What are some must-watch movies will you recommend for your friend who is new to watching Malayalam movies?

Thoovanathumbikal: The movie was directed by P.Padmarajan which was based on his own novel Udakkappola. It was released in 1987 starring Mohanlal, Asokan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sumalatha , Parvathy etc. This movie re wrote the conventional arguments in the Film industry. Thoovanathumbikal is one of the most prestigious hits in the Indian film Indusrty. Especially the character played by Mohanlal "Jayakrishnan'' created such havoc among the youth. It created the trend of "new generation" among film makers. Thoovanathumbikal is one of the most significant Malayalam films of the 1980s and enjoys a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_film even decades after its release. In a 2013 online poll, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBN_Live listed it as the 8th greatest Indian film of all time. The film  even after 26 years of its release is still the one that every Keralite would love to see again.The memories of the movie still persists in the viewers. So heart-touching movie. If you want to watch a malayalam movie then "Thoovanathumbikal" will be my first choice.

Drishyam Starring Mohanlal. Just completed 100 days. It is being remade into Tamil (starring Kamalhasan) & Hindi (starring Ajay Devgan).

1. Namukku Paarkkan Munthirithoppukal 2. Oru Vadakkan Veeragaatha 3. Manichitrathaazhu 4. Thanmaathra 5. Kireedam 6. Vaanaprastham 7. Ponmutta idunna thaaravu 8. Kilukkam 9. Thenmaavin kombathu 10. Ramji Rao speaking 11. Nagarangalil chennu raapaarkkam 12. Nadodikaatu - Pattanapraveshanam- Akkare-3 series

1.thira 2. Dhrishya 3. 22 female kottayam 4. 24 north kadam 5.thanmatra 6. Bhramaram 7. Beautiful These are more of realistic movies. If you are looking for humor 1. Poochakoru mookuthi 2. Boing boing 3. Manar mathyai speaking 4. Chakki othha chankaran 5.odaruth ammava all ariyam If you love thrillers 1. Mumbai police 2. CBI Diary kurupu 3. Chinthamani kolacase.

I will give 5 gems of malayalam movie, which I believe will make an everlasting impression in every person. 1. Paithrikam - By jayaraj 2. Moonam Pakkam - By Patmarajan 3. Aakasadoothu - By Sibi Malayil 4. Vaanaprastham - By Shaji.N.Karun 5. Amaram - By Bharathan

I always recommend, - Bangalore Days - Drishyam - Thattathin Marayathu - 1983 - North 24 Kattham - Mumbai Police - Neram - Celluloid I also don't understand Malayalam but like the movies that I mentioned and always recommend to my friends on Facebook group of Thai fans who love Indian movies, the main topic are about Bollywood but many people also like to watch good films from south India. I always recommend Malayalam films to them.

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls056485019/ + All Padmarajan movies + All M.T Movies + Al K.G George movies. + Old Sreenivasan movies laugh to death -http://www.imdb.com/list/ls059704619/

From the recent releases, I would recommend Ayalum Njanum Thammil Ividam Swargamanu Chapters Friday Matinee Diamond Necklace Manjadikuru Black Butterflies Shutter Amen Anju Sundarigal Left Right Left

Acc. to me a must watch malayali movie is "Drishyam", it's such a movie which would stimulate you further towards watching many more of Malayali's.  I'm a telugu, and never saw any malayali movie until i started off with Drishyam, then North 24 Kaatham & now i'm searching for similar typical malayali movies. Heard that, How Old Are You, Koothara, are such to make into the list.