Every Mandala season brings Sabarimala back to Malayalam screens in some form. The pilgrimage has shaped films for more than six decades, from a 1961 devotional to a 2027 thriller, and the song that closes the temple each night first reached audiences through a film. Here is how that story has played out on screen, with where you can watch each one today.
At a glance
1961: Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan, dir. S. M. Sreeramulu Naidu
1970: Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha, dir. M. Krishnan Nair
1975: Swami Ayyappan, dir. P. Subramaniam
1982: Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum, dir. N. P. Suresh
2001: Saranam Saranam Ponnayyappa, dir. Sathyanath
2022: Malikappuram, dir. Vishnu Sasi Shankar (JioHotstar)
Upcoming: Manikanda (Tamil) and Harivarasanam
Timeline: Sabarimala on screen
- 1961, Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan: S. M. Sreeramulu Naidu directed what is described as the first Malayalam film on the temple. Its cast could not be verified.
- 1970, Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha: M. Krishnan Nair's film released on December 11, with Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Hari, Manavalan Joseph and Sridevi.
- 1975, Swami Ayyappan: P. Subramaniam's film released on August 17, with Gemini Ganesan, Thikkurissy and Master Raghu. This is the film that introduced Harivarasanam, sung by Yesudas and composed by Devarajan.
- 1982, Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum: N. P. Suresh directed Prem Nazir, Srividya, M. G. Soman and Nalini in a film whose title pairs Ayyappa with Vavar.
- 2001, Saranam Saranam Ponnayyappa: Sathyanath's film is listed among Sabarimala-based Malayalam films. Its cast could not be verified.
- 2022, Malikappuram: the modern reference point, released on December 30.
- Upcoming: Manikanda in Tamil, and Harivarasanam, reportedly on January 15, 2027.
None of the films from 1961 to 2001 is on Indian streaming platforms, according to JustWatch. Streaming checked October 28, 2026.
What the pilgrimage looks like on screen
The Sabarimala film is built from a small set of traditions that audiences recognise instantly. The pilgrim's black clothing, the vow before the trek, the climb through forest paths and the season itself all carry meaning before a single line of dialogue. That is why these films can lean on images rather than exposition.
The calendar matters too. The Mandala season and Makaravilakku give the genre its natural release window. According to the Travancore Devaswom Board, as reported, the temple opens on November 16 this year and the Mandala season begins on November 17. It is no accident that Manikanda is reportedly aimed at the Mandala season and that Harivarasanam's poster points to Makaravilakku.
Music is the third pillar. Harivarasanam, the song Swami Ayyappan brought to audiences in 1975 in Yesudas's voice, is the clearest example of a film shaping how a tradition is heard. Few film songs have travelled that far from the screen.
How the films differ
The early films, from 1961 to 1982, belong to the classic devotional mould. They were built around star casts of their time, with Thikkurissy appearing in both the 1970 and 1975 films, Gemini Ganesan leading Swami Ayyappan and Prem Nazir heading Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum. Their titles put the deity at the centre, and Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum adds Vavar to that frame.
Malikappuram changed the approach. Its official poster shows a modern hill trek with children rather than a mythological tableau. Harivarasanam goes further from the old form by calling itself a devotional thriller, about a father and daughter rather than the legend itself. Manikanda, meanwhile, takes the subject into Tamil cinema.
1. Malikappuram (2022)
- Director: Vishnu Sasi Shankar
- Cast: Unni Mukundan, Deva Nandha, Saiju Kurup
- Writer: Abhilash Pillai
- Producers: Kavya Film Company (Priya Venu and Neeta Pinto), in association with Ann Mega Media; presented by Anto Joseph
- Where to watch: JioHotstar, by subscription or free with ads (JustWatch). Streaming checked October 28, 2026.
Story: The official first look sets the tone, with Unni Mukundan in pilgrim black walking a hill path with two children. Abhilash Pillai's script keeps the pilgrimage at the centre.
Our take: Malikappuram worked because it kept faith small and human, built around children rather than miracles on a grand scale. It made the pilgrimage feel personal again for audiences who grew up on the older devotionals, and it reportedly grossed over ₹50 crore worldwide, an estimate that shows how wide that appeal travelled. Every Sabarimala film since is measured against it.
