Here is a look at the released Malayalam sci-fi films of 2026 that have critics buzzing and audiences packing theaters. (Released: January 26, 2026) Director: Anish Madhav Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew
Why It Worked: This is the "Her" of Malayalam cinema—quiet, heartbreaking, and deeply philosophical. The film’s central question— Can you love a ghost made of code? —has sparked heated debates on social media. Aishwarya Lekshmi’s cameo as the AI’s voice (uncredited) is haunting.
Why It Worked: The film brilliantly juxtaposes the cold vacuum of space with the humid, crowded chaos of suburban Kochi. Fahadh’s trademark micro-expressions shine as he negotiates with a rogue AI that sounds eerily like a passive-aggressive Malayali bureaucrat. A tight, claustrophobic thriller that asks: What if your Alexa decided to unionize?
Why It Worked: This is not your typical clean-AI sci-fi. Pellissery directs a fever dream of ritualistic drumming mixed with glitch-core visuals. The film never explains its science—it operates on pure sensory logic. One scene involving a "rain of forgotten lullabies" has been called the most audacious visual in Indian cinema this decade.
A sobering counterpoint to the action-heavy sci-fi tropes. Bring tissues.