IFFI 2026 Puts Malayalam Cinema and Prem Nazir in Focus

The 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which runs in Goa from 20 to 28 November 2026 under the theme Stories without Borders, has given Malayalam cinema a wide place in its programme. The selection reaches from the era of the actor called the evergreen romantic hero to the work of a new set of directors.

A centenary screening

The festival marks the centenaries of several figures of Indian cinema, and for Malayalam audiences the attraction is Thulabharam, a film tied to the actor Prem Nazir. The screening gives viewers a chance to return to performances that shaped the history of cinema in the country.

Films in the sections

• Sarvam Maya, directed by Akhil Sathyan, is in the feature film section of Indian Panorama. The supernatural drama has Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Riya Shibu and Priety Mukundan in its cast, and follows Prabhendu, an atheist musician drawn into an unusual bond with the spirit of a young woman, working through faith, love and self-discovery.
• Ottanjaavalmaram, or A Lone Jamun Tree, directed by Shruthi Sharanyam, is in the New Horizon section of Indian Panorama.
• Ajayante Maranam: Oru Case Study, directed by Sreehari Haridas, also features in New Horizon.
• Switch Off, a short film of 11 minutes directed by Sandeep Francis, is part of the non-feature selection.
• Half, directed by Samjad, a filmmaker from Keralam, will be screened under Gala Premieres.

Sessions and conversations

Malayalam film personalities also figure in the festival's special interactions. The filmmaker and actor Basil Joseph takes part in an In Conversation session titled The Epic Genres - Mythologies, Superheroes and New Worlds, which looks at how epic storytelling in cinema is changing. The playback singer K. S. Chithra, known as the Melody Queen, leads a retrospective session in tribute to the singers Asha Bhosle and S. Janaki.

What the festival sets out to do

Taken together, these choices show the range of themes and the different ways of storytelling that mark Malayalam cinema today. The festival as a whole is built to bring films, filmmakers and audiences from India and abroad onto one platform, encouraging cultural exchange and treating cinema as a language shared across borders.