Lijo Jose Pellissery (starring Mammootty) Why it counts: Surrealist Tamil-Malayalam crossover. A bus full of Keralites stops in rural Tamil Nadu, and a passenger wakes up convinced he is a Tamil villager. No violence. No twist. Pure philosophical wonder.

: These movies act as a mirror to the complexities of Malayali society that mainstream films might gloss over.

Malayalam independent movies have received critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Here are some reviews and ratings from notable critics: