The Surge in Hanging Scenes in Malayalam Cinema

In 2025, the Malayalam film industry has emerged as the most talked-about and widely watched film industry in India. For many Malayalees, this recognition is a source of pride. Mention Kerala anywhere in the country, and conversations quickly turn to the quality and creativity of Malayalam cinema.

Streaming platforms and theatres have seen a surge in viewership in Malayalam films. The movies continue to earn praise for their strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and realistic dialogue. The industry is often celebrated for moving away from predictable plots and familiar tropes that once dominated mainstream entertainment.

But amid this creative rise, a disturbing trend has begun to surface. A noticeable number of films released this year depict death by hanging—sometimes as suicide, sometimes murder, and occasionally by accident. A review of recent OTT releases alone reveals more than ten films featuring one or more scenes involving hanging.

This on-screen trend reflects a troubling reality outside theatres. Reports of deaths by hanging have increased across the country, drawing significant public concern. Today, it has even become a national talking point following the deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) working with SIR. News reports across print, television, and digital platforms frequently highlight such cases, but the details rarely linger in public memory. However when the scenes are portrayed in cinema it creates a lasting impression on the viewer’s mind.

Film, unlike news reports, has a lasting emotional impact. Some Malayalam movies this year have shown graphic or highly detailed depictions of hanging, raising questions about whether such portrayals are necessary—or potentially harmful. Social media continues to debate whether cinema can directly influence an individual’s actions. But the uncertainty itself, should be the reason that some steps need to be taken to restrain such scenes from the movies.

Some of the recent Malayalam releases containing scenes or references to hanging are 

• Ponman: A suicide attempt is stopped, followed by counselling.
• Mirage: The antagonist dies after his neck gets caught in construction wire.
• Prince and Family: A shop owner survives an attempted suicide.
• Officer on Duty: Multiple deaths by hanging are shown.
• Sumathi Valavu: Two characters are found murdered and hanged.
• Ronth: A movies almost entierly focused on mental stress and suicide.
• Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira: Two suicide attempts are abandoned; one accidental hanging occurs but saved.
• Pravinkoodu Shappu: A hanging initially presumed to be suicide later becomes a murder investigation plot of the movie.
• Kadha Innu Varae: A character dies by hanging.
• Aabhyantra Kuttavali: A noose appears prominently in promotional material. However  it is used to hang the bunch of bananas, giving a sense of relief to the viewers. 
  

India’s premier medical institute, AIIMS, has launched helplines and mobile app aimed at suicide prevention—an indication of the severity of the crisis. With such alarming real-world statistics, the film industry should reevaluate how it portrays scenes, particularly through hanging, one of the most widely reported methods in recent years.

Filmmakers have artistic freedom and a responsibility to portray society as it is. Yet such sensitive themes require sensitive handling. Statutory warnings, content advisories, or less explicit visual representation could be steps toward a more responsible approach.

At a time when Malayalam cinema is earning national admiration for innovation and storytelling, the industry also faces a crucial question: Should the entertainment industry repeatedly show minute details of a method of death that has already claimed far too many lives?