Director: Zakariya Mohammed
Starring: Soubin Shahir, Samuel Abiola Robinson
Returning to Malappuram, the sequel sees Majeed traveling to Lagos, Nigeria, to coach a local football team there. The cultural clash is reversed, and the film explores the Malayali diaspora in Africa. Early rushes show a beautiful blend of Malayalam and Nigerian music. This is the feel-good movie of the year, designed to bring families back to theaters during the Onam holidays.
Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery
Starring: Fahadh Faasil, Chemban Vinod Jose, Anaswara Rajan upcoming malayalam movies in 2026
Following the surrealist survival drama of Mundrothuruth (2025), the sequel ventures deeper into the backwaters of folklore. This time, the narrative shifts from pure survival to a treasure hunt involving colonial-era dark magic. Lijo has stated in interviews that this will be his most "commercial film," but given his track record, expect abstract imagery and unpredictable storytelling. Fahadh Faasil’s character, a mute fisherman, remains the emotional core, and whispers from the industry suggest a cameo by a Bollywood A-lister in a negative role.
Starring: Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu Director: Sanal Kumar (Debut) Directors to Watch :
A black-and-white romance-thriller shot entirely on an iPhone 17 Pro. The film deals with a couple who lose their memory simultaneously but fall in love again under false identities. Fahadh plays a double role for the first time in his career. This is the wildcard entry for the National Film Awards.
While not official, these names could surface in 2026 based on recent announcements: Director: Althaf Salim Starring: Nivin Pauly
Director: Althaf Salim
Starring: Nivin Pauly, Aishwarya Rajesh, Lal Jr.
The chaotic family that dealt with cancer with humor is back, dealing with empty nest syndrome. The parents (Nivin and Aishwarya) decide to become foster parents for a rebellious teenager. The title translates to "A Fish in the Land of Crabs: Part 2," and the comedy is derived from generational misunderstandings. This marks Nivin Pauly’s attempt to return to his Premam era fanbase after a few experimental failures.