Streaming with soul: How Sony LIV became a sanctuary for Malayalam cinema
In the crowded streaming landscape, Sony LIV, accessible through OTTplay Premium, stands out by showcasing Malayalam cinema's innovative voices, reflecting its blend of realism and experimentation.
Last Updated: 05.56 PM, Jul 20, 2025
In a world of overfed algorithm-induced curations and autoplay fatigue, Sony LIV (accessible via OTTplay Premium) is doing something rare. It’s spotlighting Malayalam films that actually matter and elevate the medium’s ability to tell immersive stories. Built on realism, rooted in truth, and bold enough to experiment, these compelling cinematic works are slowly but surely, altering the mould that defines Indian cinema. But more notably, they are driving a quiet revolution with high impact that doesn’t always subscribe to the conventional recipe of a ‘blockbuster’ and yet, manages to capture the imagination of viewers across the nation.
For decades, Malayalam cinema has flourished in the fringes — delivering sharp, socially conscious stories with minimal fanfare and complete honesty. Now, as theatrical windows shrink and OTT becomes more mainstream, platforms like Sony LIV are not just acquiring rights to these cinematic gems — they’re also acquiring credibility. Whether it’s a boxer from Alappuzha (Alappuzha Gymkhana), a tribal uprising reimagined with searing honesty (Narivetta), or a sci-fi mockumentary that satirises WhatsApp radicalism (Aavasavyuham). These aren’t just films, they’re cinematic gut punches. And coupled with OTTplay’s intuitive discovery engine ensures these titles reach the right screens, thus amplifying not just access, but appreciation.
A Renaissance in the rain: Malayalam cinema’s streaming leap
Here are some such underrated Malayalam films on SonyLIV that deserve your attention:
Genre: Sports Drama | Director: Khalid Rahman | Starring: Naslen K. Gafoor
Streaming since June 13, 2025.
A boxing drama with muddy boots and a beating heart. Rahman’s Alappuzha Gymkhana subverts the underdog trope, by pitting a group of youngsters from a coastal town against the State’s best. Premalu star Naslen’s performance is disarming and quietly powerful as he slips into the skin of a happy-go-lucky youngster who stands up for his tribe.
Genre: Dark Comedy Thriller | Produced by: Tovino Thomas | Starring: Basil Joseph
Streaming since May 14, 2025.
Part satire, part absurdist noir, Maranamass plays like a political satire on steroids and is a sharp, chaotic takedown of media hype, performative grief, and viral justice. Basil Joseph anchors the narrative and nails every beat, while the script weaves in clever meta references, including a sly nod to Minnal Murali.
Genre: Comedy-Mystery | Starring: Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir
Streaming since April 11, 2025.
This deceptively simple mystery stars Basil Joseph and Soubin Shahir. It’s set in a toddy shop that becomes the stage for small-town gossip, petty politics, and misplaced suspicion. The writing is rich in detail and restraint but doesn’t lean on punchlines. The mystery unravels not with spectacle but with steadily increasing emotional stakes, aided by a supporting cast that makes even two-line roles count.
Genre: Political Drama, Social Thriller | Starring: Tovino Thomas, Suraj Venjaramoodu
Streaming since July 11, 2025.
Based on the 2003 Muthanga tribal protest in Wayanad, Narivetta takes its name from the word for "ambush" — and that’s precisely how the film plays out. Tovino Thomas stars as Varghese Peter, a reluctant CRPF constable deployed to suppress a tribal uprising over land rights. This operation results in the suspicious disappearance of his colleague, Basheer Ahmed (Suraj Venjaramoodu).
When Varghese uncovers a conspiracy framing tribal activists as Naxals, the film morphs into a raw critique of state violence, casteist apathy, and systemic gaslighting. What starts as a procedural transforms into a moral reckoning. Shot partially in real locations across Wayanad and Kozhikode, the film uses minimal score and handheld cinematography to deliver authenticity.
Jakes Bejoy’s sound design leans into silence — the kind that precedes an explosion or follows injustice. Tovino delivers his career’s best in a character that’s simultaneously wounded, confused and yet, quietly resolute. And Suraj is sharp and surgical in every frame. A must-watch for those who believe cinema can — and must — hold a mirror to power. Trivia: The film weaves in actual newspaper clippings, witness testimonies, and archival footage — making its critique feel both cinematic and journalistic.
Genre: Meta-Thriller | Starring: Asif Ali, Anaswara Rajan
Streaming since March 7, 2025.
A love letter to memory, cinema, and everything that lingers after the credits roll. Rekhachithram is a slow burn that peels back the layers of trauma through film itself. Asif Ali plays a cop, who comes across a startling revelation that leads him to uncover a long-buried incident. Expect nods to Yavanika, and Kathodu Kathoram. This is cinema about cinema — self-aware, mournful, and mesmerising.
Genre: Sci-Fi Mockumentary | Directed by: Krishand
Streaming since August 2022.
Easily the most genre-bending film on this list. Aavasavyuham chronicles the rise and fall of a mysterious amphibian humanoid through a mock documentary format. But underneath the absurd premise is a biting satire on environmental degradation, religious radicalism, and the commodification of miracles. A spiritual cousin to Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, but rooted in wetland decay and WhatsApp forwards.
Genre: Ensemble Drama | Directed by: Thamar K.V.
Streaming since August 2023.
A chamber drama that unfolds at a house party, 1001 Nunakal thrives on silence, glances, and the unbearable weight of honesty. The film revolves around a truth-telling game that unravels friendships, marriages, and personal myths. The performances are consistently on point and the writing is sharp as a knife. Easily the most quietly devastating film on this list.
Nuance over noise
The above films prove that Malayalam cinema is not having a moment, it’s fuelling a movement. While most streamers chase noise, Sony LIV (which is available through OTTplay Premium) offers nuance. Together, Sony LIV and OTTplay Premium, which is India’s super OTT app and premier AI-based recommendation engine platform that allows users to access content of over 30+ streaming platforms including that of JioHotstar, ZEE5, SunNXT, Lionsgate Play and Fancode, has carved out a space for cinema that’s complex, culturally rooted, and emotionally rich. They’re ushering us into worlds which are familiar yet fascinating and telling us stories we didn’t know we needed. Your next unforgettable watch might already be waiting — in the quiet corner of a curated screen.