Few Malayalam banners have built a name as fast as Bhavana Studios. Started by Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil and writer Syam Pushkaran, it has made six films since 2019, and almost each one has turned into a talking point. One thing to know first: the banner's distribution arm, Bhavana Release, also puts other producers' films in Kerala theatres, and those are not Bhavana productions.
This guide lists every film on the official Bhavana Studios projects page, in release order, with where each one streams as of November 5, 2026.
Bhavana Studios films at a glance
Kumbalangi Nights (2019). Director: Madhu C Narayanan. Writer: Syam Pushkaran. Leads: Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir, Shane Nigam, Sreenath Bhasi. Streaming on Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
Joji (2021). Director: Dileesh Pothan. Writer: Syam Pushkaran. Lead: Fahadh Faasil. Streaming on Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
Palthu Janwar (2022). Director: Sangeeth P Rajan. Writers: Vinoy Thomas, Aneesh Anjali. Lead: Basil Joseph. Streaming on JioHotstar (as of November 5, 2026).
Thankam (2023). Director: Saheed Arafath. Writer: Syam Pushkaran. Leads: Biju Menon, Vineeth Sreenivasan. Streaming on Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
Premalu (2024). Director: Girish AD. Writers: Girish AD, Kiran Josey. Leads: Naslen, Mamitha Baiju. Premalu is not streaming in Malayalam as of November 5, 2026; JioHotstar removed it in August 2026, ahead of the Hindi remake Prem Keetanu. The Telugu dub is on aha.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (2026). Director: Girish AD. Writers: Girish AD, Kiran Josey. Leads: Nivin Pauly, Mamitha Baiju. Streaming on JioHotstar (as of November 5, 2026).
How Bhavana Studios started
The company's own website describes it as a digital entertainment company partnered by director Dileesh Pothan, actor Fahadh Faasil and scenarist Syam Pushkaran. It lists movie production, promotions, digital content and distribution as its work, and its office is in Kakkanad, Kochi.
The name comes from a film the three made together before the company existed. In Dileesh's Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), written by Syam, Bhavana Studios is the photo studio run by Fahadh's character, Mahesh. The trio gave their production house the name of that fictional studio from their first film together, Mathrubhumi reported in an August 2026 feature.
1. Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
Released: February 7, 2019. Runtime: 135 minutes. Music: Sushin Shyam. Cinematography: Shyju Khalid.
The banner's first production, and still the film most people reach for when they talk about it. Kumbalangi Nights follows four brothers, Saji, Boney, Bobby and Franky, who share a run-down house on the edge of the backwaters and barely get along. When Bobby falls for a local girl, the brothers have to decide whether they can stand by him. Fahadh plays Shammi, a character who has since become one of the most quoted in recent Malayalam cinema.
Our take: this is the film to start with if you want to understand why the banner matters. If the setting stays with you, our guide to the Kumbalangi Nights shooting locations shows how to visit them.
Where to watch: Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
2. Joji (2021)
Released: April 7, 2021. Runtime: 113 minutes. Music: Justin Varghese. Cinematography: Shyju Khalid.
Dileesh directed this one himself, from Syam's script. Mathrubhumi reported that it came as a direct OTT release during the Covid period. Fahadh plays Joji, an engineering dropout and the youngest son of a wealthy plantation family, who dreams of becoming rich on his own terms. An unexpected event in the family gives him an opening, and greed does the rest. The film is widely read as a loose take on Macbeth.
Our take: quiet, slow and unsettling. Go in knowing as little as possible.
Where to watch: Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
3. Palthu Janwar (2022)
Released: September 2, 2022. Runtime: 117 minutes. Music: Justin Varghese. Cinematography: Renadive.
With its third film, Bhavana stepped away from Fahadh as the lead. Basil Joseph plays an animator who is pushed into a job as a livestock inspector in a hill village, a role he never wanted. Indrans, Johny Antony, Shammy Thilakan and Dileesh himself fill out the village. Debutant Sangeeth P Rajan directed, and the script is by Vinoy Thomas and Aneesh Anjali.
Our take: the gentlest film on this list, and a good pick for a family watch.
Where to watch: JioHotstar (as of November 5, 2026).
4. Thankam (2023)
Released: January 26, 2023. Runtime: 145 minutes. Music: Bijibal. Cinematography: Gautham Sankar.
