While big sequels often grab the headlines, 2025 has been defined by high-quality investigative dramas and experimental "new-gen" thrillers. Malayalam filmmakers continue to master the art of the "slow-burn" mystery, proving that a solid script and atmospheric tension are just as powerful as high-octane action. Here are the finest thrillers that dominated the charts this year.

1. Ekō (from the Infinite Chronicles of Kuriachan)

• Streaming Platform: Netflix (Streaming since December 31, 2025)
• Plot: Set in the misty, eerie hills of Kaattukunnu, the film follows a young man named Peeyoos who notices strange patterns in his village that defy reality. The mystery revolves around a legendary, fugitive dog breeder named Kuriachan and a specific breed of canine from Malaysia. It’s an atmospheric "slow-burn" thriller that explores the thin line between protection and restriction.
• Cast: Sandeep Pradeep, Vineeth, Narain, Biana Momin, Binu Pappu, and Saurabh Sachdeva (as Kuriachan).

2. Identity

• Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
• Plot: A high-stakes investigative thriller centered on a forensic sketch artist and a detective. They team up to hunt down a serial killer who leaves no physical evidence, leading to a deadly game of cat and mouse.
• Cast: Tovino Thomas, Trisha Krishnan, Vinay Rai.

3. Rekhachithram

• Streaming Platform: SonyLIV
• Plot: This unique mystery bridges the past and present. A police officer reopens a cold case from the 1980s that occurred on a movie set, uncovering a web of secrets involving the veterans of the film industry.
• Cast: Asif Ali, Anaswara Rajan, Manoj K. Jayan.

4. Officer On Duty

• Streaming Platform: Netflix
• Plot: CI Harishankar is assigned to a seemingly minor jewelry scam. However, his investigation unearths a massive gold smuggling syndicate with deep political ties, forcing him into a survival battle.
• Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Priyamani, Jagadish.

5.Bazooka

• Streaming Platform: SonyLIV
• Plot: A stylish "game-thriller" where the protagonist finds himself trapped in a sophisticated psychological trap set by an anonymous enemy. It’s a battle of wits filled with high-tech gadgets and sharp twists.
• Cast: Mammootty, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Shine Tom Chacko.

6.Kalamkaval

• Streaming Platform: SonyLIV
• Plot: A veteran investigator comes out of a self-imposed hiatus to solve a string of ritualistic murders. The film is a dark, atmospheric procedural that focuses on the psychological profile of the killer.
• Cast: Mammootty, Jyothika, Vinayakan.

7.Narivetta

• Streaming Platform: Netflix
• Plot: Set in the deep forests of Kerala, this social thriller explores the tension between tribal rights and state authority. It follows a police hunt that turns into a moral dilemma for the officers involved.
• Cast: Tovino Thomas, Suraj Venjaramoodu.

8.Ronth

• Streaming Platform: JioHotstar
• Plot: A gritty, realistic thriller that unfolds during a single night shift. Two patrol officers witness a crime they weren't supposed to see, leading to a night of intense pursuit and internal betrayal.
• Cast: Roshan Mathew, Rajesh Madhavan.

9.Mirage

• Streaming Platform: SonyLIV
• Plot: Directed by Jeethu Joseph, this mystery thriller follows a woman’s desperate search for her missing husband, only to realize that every person helping her has a hidden motive.
• Cast: Asif Ali, Aparna Balamurali.

10.Anand Sreebala

• Streaming Platform: Zee5
• Plot: Based on true events, this film follows a young man who conducts his own parallel investigation into a girl's mysterious disappearance after the official police probe hits a dead end.
• Cast: Arjun Ashokan, Saiju Kurup.