Top 7 Malayalam Comedy Movies to watch on Disney+ Hotstar

Malayalam films are known for hitting it out of the park with great stories and greater performances – the prime ingredients that make up a good comedy. So if you are looking for films that tickle your funny bones, look no further. Whether you are in the mood for some horror comedy or a little old-school slap-stick or biting political satire, we have got it all and more in this list of comedies on Disney+ Hotstar.

Nna Thaan Case Kodu (2022)

Shortly after a temple festival, an ex-thief Kozhummal Rajeevan (an endearing Kunchacko Boban) is accused of theft at an MLA’s home while the latter’s dogs bite his rear end. In the ensuing legal procedural drama, we see Rajeevan leaving no stone unturned to bring the actual culprit to justice – the PWD minister himself whose negligence resulted in the pothole leading to a chain of events that culminated in Rajeevan’s injury and loss of dignity.

In this seemingly absurd David vs Goliath premise, writer-director Ratheesh Balakrishna Poduval brings in an array of quirky characters and creates one of the strongest Malayalam political satires in recent times that make you laugh and think. When the magistrate (a casting brilliance – PP Kunjikrishnan) says, “To accept a case against the minister, cabinet approval is needed,” without missing a beat, Rajeevan retorts, “Did you take the approval of all the thieves before accepting a case against me?” This sharpness makes Nna Thaan Case Kodu a masterpiece in humour.

Romancham (2023)

The story behind Romancham is in itself filled with cinematic twists and turns – a young debut director (Jithin Madhavan) writes a story inspired by his carefree days with friends in Bangalore and makes a film with almost entirely fresh faces (except Soubin Shahir). Even as most of the industry discards it as hard to sell, gradually, with word of mouth, the film made with a shoestring budget turned out to be one of the highest-grossing films of 2023 in Kerala.

This film is set in a rented house in Bangalore where seven friends try to make a living. The untidy house where European closets (thanks to the failed business) double up as rice containers, create a relatable setting for a lot of situational comedy. Romancham follows these men as they decide to play Ouija board which drastically changes their life. Sushin Shyam’s music elevates the film and gives it the much-needed oomph factor.

Aadu (2015)

Aadu, written and directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, is a loose adaptation of Guy Ritchie’s Snatch (2000) and swaps the dog with a Diamond for a goat (named Pinky) with “Neelakoduveli”, a rare herb that brings good fortune. Shaji Papan (Jayasurya) and his boys Arakkal Abu, Captain Sachin Cleetus, Krishnan Mandaram, Lolan, Kuttan Moonga, and Bastin Pathrose — each name adding a quirky element to these characters — manage to win a tug-of-war tournament, and along with the cash prize and trophy, they receive a female goat, Pinky. 

But Shaji Papan is against women after his wife left him. So the gang set out to get rid of Pinky. This takes them on a comedy of errors where they inadvertently antagonise a slew of powerful people - inspector Sarbath Shameer, drug peddler Satan Xavier, gangster Dude from Bangkok who is in search of an exotic herb and others. Like the main characters, even the antagonists have wacky names. And each character has their personal background music and idiosyncrasies which make this journey extra hilarious.

Kunjiramayanam (2015)

In this list that boasts of some madcap films, Kunjiramayanam takes the cake (or should I say Salsa?) for the most whimsical plotline. To give you some context, on his engagement day, Kunjiraman (Vineeth Sreenivasan) as a gesture of his undying love decides to break a bottle of “Salsa” (the village’s favourite liquor brand) to mark his promise to stop drinking altogether before leaving for the Gulf. But misfortune befalls the village. As if they were cursed, no one is able to relish even a drop of Salsa as all the bottles keep getting mysteriously broken. Who will break the curse and save the Salsa-thirsty villagers? 

Kunjiramayanam is Basil Joseph’s debut film and it has all the elements that went on to become his trademarks – an imaginary village, goofy weirdos you can’t help but love, and flimsiest problems that create rib-cracking humour that sends you ROFLing.  

Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015)

This horror comedy co-written and directed by John Varghese is set in an unkempt men’s hostel that proves to be a fertile ground for some hilarious gags played out to perfection by the who’s who of the new generation of Malayalam comedy actors. Bhanu (Dhyan Sreenivasan) with his friends smuggle Adhishta Lakshmi (Namitha Pramod) into a men’s Hostel run by a strict warden, Father Alfred Kattuvilayil (Mukesh), for 20000 rupees. But when they try to sneak her out, student protests, blocked exits, etc play spoil-sport and Lakshmi gets stuck in the hostel. When few people start to notice a woman’s presence, Bhanu makes a master plan to make everyone believe that there is a ghost and help Lakshmi leave the hostel.

My Boss (2012)

Before Jeethu Joseph gained pan-Indian acclaim with Drishyam (2013), he adapted The Proposal (2009) with Dileep and Mamta Mohandas and did the unimaginable – to make it even funnier. He pulled off this feat by heavily making use of Dileep’s impeccable comic timing, the lead pair’s hysterical chemistry and culturally adapting the premise to Kerala’s context.

The film follows Manu Varma (Dileep) who is hired as the executive assistant in a leading firm in Mumbai and aspires to migrate to a foreign country to prove to his nagging dad he is capable. On the other hand, Priya Nair (Mamtha Mohandas), his crazy boss that everyone fears, who is an Indian-born Australian citizen has visa problems at a time when she has a promotion due. And the duo come up with a solution: fake marriage. What follows is a bumpy laugh riot as this unlikely duo tries to keep up the sham marriage while bickering amongst each other.

Vellimoonga (2014)

Directed by Jibu Jacob and written by Joji Thomas, Velimoonga is replete with satirical yet astute observations about politics and human nature. Mamachan (a hilarious Biju Menon), an unmarried politician in his 40s, is well known for his sly nature in his village Karthikapuram. But even as a politician, he works in a relatively unknown party based in North India. As a result, he is subject to taunts and retorts.

When he finally falls for a girl and visits her family, he is chased away by the bride's father. Not due to his age, job or anything else but because of a hilarious coincidence; Mamachan and the bride’s mother were childhood sweethearts. Vellimoonga follows this cunning yet loveable politician as he uses his craftiness to beat his rivals in their game and become the MLA while winning over the girl of his dreams.