Thankam moves the banner into crime drama. Biju Menon and Vineeth Sreenivasan play Muthu and Kannan, gold agents from Thrissur, whose trip to Mumbai to deliver gold goes wrong in ways neither of them expected. Saheed Arafath directed from a Syam Pushkaran script, and Marathi actor Girish Kulkarni and Aparna Balamurali are also in the cast.
Our take: the most underrated title here, and a strong pick if you like slow burn investigations.
Where to watch: Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
5. Premalu (2024)
Released: February 9, 2024. Runtime: 156 minutes. Music: Vishnu Vijay. Cinematography: Ajmal Sabu.
Premalu is the film that made Bhavana a household name outside Kerala. Naslen plays Sachin, a young man from Kerala who lands in Hyderabad and falls for Reenu, played by Mamitha Baiju, and complications follow. Girish AD directed and co-wrote it with Kiran Josey. Syam Pushkaran himself turns up in a small, funny part, as Mathrubhumi noted. The film was one of the best-loved Malayalam hits of 2024.
A Hindi remake, Prem Keetanu, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki with Veer Pahariya and Aafiya Sayed, came to theatres on October 2, 2026. The Week reported that it is produced by Avanika Films in association with Bhavana Studios.
Where to watch: Premalu is not streaming in Malayalam as of November 5, 2026; JioHotstar removed it in August 2026, ahead of the Hindi remake Prem Keetanu. The Telugu dub is on aha.
6. Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (2026)
Released: August 21, 2026. Runtime: 137 minutes. Music: Vishnu Vijay. Cinematography: Ajmal Sabu.
Girish AD and Mamitha Baiju came back to the banner for this Onam release. Mamitha plays Ashley, who returns home from abroad just as a wedding next door brings back memories of her first love, Justin, played by Nivin Pauly. Sangeeth Prathap, Shyam Mohan, Vinay Forrt, Suresh Krishna, Bindu Panicker and Srinda are also in the cast.
Our take: if Premalu was the city film, this is its village cousin. Read more on the Bethlehem Kudumba Unit page.
Where to watch: JioHotstar since October 2, 2026 (as of November 5, 2026).
What Bhavana Studios is making next
Fahadh Faasil's Karate Chandran started filming in Kottayam on October 24, 2026, which the banner announced on X as its Production No. 8. Roy, a longtime associate of Dileesh, directs from a script by S. Hareesh and Vinoy Thomas. Bhavana first announced the film in February 2024. No release date has been set.
The official projects page lists six released films against a production number of eight, and the banner has not shared a numbered list, so we are not filling in the gap.
Bhavana Release films this month
Bhavana Release is the distribution side of the company. These films are in Kerala theatres through it, but they are not Bhavana Studios productions.
Mookuthi Amman 2, the Nayanthara film directed by Sundar C, releases in Kerala on November 6 through Bhavana Release.
Bouma, a thriller from Pendulum director Rejin S Babu, opens on November 12. It is produced by Atus Films, with Vineeth, Dileesh Pothan and Sagar Surya in the lead. Our Bouma distribution story has the details.
Separately, Bhavana Studios has taken the Kerala distribution rights for Kalidas Jayaram's Many Many Happy Returns, directed by Ahammed Khabeer. Its release date has not been announced.
Where to start with Bhavana Studios films
For a feel good watch, start with Premalu or Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, and keep Palthu Janwar for a family evening.
For something darker, try Joji, then Thankam.
For the full experience, watch Kumbalangi Nights first. It is still the clearest picture of what this banner set out to do. For more comfort picks beyond this banner, see our list of Malayalam feel good movies.
FAQs
What films has Bhavana Studios produced? Six, per its official site: Kumbalangi Nights, Joji, Palthu Janwar, Thankam, Premalu and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Karate Chandran is in production.
Who owns Bhavana Studios? Its website names Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil and Syam Pushkaran as the partners.
Is Bouma a Bhavana Studios film? No. Bouma is an Atus Films production. Bhavana Release is distributing it in Kerala.
Where can I watch Premalu? Premalu is not streaming in Malayalam as of November 5, 2026; JioHotstar removed it in August 2026, ahead of the Hindi remake Prem Keetanu. The Telugu dub is on aha.
Where can I watch Joji and Kumbalangi Nights? Both stream on Prime Video (as of November 5, 2026).
What is Bhavana Release? It is the distribution arm of Bhavana Studios, which releases films by other producers in Kerala.
