Learning a language like Malayalam is often regarded as very difficult, but many linguists say that the easiest way to learn a language is to surround yourself with other people who speak it. However, if you are away from home due to your work and other reasons, your children might not be able to learn Malayalam, their mother tongue, as easily as they would have if they had grown up in Kerala.
 

So what's the next best thing you can do to make their Malayalam learning journey easier, apart from enrolling them in a Malayalam learning class such as the one provided by Akshharam Online Malayalam Learning School? It is introducing them to Malayalam media such as movies and music! Here is a list of some of the best Malayalam movies you can enjoy with your kids and help them improve their Malayalam vocabulary.
 

My dear Kuttichathan (1984)

My dear Kuttichathan, directed by Jijo Punnoose, was the first 3D Indian movie, and it follows a group of children who befriend the mythical figure with magical powers, Kuttichathan, who escaped from an evil sorcerer. This is a classic Malayalam children’s movie, and anyone who has grown up in Kerala during the 1990s and early 2000s would have seen this movie on television. A goblin in the folklore stories still told to kids in Kerala, Kuttichathan is a fascinating figure. So hype up the movie by narrating the stories you have heard about Kuttichathan during your childhood to your kids and put on the My dear Kuttichathan, let them enjoy the magical ride!
 

Philips and the Monkey Pen (2013)

Philips and the Monkey Pen, written and directed by the Rojin Philip, Shanil Muhammed, and Rojin Thomas trio, is a visually stunning children’s movie with a nice soundtrack by music director Rahul Subrahmanian. The story revolves around 8-year-old Ryan, who always has trouble doing his math homework. One day, Ryan stumbles upon an allegedly magic pen at his grandfather’s house, who is an antique collector; the rest of the movie follows the incidents after this fateful encounter. Jayasurya, who plays Ryan’s father, and Sanoop Santhosh, who plays the adorable Ryan, have performed their parts really well in this movie. The hint of fantasy and socially relevant topics, combined with the affairs of Ryan’s school life, makes this movie an enjoyable watch.
 

Manjadikkuru (2012)

Written and directed by the celebrated filmmaker Anjali Menon, Manjadikkuru is one of her most critically acclaimed works. The ten-year-old Vicky gets back to his ancestral home with his parents for a family get-together for a 16-day funeral function for his grandfather, who passed away. Shown from the perspective of children in the home, Manjadikkuru portrays the realities of family issues. The nostalgic reunion combined with the narration of Pritviraj, who plays Vicky sr., Manjadikkuru, is a movie you can watch and enjoy with your kids.
 

Pookaalam Varavaayi (1991)

Written by Ranjith, based on a Malayalam story written by P.R. Nathan, and directed by Kamal, Pookaalam Varavaayi (Spring is Coming) is a Malayalam family comedy drama. The story revolves around the adorable five-year-old girl Geethu, played by Baby Shamili, whose parents got divorced. Geethu befriends her school bus driver, Nandan, played by Jayaram, and goes to his village for vacation without informing her parents. The film portrays Geethu’s struggle with her parent’s divorce, the grief of Nandan’s sister, who recently lost a daughter, and the effects of emotional neglect by parents on adolescent children.
 

Kummatty (1979)

Kummatty is a 1979 fantasy drama written and directed by G. Aravindan, tagged as one of the classic children’s films of Malayalam. Set in a northern Kerala village, the film revolves around the trickster magician 'Kummatty', who, with the power to turn the children of the village into animals, forgets to turn Chindan, who has transformed into a dog, back to his human form. Like most of G. Aravindan’s work, Kummatty is unique in its concepts and themes, and even though it is a very old film, you and your children are still going to enjoy the fantasy elements and magical realism in this movie.
 

Learn Malayalam

Visual media is one of the most influential forms of media, and movies can help your kid understand and learn Malayalam more effectively. However, that alone is not enough. Curated Malayalam classes for kids can improve their communication skills, vocabulary and overall comprehension of the language. Akshharam is one of the most innovative platforms out there, offering well-curated online Malayalam classes for kids. Connect with us to learn more about the courses we offer.