7 Malayalam thrillers that impressed in the first half of 2025

Shramana Kar

2025 Malayalam thrillers

From the intense investigation in Identity to the political action sequal Empuraan, thrillers from Mollywood has been dominating the year.

Identity (ZEE5)

A sketch artist and a police officer join hands to strategically search for a serial killer, while relying on an eyewitness' account about the culprit.

Thudarum (JioHotstar)

Taxi driver Shanmugham is deeply attached to his black ambassador. When the car is seized by the local police, it leads to a series of events that have a direct impact on his life.

Empuraan (JioHotstar)

A sequel to the 2019 film Lucifer, this movie follows the political developments in Kerala, which prompts Stephen Nedumpally aka Khureshi-Ab'raam to return to the state.

Pravinkoodu Shappu (SonyLIV)

Eleven people stay back in a toddy shop on a rainy night. When the owner is found dead, police officer Santhosh begins a complex investigation into the murder.

Rekhachithram (SonyLIV)

Suspended police officer Vivek Gopinath returns to duty after a suspension and tries to solve a 40-year-old murder case with an unidentified victim.

Officer on Duty (Netflix)

A demoted police officer investigates a counterfeit jewellery network. He soon uncovers sinister plots that jeopardise his own family.

Ponman (JioHotstar)

Ajesh lends valuable gold for a wedding, but the bride's criminal husband plots to keep the gold and permanently silence Ajesh.