8 Malayalam Films Based on Psychological Disorders You Must Watch

15 Jun 18 @ 3:23 PM

Movies can be entertaining, informative, game changers and even manipulative. Some films go to the extent where they become an integral part of our popular culture, science and reference points for the folk in the future. These eight Malayalam films listed here are not the complete list of films made on psychological disorders made in Malayalam but they are definitely enough for you to understand the position of Malayalam cinema in portraying a sensitive and highly important subject – Mental health. Read on to find 8 different Malayalam films which can serve as study materials on the subject.

Iruttinte Athmavu – Mental Retardation

A film way ahead of its times, ‘Irittinte Athmavu’ (1967) is a brilliant portrayal of psychological disturbance suffered by a common man and its implications. Prem Nazir delivers a career best performance As Velayudhan, who is called a ‘Branthan’ or ‘Vattan’ (Lunatic), when if fact they are not.

Sources: youtube
Thaniyavarthanam - Lunacy

Written by ace scribe AK Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil, this 1987 Mammootty starrer is one of the gems that happened in the 90’s. The movie is about a family whose male members have a history of lunacy. Mammootty as Balan, who is judged by the society as mentally unstable because his uncle had a mental disorder, delivers a stellar performance.

Sources: en.wikipedia
Vadakkunokkiyantram - Psychotic Disorders/ Delusion

This 1989 film is a black comedy written, directed by Sreenivasan. He also plays the lead character in the movie. The film is based on the marital discord caused by the lead protagonist’s inferiority complex. Thalathil Dineshan, a printing press proprietor has a huge inferiority complex concerning his short physique and dark complexion. The fact that his wife is exceptionally fair compared to him heightens his insecurities. Whether the marriage works out or not makes up the rest of the story.

Sources: en.wikipedia
Manichitrathazhu - Dissociative Disorder

Directed by Fazil, this 1993 movie is one of the classics of Malayalam cinema. The story is based on a theme which wasn’t explored much in Indian cinema. The movie is about Ganga, who comes to live in a ‘haunted’ house with her husband, Nakulan. Ganga is trouble by the trauma of her childhood and while coping with her anxieties, suffers from dissociation where she starts believing that she is a deceased courtesan.

Sources: en.wikipedia
Bhoothakkannadi -Psychotic Disorders/ Psychosis/ Delusion

Released in 1997, the movie is the story of Vidhyadharan who suffers from hallucinations. Vidhyadharan (Mammootty) is a clock smith who is incapable of dealing with the harsh realities of life and tries to create alternate realities for himself. The movie won the Filmfare Award for the Best Actor for his performance.

Sources: en.wikipedia
Akam – Psychotic Disorder

The film (2013) portrays delusional projections of the protagonist’s sexual dysfunction and facial disfigurement to his wife. Sreenivasan (Fahadh Faasil), a young architect who starts suspecting that his wife, Ragini (Anumol) is in fact a ‘Yakshi’ (ghost).

Sources: en.wikipedia
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Thanmathra – Organic Mental Disorder/Alzheimer’s

Based on P Padmarajan’s short story ‘Orma’, this 2005 Blessy film had Mohanlal ‘living’ the character of someone suffering from an early-stage of Alzheimer’s disease. The film took away five Kerala State Awards for Best Actor, Director, Screenplay and Best Film.

Sources: en.wikipedia
Mumbai Police – Organic Mental Disorder/Amnesia

A movie which was completely a different league of its own, this 2013 flick by Rosshan Andrews had Prithviraj playing a cop who loses his memory after a fatal accident. The film excellently portrays what a person suffering from Amnesia goes through and visualises the reality distortion he endures beautifully.

Sources: en.wikipedia