Malayalam cinema has featured several memorable mothers on screen who continue to stay with viewers long after the credits roll. Revisiting some of these characters that are available on OTT, here’s a list of films that celebrate motherhood online.
7 Malayalam Movies Celebrating Motherhood
1. C/O Saira Banu
- Cast: Manju Warrier, Shane Nigam, Amala Akkineni, Niranjana Anoop, Raghavan, Sujith Sankar, Jagadeesh, KB Ganesh Kumar, Mohanlal (voice-only)
- Director: Antony Sony Sebastian
- Genre: Legal Drama
- Runtime: 2 hours and 36 minutes
- Where to watch: JioHotstar
C/O Saira Banu revolves around a middle-class postwoman, Saira Banu, who fights to prove the innocence of her adopted son, Joshua Peter, after he is framed in a hit-and-run case. The film presents the story of a mother going to great lengths and standing up against powerful opponents to save her son.
2. Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum
- Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Anjana Jayaprakash, Dhwani Rajesh, Viji Venkatesh, Vineeth, Mukesh, Innocent, Indrans, Althaf Salim, Abhiram Radhakrishnan
- Director: Akhil Sathyan
- Genre: Adventure Comedy Drama
- Runtime: 2 hours and 51 minutes
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum follows Pachu, a Mumbai-based Ayurveda pharmacy owner. During his return trip from Kerala, he agrees to escort his landlord’s elderly mother, Laila, back to Mumbai. The story takes a turn when she insists on making a detour to Goa for a personal mission. The film explores how Laila’s motherly affection toward a child transforms the lives of everyone around her.
3. Minnaminungu
- Cast: Surabhi Lakshmi, Rebecca Santhosh, Prem Prakash, Balu Narayan, Krishnan Balakrishnan, Archana Padmini, Suresh Prem
- Director: Anil Thomas
- Genre: Drama
- Runtime: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Where to watch: ZEE5
Minnaminungu follows a struggling single mother in Kerala who works multiple jobs as a domestic helper and milk seller to support her elderly father and college-going daughter, Charu. The plot centers on her exhausting efforts to arrange Rs 6 lakh for Charu’s higher studies in Canada, only to later discover that her daughter plans to use the money to elope with her partner.
4. Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela
- Cast: Nivin Pauly, Siju Wilson, Shanthi Krishna, Lal, Ahaana Krishna, Aishwarya Lekshmi
- Director: Althaf Salim
- Genre: Romantic Tragicomedy
- Runtime: 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Where to watch: JioHotstar
Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela follows Kurien, a London-based man who returns to Kerala after his mother, Sheela, is diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. Along with his father and siblings, the family decides to face the crisis with humor, resilience, and emotional support rather than despair. The film is based on writer Chandramathi’s memoir of the same name, which recounts her battle with cancer and the strength she found through the support of her family.
5. Kaanekkaane
- Cast: Suraj Venjaramoodu, Tovino Thomas, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Shruti Ramachandran, Prem Prakash, Rony David, Binu Pappu
- Director: Manu Ashokan
- Genre: Drama Thriller
- Runtime: 2 hours
- Where to watch: SonyLIV
Kaanekkaane follows Paul Mathai, who suspects his son-in-law, Allen, of fabricating the story surrounding his daughter’s death. As Paul searches for the truth and seeks justice, the film navigates themes of guilt, grief, and complex relationships after Allen remarries Sneha.
Breaking the stereotype of the evil stepmother, the film presents Sneha as a loving and caring figure in the life of her husband’s biological son.
6. Ente Ummante Peru
- Cast: Tovino Thomas, Urvashi, Shanthi Krishna, Shilpa Tulaskar, Hareesh Perumanna, Mammukoya, Saipriya Deva
- Director: Jose Sebastian
- Genre: Road Comedy Drama
- Runtime: 2 hours and 11 minutes
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Ente Ummante Peru narrates the story of Hameed, a young man from Malabar who faces difficulty finding a marriage alliance after his father’s death because he is considered an orphan. In an attempt to overcome this, he sets out to find his mother, leading him on a heartwarming journey through his father’s past relationships. Along the way, the film explores what truly defines a mother’s affection.
7. Manassinakkare
- Cast: Jayaram, Sheela, Nayanthara, Innocent, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, KPAC Lalitha, Siddique, Sukumari, Nedumudi Venu
- Director: Sathyan Anthikad
- Genre: Family Drama
- Runtime: 2 hours and 35 minutes
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Manassinakkare follows Kochu Thresia, a wealthy, spirited, yet lonely widow who feels alienated by her selfish and money-minded children. She finds companionship in Reji, a young farmer who helps her fulfill her childlike wishes, bridging the generational gap with warmth, humor, and affection.
The films mentioned above are just some of the many memorable Malayalam movies celebrating motherhood that are available on OTT platforms, with several more heartfelt stories waiting to be explored online.
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