Kozhikode: Monsoon and Malayalam cinema make a magical pair — the rain-drenched landscapes of Kerala, soulful music, and tender love stories create the perfect vibe. Whether or not you are a cinephile, the pitter-patter of the raindrops is sure to lure your heart and get you hooked to the screen for a cinematic treat. And what better than romance to feed the heart in such a soulful weather? Here’s a list of romantic Malayalam movies that go beautifully with monsoon evenings:

Timeless & Classic:

  • Thoovanathumbikal (1987): The ultimate monsoon romance. Mohanlal and Sumalatha in a love story that comes alive with rain — and the iconic song “Megham Poothu Thudangi.”. In the movie. Jayakrishnan falls in love with two girls, Radha and Clara, and fights his confusion about whom he should marry and spend his life with.

     

  • Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986): Soft, poetic, and deeply romantic, with Mohanlal and Shari. Rain-soaked vineyards, gentle dialogues, and a haunting background score. This is an Indian Malayalam-language romance drama film written and directed by Padmarajan based on the 1986 novel Nammukku Gramangalil Chennu Rapparkkam by KK Sudhakaran. 

     

Modern Love Stories:

  • Premam (2015): A coming-of-age love story starring Nivin Pauly. Though not entirely about monsoon, the film’s visuals and music capture the nostalgic feel of youth and rain.

     

  • Anarkali (2015): A love story set against the beautiful, rainy backdrop of Lakshadweep. Prithviraj and Priyal Gor’s romance has a serene charm. 

     

  • 100 Days of Love (2015): Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen in a visually rich, feel-good romance perfect for a cozy rainy evening. 

     

Rain & Soulful Music:

  • Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (2013): More of a road movie, but has beautiful monsoon visuals and an undercurrent of romance. 

     

  • Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015): Based on a real-life tragic love story, with heavy rain playing a metaphorical and literal role. 

     

  • Charlie (2015): A breezy, bohemian romance starring Dulquer Salmaan and Parvathy — visually stunning, with rain adding to its charm. 

     

Feel-Good & Newer:

Hridayam (2022): Warm and nostalgic, with songs and visuals that pair beautifully with rainy afternoons. This is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. The film centers around Arun, a teenager from Kerala, who joins KCG Tech, an engineering college in Chennai, for Engineering and falls in love with Darshana at first sight. 

June (2019): A coming-of-age love story set across different seasons, but with a comforting, monsoon-like nostalgia. The film is co-written and directed by Ahammed Khabeer and features 15 newcomers in their debut acting. The movie traces the friendship, love, aspirations, and lives of June's classmates as well, through various stages.