Short answer: Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad have made 20 films together, from the director's very first in 1982 to his most recent in 2025. Most are gentle family comedies, and many were written by Sreenivasan. Now the story moves to a second generation, with Sathyan's son Anoop directing Mohanlal in L368.
We built this list by matching Sathyan Anthikad's directing credits against Mohanlal's filmography on Wikipedia. Where to watch is as of Nov 2, 2026. Films without a platform line had no India listing we could confirm.
Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad: quick facts
- Films together: 20 (our count)
- First: Kurukkante Kalyanam (1982), Sathyan's debut as director, in which Mohanlal has a small role
- Latest: Hridayapoorvam (Aug 28, 2025)
- Busiest year: 1986, with five films
- Frequent writer: Sreenivasan, who wrote six of the films on this list
- Longest gap: 1994 to 2006, between Pingami and Rasathanthram
- Streams most often on: JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
- What is next: L368, directed by Anoop Sathyan
The 1980s: where it all began (films 1 to 14)
Fourteen of the twenty films came in the first eight years. This is the run that made the pair a byword for warm, middle class comedy.
1. Kurukkante Kalyanam (1982): Sathyan's first film as director, written by P. Balakrishnan. Mohanlal plays a small part.
2. Appunni (1984): Adapted from a V. K. N. novel.
3. Kaliyil Alpam Karyam (1984): Written by P. Balakrishnan.
4. Aduthaduthu (1984): Written by John Paul.
5. Adhyayam Onnu Muthal (1985): Written by John Paul.
6. Pappan Priyappetta Pappan (1986): Written by Siddique and Lal. Streams on JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
7. T. P. Balagopalan M.A. (1986): Written by Sreenivasan. Streams on JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
8. Revathikkoru Pavakkutty (1986): Written by John Paul.
9. Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986): Written by Sreenivasan.
10. Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986): Written by Sreenivasan. Streams on JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
11. Nadodikkattu (1987): Written by Sreenivasan.
12. Pattanapravesham (1988): Written by Sreenivasan.
13. Varavelpu (1989): Written by Sreenivasan.
14. Lal Americayil (1989): Written by Cochin Haneefa.
Our take: if you only have one evening, pick Nadodikkattu. The way Mohanlal and Sreenivasan play off each other is the heart of this partnership, and it is the film most people quote first. Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam and Varavelpu are the next two to try. All three come from the Sreenivasan years, which run from 1986 to 1989 and give the pair its most famous stretch.
The early films before 1986 are harder to find. None of the first five has a streaming listing we could confirm as of Nov 2, 2026, so check back, because older Malayalam titles do get added to streaming catalogues from time to time. If you see them on television, they are worth a look for how young and loose Mohanlal is on screen.
Here is the official Vaisakha Sandhye song from Nadodikkattu, with Shobana:
The 1990s: one film (film 15)
15. Pingami (1994): Written by Raghunath Paleri, and a darker turn for the pair. Streams on JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
Wikipedia notes that Pingami was a commercial failure on release but has gained a cult following over the years. It was their last film together for twelve years.
The return: 2006 to 2025 (films 16 to 20)
The pair came back in 2006 and made five more films over the next two decades.
16. Rasathanthram (2006): Written by Sathyan himself, with Mukesh in the cast.
17. Innathe Chintha Vishayam (2008): Also written by Sathyan, and another film with Mukesh.
18. Snehaveedu (2011): Written by Sathyan. Streams on JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
19. Ennum Eppozhum (2015): Written by Ranjan Pramod, with Manju Warrier.
20. Hridayapoorvam (2025): Written by Sonu T. P. Released on Aug 28, 2025. Streams on JioHotstar (as of Nov 2, 2026)
Our take: Rasathanthram is the best of the later films and the easiest to love if you are new to the pair. Hridayapoorvam shows the old warmth still works with a newer cast around him.
