Comedy is a genre that has zero haters. As a Malayalee, I have enjoyed Malayalam comedy movies more than anything. So, I thought of sharing my favorite funny Malayalam movies. If you are a non-Malayali, then this list would be a good start for you to explore funny Malayalam movies.

1.Punjabi House (1998)

Watch on: Hotstar, YouTube

Have you made plans to watch Punjabi House? I am telling you, you are in for a laughter riot. I watched Punjabi House as a kid and never stopped watching it even after growing up. The humor in the movie is going to stay with you forever. The jokes from Punjabi House are still popular among Malayalees irrespective of their age. Ramanan and his ‘Mothalali’ come together in Punjabi House to give the best comedy in Malayalam movies that anyone has ever seen.

2. CID Moosa (2003)

Watch on: MX Player, JioCinema

Watching CID Moosa is like watching a cartoon movie. I remember watching the movie when I was seven years old. But the interesting part is that the film is not just for kids. The jokes are crisp and sharp that even a fully grown adult will burst into laughter. The movie is about a young guy named Sahadevan who ends up being a CID due to certain circumstances. On his journey filled with humor and action, he fights the bad guy giving us a laughter treat.

3. Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)

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The movie is set in the time when Kerala was hit with unemployment and many young people were struggling to make a living for themselves. The movie tells their story humorously. Ramji Rao Speaking has three main characters- Gopalakrishnan, Balakrishnan, and Mannar Mathai. A misplaced phone call turns their life upside down. Desperate to get out of debt, they put themselves in a perilous situation. There are a lot of funny moments in the movie that will make your day.

4.Nadodikaatu (1987)

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Nadodikaatu is the first installment of the expedition of the famous character duo Dasan and Vijayan (played by Mohanlal and Sreenivasan respectively). Dasan and Vijayan are just two normal guys who want to put themselves in a better situation financially. Their immaturity, bickering banter, and desperation pave the way for a laughter riot. Nadodikaatu is the funniest of the Dasan-Vijayan trilogy. The characters are so iconic that it is hard not to fall in love with their candor.

5.Minnaram (1994)

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Priyadarshan always knows how to make movies that make Malayalees laugh. He is the flagbearer of Malayalam comedy movies. His film Minnaram, starring Shobana and Mohanlal (an iconic on-screen pairing!), is a movie that I find extremely funny. On a sporadic day, Neena (played by Shobhana) comes to Bobby’s house with a baby girl and claims that Bobby is her child’s father. Bobby and Neena used to be in a relationship during their college days but for inexplicable reasons, they never saw each other until Neena’s appearance at Bobby’s house with a child. Bobby’s hilarious struggle to convince everyone that he is not the child’s father is what makes up for most of the humor.

6. My Boss (2012)

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To safeguard her stay in India, Priya decides to fake a marriage with her sub-ordinate Manu. To make the marriage look more believable, Manu suggests that they go to Manu’s home in Kerala. That’s when the laughter riot in My Boss begins. Mamta and Dileep, who play Priya and Manu have amazing chemistry and comic timing that makes the entire movie a fun ride.

7. Chattambinaadu (2009)

Watch on: MX Player, YouTube

The one guy that made Chattambinaadu a funny Malayalam movie would be Suraj Venjaramoodu with his iconic character Dashamoolam Damu. Dashamaloom Damu is one of the funniest Malayalam characters ever. Suraj improvised the character so much and gave the best comedy in Malayalam movies. Apart from Dashamoolam Damu, Mammotty’s Kannada accent is also a humor element in the film. No matter how many funny characters come and go, Dashamoolam Damu will always remain the undisputed king of this zone.

8. Vellimoonga (2014)

Politics is crucial to a Malayali and Vellimoonga is a sarcastic commentary on the same. Vellimoonga follows the ordeals of Mamachan, a local politician trying to go big. The film was a sleeper hit and was highly credited for its fresh comedic narrative.

9. Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)

Ramji Rao Speaking is a timeless Malayalam comedy classic that has consistently tickled the funny bones of audiences for decades. Directed by the talented duo Siddique-Lal, this 1989 gem is a perfect blend of situational humor and witty dialogue delivery. The film revolves around three down-on-their-luck friends, Mannar Mathai, Gopalakrishnan, and Balakrishnan, who accidentally find themselves caught up in a web of misunderstandings and mistaken identities. The humor in the film is rooted in the chaos that ensues as they desperately try to navigate through their comically complex situation.

10. In Harihar Nagar (1990)

Released in 1990 and directed by Siddique-Lal, In Harihar Nagae is a riotous rollercoaster of humor and camaraderie. The story revolves around four close friends, Mahadevan, Govindan Kutty, Appukuttan, and Thomaskutty, who, in pursuit of excitement, inadvertently find themselves entangled in a murder mystery. Their hilarious attempts to solve the case form the crux of this uproarious film.

What sets In Harihar Nagar apart is its unique blend of slapstick comedy, witty wordplay, and impeccable chemistry among the four lead actors – Mukesh, Siddique, Jagadish, and Ashokan. Their comic timing and the film’s peak situations create moments that leave the audience in splits. With its memorable catchphrases and memorable dialogues, In Harihar Nagar has retained its status as a cult classic in the realm of Malayalam comedy. This film is a testament to the enduring charm of comedy that transcends generations.

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