Malayalam Documentary Films:
A documentary is a non-fiction film that re-enacts, comments on or just generally retells history. It is entirely factual, even though it may also state opinions about the facts it presents. Documentaries have been made in one form or another in nearly every country and have contributed significantly to the development of realism in films. Often called Cinema Verite, documentary films are narrative based. Malayalam cinema also has its share of documentary films.
Here is a list of Malayalam documentary films:
| Year | Documentary | Director | Producer |
| 1978 | Vallathol | P. Bhaskaran | |
| 1979 | Koodiyattam | P. M. Aziss | |
| 1981 | Homage to Trees | P. A. Iqball | |
| 1982 | Krishnanattam | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | |
| 1983 | Rivers of Kerala | Mathew Paul | James Paul |
| 1984 | Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair | Mathew Paul | James Paul |
| 1985 | Brown Landscape | Aravindan | N. Madhavan Pillai |
| 1986 | The Catch | Aravindan | |
| 1987 | Basheer the Man | M. A. Rahman | Kannam Kulam Abdulla |
| 1988 | Panchavathyam | Mathew Paul | Doordharshan, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 1989 | Kala Mandalam Krishnan Kutty Pothuval | K. R. Mohan | |
| 1990 | Mohiniyattam | Sivan | |
| 1991 | Mulberriyum Pattunoolum | P. P. Govindan | K S F D C |
| 1992 | Noottandinte Sakshi | Salam Karasseri | Sasibooshan |
| 1993 | Thekku (Teak) | Majid Gulisthan | K S F D C |
| 1994 | Visudhavanangal | K. R. Mohanan | K S F D C |
| 1995 | Pakarnnattam | M. R. Rajan, C. S. Venkiteswaran | P. G. Mohanan |
| 1996 | Silent Screams (A Village Chronicle) | O. K. Johny | Jose Sebastian |
| 1997 | Ayyankali – Mizhavu | R. S. Madhu – K. R. Subhash | P. Sasidharan – P. D. Raphel |
| 1998 | Premji-Ithihasathinte Sparsam | M. R. Rajan | P. Appukkuttan, Secretary, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, Thrissur |
| 1999 | Kalamandalam Gopi | Adoor Gopalakrishnan | Films Division |
| 2000 | Palathulliperuvallom | K. Mohankumar | K. Sivaprasad |
| 2001 | Kanavumalayilekku | M. G. Sasi | Tomy Mathew |
| 2002 | Jeevanakalayude Pulluvageetham | M. Venukumar | L. Sivanandan |
| 2003 | Nishadam | Madhu Eravankara | Magic Lantern |
| 2004 | Kovilan Ente Achachan | M. A. Rahman | |
| 2006 | Minukku | M.R.Rajan | Devadasan Kizhapat |
| 2007 | Before the Brush Dropped | Vinod Mankara | |
| 2008 | No award | ||
| 2009 | Ezhuthatha Kathukal | Vinod Mankara | |
| 2010 | Making of a Maestro – A documentary on Kalamandalam Gopi | Meena Das Narayan | K Narayan Nedungadi |
| 2011 | Travancore: A Saga of Benevolence | B. Jayachandran | |
| 2014 | Oru Korean Padam | ||
| 2017 | 100 years of Chrysostom | ||
| 2017 | Chembal | ||
Documentaries are a rich source of information and inspiration but now they can also serve the purpose of bringing to the fore certain highly-sensitive topics, and in engaging society. Filmmakers are using documentaries as tools for social change by being direct and challenging the status quo in society and questioning government policies, among other issues.
Also See: 10 Top Malayalam Movies That Are Thought-Provoking
