, 2025) | On Lionsgate Play |
| Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse (streaming from Aug 28, 2025) | On Amazon Prime Video |
Brief look on OTT Releases in 2025
As the year unfolded, May set the tone with a string of digital premieres. Movies like Thudarum, Jerry, Hunt, and Abhilasham made their way to different platforms, each catering to a unique mood. If you were in the mood for suspense, Hunt brought the thrill. And for those who just wanted a light comedy, Jerry had the laughs.
But what truly grabbed attention around this time was the announcement of Kerala Crime Files Season 2. This wasn’t just another series but it was the return of a show that had already created a loyal fan base. The new season, The Hunt of CPO Ambili, released on JioHotstar in June and the word got out quickly. Starring Aju Varghese and Lal in the lead, it was a dark tale about police investigation enriched with the emotional touch that showed it was not an exaggeration that Malayalam web shows were finding its way through slowly but steadily.
June Releases
By June, the streaming calendar got even more colorful. One film that instantly stood out was Padakkalam. Imagine a magical board game that swaps the bodies of Suraj Venjaramoodu and Sharaf U Dheen’s characters. Well, it worked. Released on JioHotstar, this fantasy comedy was pure escapism, blending wit, charm, and just the right dose of chaos.
And that wasn’t all. Titles like Alappuzha Gymkhana, Prince and Family, DD Next Level, Subham, and Eleven landed on different OTT platforms. Sports dramas, supernatural comedies, quirky family stories. June felt like a month where Mollywood said, “Why stick to one flavor when we can serve the whole menu?”
July Releases
If the earlier months were about entertainment and fun, July and early August leaned towards stories that made you think and feel deeply.
Movies like Azadi, Pariwar, Ouseppinte Osiyathu, Moonwalk, Narivetta, DNA, Asthra, Ronth, Samshayam, Bazooka, Get-Set Baby, and Super Zindagi poured in across Prime Video, ZEE5, Manorama Max, and others.
- Samshayam, released on Manorama Max, was a heart-tugging drama that explored the struggles of parenthood.
- Asthra turned the police procedural genre on its head with a more symbolic and layered narrative.
- Bazooka, is a psychological suspense thriller starring Mammootty, which attempted the balancing act of treading between psychological suspense and action and found a second life on ZEE5, following its unsatisfactory theatrical release.
- Get-Set Baby turned out to be a heartbreaking attempt at exploring the inner issues behind an apparently flawless surface that touch on personal challenges faced by the woman.
This step was concerned with emotional narration. These were not the movies you watched and forgot but they were movies that would stick around leaving you with a lot to think about and in other cases, they would cause you to have late-night conversations.
August Releases
August always feels special, it’s festive season, and OTT platforms clearly knew audiences would be ready for binge-worthy drops.
Vyasanasametham Bandhimithradhikal
Among the best was Vyasanasametham Bandhimithradhikal, which was on Manorama Max on August 14. Having a quirky title and a quirky vibe, it combined comedy with grief and family themes, which makes it an ideal choice for those who prefer humor with a heart.
Janaki V v/s State of Kerala
Next was the Janaki V v/s State of Kerala, which everyone has been talking about and which is streaming on ZEE5 starting August 15. A courtroom drama at its core, it promised intensity, but reactions were divided. Some viewers found it engaging, while others felt it didn’t quite pack the punch expected of such a sensitive subject. Still, it got people talking and that’s half the job done for any film today.
Dominic and the Ladies
And just when August was about to wrap, Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse hit Prime Video on August 28. Quirky, light, and entertaining, it showed yet again how Mollywood is experimenting with offbeat storytelling for OTT audiences.
Mammootty’s Double OTT Strike
You can’t talk about Malayalam movies in 2025 without mentioning Mammootty. This year, he had not one but two films that are Bazooka and Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse which are finding their way onto OTT platforms.
While both films didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, their arrival on ZEE5 and Prime Video gave them a second wind. For fans, it was a treat to catch the megastar’s performances from the comfort of home, and for the industry, it was proof that OTT can breathe new life into films that miss the theatrical mark.
What Makes 2025 Different for Malayalam OTT?
- Genre Diversity: Fantasy comedies (Padakkalam), courtroom dramas (Janaki V), gritty thrillers (Kerala Crime Files 2), and emotional family sagas (Samshayam) have become a playground for experiments.
- Smart Release Strategies: Films are dropping around festive weekends or special occasions, ensuring maximum eyeballs.
- Audience Voice: Platforms aren’t just releasing movies; they’re listening.Social media reactions are driving conversations, and filmmakers are taking note.
- Redemption for Films: Movies like Bazooka prove that OTT can rescue titles that didn’t shine in theatres, giving them fresh reach and relevance.
Conclusion
With Onam and Diwali just around the corner, we can expect more Malayalam OTT titles to drop later this year. Family-centric dramas, star-driven thrillers, and maybe even a few anthologies could be on the horizon. Given how 2025 has unfolded so far, one thing is clear that OTT is no longer secondary for Mollywood but it’s the main stage.
Malayalam cinema is all about good storytelling and 2025 is an evidence that OTT is taking the stories to the living rooms around the world. Be it Mammootty reimagining himself to streaming audiences, zany comedies that combine fantasy and fun or serious dramas that provoke discussions, Malayalam OTT content this year is alive and edgy.
Therefore, when you will open Prime, Hotstar, or ZEE5 and not know what to watch next, then remember: 2025 has brought us a treasure box of Malayalam stories to be found.
