For decades, Malayalam cinema wore its realism like a badge of honour. From the earthy frames of Adoor Gopalakrishnan to the procedural thrills of Drishyam , Mollywood prided itself on stories rooted in the quotidian. But something shifted in the early 2020s. With Minnal Murali (2021) and 2018: Everyone is a Hero (2023), the industry proved it could handle spectacle and genre with intelligence. Now, a new vanguard of filmmakers is quietly preparing its most audacious gambit: a slate of original, high-concept science fiction films set for release in 2026.
In a refreshing departure from dystopian futures, Ormakalude Tharavadu offers a warm, melancholic sci-fi. The year is 2050. A technology exists to “download” the memories of deceased ancestors into holographic AI avatars, allowing families to consult them for advice, recipes, or unresolved arguments.
What unites them is a refusal to imitate Hollywood. There are no laser swords or bug-eyed aliens here. Instead, 2026’s Malayalam sci-fi asks distinctly local questions: How does a Keralite tharavadu function in zero gravity? Can a time loop be broken by a perfectly brewed cup of chaya ? What does a mother’s ghost look like when rendered as unstable code? sci-fi malayalam coming soon movies 2026
Lijo Jose Pellissery ( Jallikattu , Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam ) finally goes full sci-fi—but on his own anarchic terms. Neelakasham 99 is described as a “psychedelic eco-noir” set in 2099, where the Indian subcontinent is covered by a permanent, breathable cloud layer. Society has moved to floating platforms, but the last remaining mountain peak—somewhere in what was once Kerala—is rumoured to hold a “memory seed” that can revert the climate.
“The problem isn’t the VFX anymore; Indian artists are world-class,” says film producer Sajith Nair, who is not attached to any of these projects. “The problem is writing . Western sci-fi often leans on technology as a plot device. Malayalam films need the tech to serve the manorama —the emotional weather. 2026’s slate will succeed only if the audience feels the heat of a black hole as acutely as they feel the heat of a family argument in a kitchen.” For decades, Malayalam cinema wore its realism like
If even half of these films deliver, 2026 will not just be a good year for Mollywood—it will be the year Malayalam cinema taught the world that the future, like home, is a place you carry inside you.
The original Gaganachari (2024) was a delightful oddity—a mockumentary set in a dystopian 2040s Kerala populated by alien refugees and washed-up actors. Its lo-fi charm and satirical bite turned it into a cult hit. For the sequel, Arun Chandu is thinking intergalactic. With Minnal Murali (2021) and 2018: Everyone is
Note: Release dates and project details are based on industry sources and confirmed production updates as of April 2026. All films are subject to change.