Watch the trailer:
2. Manikanda (Tamil, upcoming)
- Director: Vishnu Sasi Shankar
- Cast: Vaibhav
- Release: in the Mandala season, as reported
- Where to watch: Not released yet
Story: The makers have not shared a plot. The poster places Vaibhav in front of a giant Ayyappa idol, and we covered the details in our Manikanda first look story.
Our take: The interesting part is the move across the border. Malikappuram's director is taking the Ayyappa story to Tamil cinema, where the pilgrimage has a huge following among devotees from Tamil Nadu. If it lands, the Sabarimala film stops being a purely Malayalam form and becomes a South Indian one.
3. Harivarasanam (upcoming)
- Director: Rajesh Nair
- Cast: Saiju Kurup, with Yogi Babu (reported)
- Writer: Ampady K
- Release: January 15, 2027, as reported; the poster says only "this Makaravilakku"
- Where to watch: Not released yet
Story: A devotional thriller set against Sabarimala, about a father trying to win back his daughter's trust. Panorama Studios shared the first look on Instagram on October 27. Read more on the Harivarasanam page.
Instagram postView post on Instagram →
Our take: Its title closes a loop. The song that Swami Ayyappan gave Malayalam audiences in 1975 now names a film, almost fifty years later. Pairing it with a thriller frame suggests the genre is still finding new shapes, and a Makaravilakku release puts it right in the season it is about.
Where to start: a viewing order
1. Malikappuram (2022): start here, since it is the only title you can stream today, on JioHotstar.
2. Swami Ayyappan (1975): the film that introduced Harivarasanam, worth seeking out for the song alone.
3. Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum (1982): for a look at the classic star-led devotional with Prem Nazir.
4. Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha (1970): for the earliest verified cast in this list.
5. Manikanda and Harivarasanam: keep both on your list for the coming season.
If you only have one evening, pair Malikappuram with the Harivarasanam song and you have the genre's two most influential moments in one sitting.
Our take
The Sabarimala film has survived because it keeps changing shape. It started as a star-led devotional, became a family drama with Malikappuram and is now trying the thriller form with Harivarasanam. What stays fixed is the season, the trek and one song from 1975. That mix of a fixed ritual and a flexible story is why the genre still draws Malayalam audiences more than sixty years on.
FAQs
Which Malayalam films are about Sabarimala?
Verified titles include Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan (1961), Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha (1970), Swami Ayyappan (1975), Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum (1982), Saranam Saranam Ponnayyappa (2001) and Malikappuram (2022). Harivarasanam is the next one, reportedly due on January 15, 2027.
Where can I watch Malikappuram online?
Malikappuram streams on JioHotstar in India, by subscription or free with ads, according to JustWatch. We checked it on October 28, 2026. The older Sabarimala films are not on Indian streaming platforms.
Which film introduced the song Harivarasanam?
Swami Ayyappan (1975), directed by P. Subramaniam, introduced the Harivarasanam rendition sung by Yesudas and composed by Devarajan. The film starred Gemini Ganesan, Thikkurissy and Master Raghu.
Is Ayyappanum Koshiyum about Sabarimala?
No. The 2020 film takes its title from its two lead characters' names and is not about Ayyappa or the pilgrimage, so it is not part of this list.
Is Harivarasanam the film named after the song?
Yes. Harivarasanam, directed by Rajesh Nair with Saiju Kurup in the lead, takes its title from the song. It is billed as a devotional thriller and is reportedly releasing on January 15, 2027, while the official poster only says "this Makaravilakku".
Who directed Malikappuram and Manikanda?
Vishnu Sasi Shankar directed both. Malikappuram (2022) was a Malayalam film with Unni Mukundan, and Manikanda is his Tamil film with Vaibhav, reportedly set for the Mandala season. The two posters appear side by side at the top of this page.
When does the Sabarimala Mandala season begin in 2026?
According to the Travancore Devaswom Board, as reported, the temple opens at 5 PM on November 16 and the Mandala season starts on November 17. Mandala Pooja is on December 27, and online darshan booking opens on October 29 at 10 AM.
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ശബരിമല സിനിമകളുടെ ചരിത്രം 1961ൽ തുടങ്ങുന്നു. ഹരിവരാസനം എന്ന ഗാനം ആദ്യം എത്തിയത് സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പൻ എന്ന ചിത്രത്തിലൂടെയാണ്. ഇന്ന് സ്ട്രീം ചെയ്യാവുന്നത് മാളികപ്പുറം മാത്രം.
