Twelve Malayalam films have official Hindi remakes on this list, with each Hindi film crediting the Malayalam original. They run from a 1984 comedy to two 2019 thrillers, and Priyadarshan directed eight of the remakes. For each pair we give the director, cast, runtime and where the original reportedly streams.
Updated on: Oct 23, 2026
Quick facts
- Pairs: 12 Malayalam originals with official Hindi remakes
- Originals span: 1984 to 2019
- Most remakes: Priyadarshan, 8
- Same director both times: Body Guard / Bodyguard (Siddique) and Helen / Mili (Mathukutty Xavier)
- Where to watch: listings are reported and vary; four originals had no India listing in our check
1. Drishyam (2013)
- Director: Jeethu Joseph
- Cast: Mohanlal
- Runtime: 164 minutes
- Hindi remake: Drishyam (2015), dir. Nishikant Kamat, with Ajay Devgn and Tabu
- Where to watch (original): reportedly JioHotstar
Our take: The best-known pair here. More on Drishyam.
2. Manichitrathazhu (1993)
- Director: Fazil
- Cast: Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Shobana
- Runtime: 157 minutes
- Hindi remake: Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), dir. Priyadarshan, with Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan
- Where to watch (original): reportedly Prime Video and JioHotstar
Our take: The classic behind one of Hindi cinema's best-known horror comedies.
3. Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)
- Director: Siddique–Lal
- Cast: Sai Kumar, Mukesh, Innocent
- Runtime: 150 minutes
- Hindi remake: Hera Pheri (2000), dir. Priyadarshan, with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal
- Where to watch (original): reportedly only on Eros Now Select (Apple TV channel)
Our take: Watch it if you grew up on Hera Pheri.
4. Body Guard (2010)
- Director: Siddique
- Cast: Dileep, Nayanthara, Mithra Kurian
- Runtime: 157 minutes
- Hindi remake: Bodyguard (2011), also directed by Siddique, with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor
- Where to watch (original): no India listing found in our check; search your app
Our take: One of the few pairs here where the same director made both versions.
5. Godfather (1991)
- Director: Siddique–Lal
- Cast: N. N. Pillai, Mukesh
- Runtime: 150 minutes
- Hindi remake: Hulchul (2004), dir. Priyadarshan
- Where to watch (original): reportedly Prime Video and JioHotstar
Our take: A family-feud comedy from the Ramji Rao Speaking directors.
6. Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984)
- Director: Priyadarshan
- Cast: Shankar, Mohanlal, Menaka
- Runtime: 150 minutes
- Hindi remake: Hungama (2003), dir. Priyadarshan
- Where to watch (original): reportedly only on Eros Now Select (Apple TV channel)
Our take: Priyadarshan remade his own film; the original itself credits Dickens's play The Strange Gentleman.
7. Katha Parayumpol (2007)
- Director: M. Mohanan
- Cast: Sreenivasan, Meena, Mammootty
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Hindi remake: Billu (2009, aka Billu Barber), dir. Priyadarshan, with Irrfan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan
- Where to watch (original): reportedly JioHotstar and Sun NXT
Our take: A gentle friendship story, with Mammootty in the star role.
8. Kireedam (1989)
- Director: Sibi Malayil
- Cast: Mohanlal, Thilakan, Parvathy Jayaram
- Runtime: 140 minutes
- Hindi remake: Gardish (1993), dir. Priyadarshan, with Jackie Shroff
- Where to watch (original): reportedly Prime Video and JioHotstar
Our take: The most serious original on this list.
9. Vellanakalude Nadu (1988)
- Director: Priyadarshan
- Cast: Mohanlal, Shobhana, Lizy
- Runtime: 129 minutes
- Hindi remake: Khatta Meetha (2010), dir. Priyadarshan, with Akshay Kumar
- Where to watch (original): no India listing found in our check; search your app
Our take: Another case of Priyadarshan remaking his own film.
10. Driving Licence (2019)
- Director: Lal Jr.
- Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Suraj Venjaramoodu
- Runtime: 135 minutes
- Hindi remake: Selfiee (2023), dir. Raj Mehta, with Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi
- Where to watch (original): reportedly Prime Video and JioHotstar
Our take: A star-versus-fan comedy, and one of the most recent pairs.
11. Punjabi House (1998)
- Director: Rafi Mecartin
- Cast: Dileep, Harisree Ashokan, Mohini
- Runtime: 150 minutes
- Hindi remake: Chup Chup Ke (2006), dir. Priyadarshan, with Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor
- Where to watch (original): no India listing found in our check; search your app
Our take: A comedy that works without knowing the remake.
12. Helen (2019)
- Director: Mathukutty Xavier
- Cast: Anna Ben, Lal, Noble Babu Thomas
- Runtime: 117 minutes
- Hindi remake: Mili (2022), also directed by Mathukutty Xavier, with Janhvi Kapoor
- Where to watch (original): no India listing found in our check; search your app
Our take: The shortest original here, at 117 minutes.
FAQs
Which Malayalam movie was remade as Drishyam in Hindi?
Drishyam (2013), directed by Jeethu Joseph with Mohanlal. The Hindi version (2015) was directed by Nishikant Kamat.
Is Hera Pheri a remake of a Malayalam movie?
Yes. Hera Pheri (2000) is based on Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), directed by Siddique–Lal.
What is Bhool Bhulaiyaa based on?
Manichitrathazhu (1993), directed by Fazil, with Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Shobana.
Which director made the most of these Hindi remakes?
Priyadarshan, with eight of the twelve on this list.
Where can I watch the Malayalam originals?
Several are reportedly on Prime Video and JioHotstar. Body Guard, Vellanakalude Nadu, Punjabi House and Helen had no India listing in our check.
Also read: Abhishek Pathak explains why Drishyam: The Conclusion is a Hindi original, not a Drishyam 3 remake