Here is the official Hridayapoorvam trailer, from Aashirvad Cinemas:
Next: L368 with Anoop Sathyan
The partnership now has a second chapter. L368, directed by Anoop Sathyan, Sathyan Anthikad's son, was launched with a pooja in Kochi on Oct 30. Anoop writes and directs, and Binu George Alexander produces with Aashirvad Cinemas and Antony Perumbavoor. Mohanlal posted the pooja title card on X:
@Mohanlal on XView post on X →
At the pooja, Mohanlal said, as Mathrubhumi reported and in our translation, "I am someone who has acted in Sathyan Anthikad's films, from the very first he directed to the latest." This morning he posted on X that the shoot is in progress. We have not embedded that post because its photo includes a young child.
IANS reported that Mohanlal described working with Sathyan Anthikad from his first film to his latest film, adding, "It is like a wonderful journey and I am happy to continue it with his son."
Cinema Express reported on Oct 30 that the cast around Mohanlal includes Mukesh, Sangeeth Prathap, Aju Varghese, Rajesh Madhavan and Eva Thennal. Jakes Bejoy composes the music and Shehnad Jalal handles the camera. The shoot starts in Kochi and then moves to Idukki, Mangaluru and other parts of Karnataka.
The father and son paths also run in parallel. Sathyan Anthikad has confirmed that his own next film as director will also star Mohanlal, so the partnership that began with Kurukkante Kalyanam in 1982 is far from finished.
Read what we know about L368 and our story on Mohanlal and Mukesh reuniting for the film.
The writers behind the 20 films
A Sathyan Anthikad film is often a writer's film too. Across these twenty titles, the scripts come from a small group of names.
- Sreenivasan: six films, from T. P. Balagopalan M.A. (1986) to Varavelpu (1989)
- John Paul: three films, Aduthaduthu, Adhyayam Onnu Muthal and Revathikkoru Pavakkutty
- P. Balakrishnan: two films, Kurukkante Kalyanam and Kaliyil Alpam Karyam
- Sathyan Anthikad himself: three films, Rasathanthram, Innathe Chintha Vishayam and Snehaveedu
- One film each: V. K. N. (Appunni), Siddique and Lal (Pappan Priyappetta Pappan), Cochin Haneefa (Lal Americayil), Raghunath Paleri (Pingami), Ranjan Pramod (Ennum Eppozhum) and Sonu T. P. (Hridayapoorvam)
Our take: the Sreenivasan scripts are the reason this pairing is remembered, but the later films Sathyan wrote himself are gentler and easier for a family audience.
How to watch them in order
- Start with: Nadodikkattu, then Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam
- For streaming tonight: T. P. Balagopalan M.A., Pingami or Hridayapoorvam on JioHotstar
- For the Sreenivasan years: go through films 7 to 13
- For something different: Pingami
FAQs
How many films have Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad made together?
Twenty, from Kurukkante Kalyanam (1982) to Hridayapoorvam (2025), by our count from Wikipedia filmographies.
What was the first Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad film?
Kurukkante Kalyanam (1982), which was also Sathyan Anthikad's first film as director.
Where can I watch Hridayapoorvam?
It streams on JioHotstar, as of Nov 2, 2026.
Who directs L368?
Anoop Sathyan, Sathyan Anthikad's son. The film had its pooja in Kochi on Oct 30.
Which films did Sreenivasan write for the pair?
T. P. Balagopalan M.A., Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham and Varavelpu.
Related reading
Malayalam summary
മോഹൻലാലും സത്യൻ അന്തിക്കാടും ഒന്നിച്ച് 20 സിനിമകൾ ചെയ്തു. 1982ലെ കുറുക്കന്റെ കല്യാണം മുതൽ 2025ലെ ഹൃദയപൂർവം വരെ നീളുന്നതാണ് ഈ കൂട്ടുകെട്ട്. നാടോടിക്കാറ്റ്, വരവേൽപ്പ്, രസതന്ത്രം തുടങ്ങിയവ ഇതിൽ പ്രധാനം. സത്യന്റെ മകൻ അനൂപ് സത്യൻ സംവിധാനം ചെയ്യുന്ന L368 ആണ് അടുത്ത അധ്യായം.
