Malayalam Songs That Capture Onam Best

From timeless classics to modern favourites, these 10 Malayalam songs capture the colour, warmth and togetherness of Onam like few others can.

IMAGE: Aima Sebastian and Nivin Pauly in Jacobinte Swargarajyam.

 

We do not need to explain why Onam is such a massive deal for Malayalis. While the roots of the festival might lie in Hindu mythology, it has evolved into a cultural phenomenon celebrated across all religions in the state, standing as a beautiful symbol of religious harmony in Kerala.

This spirit is also perfectly reflected in how Malayalam cinema uses Onam as an occasion to bring people together and cast aside all tensions. Most Onam sequences on screen feature characters uniting to make the festival as colourful and joyous as possible, wiping away any lingering bitterness.

You will rarely find an Onam scene bogged down by conflict or fights. It is almost as if filmmakers want the viewer to experience the festival for what it truly represents: a unifying celebration of Kerala’s oneness and prosperity.

On the occasion of Onam, Sreeju Sudhakaran rounds up 10 popular Malayalam film songs that perfectly capture the festive spirit.

Poovili Poovili from Vishukkani (1977)

IMAGE: Prem Nazir and Vidhubala in Vishukkani.

Even though the movie’s title references the festival of Vishu, its soundtrack features one of the most iconic Onam songs of all time, picturised on Prem Nazir and Vidhubala.

Onam also marks the state’s harvest season, and this song celebrates both the agricultural bounty and the romance in the air, expressed beautifully by the great K J Yesudas. The timeless track is composed by Salil Chowdhury, with lyrics by Sreekumaran Thampi.

Mavelikkum Pookalam from Ithu Njangalude Katha (1982)

IMAGE: Shanthi Krishna and Sreenath in Ithu Njangalude Katha.

In this celebratory track, a gang of friends (played by Sreenath, Mukesh, Jagathy Sreekumar, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Santhosh) try to cheer up their new friend, Shanthi Krishna, on the occasion of Onam.

They pull off an impromptu Thiruvathira dance of their own, much to the sheer amusement of the neighbours. Yesudas provides the vocals for this Johnson composition, with lyrics penned by P Bhaskaran.

Poovenam from Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam (1987)

IMAGE: Nedumudi Venu, Parvathy and Sharada in Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam.

In Bharathan’s emotional tearjerker, Nedumudi Venu and Sharada play a childless older couple whose parental instincts reawaken when they host a young distant relative.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Onam festivities, Poovenam marks the emotional high point of this newfound relationship. They wholeheartedly embrace the young girl as their own, showering her with gold, new clothes, and unconditional love.

Once again, it is Yesudas lending his vocal magic to a Johnson composition, with lyrics written by O N V Kurup.

Sreeragamo from Pavithram (1994)

IMAGE: Thilakan, Mohanlal and Srividya in Pavithram.

The early portions of this heartbreaking film capture the characters at their liveliest. Sreeragamo beautifully represents this joyous, carefree phase in the life of Mohanlal’s protagonist, using Onam as the perfect occasion to encapsulate the warm togetherness he shares with his family and his girlfriend.

The mesmerising track is composed by Sharreth and written by O N V Kurup, featuring breathtaking vocals from K J Yesudas and Sujatha.

Onathumbi Paadoo from Superman (1997)

IMAGE: Jayaram, Nedumudi Venu, Zeenath and Vinduja Menon in Superman.

Yesudas strikes again with yet another Onam classic. Here, the song depicts the simpler, happier times of the hero (Jayaram) and his family, kicking off with them celebrating Onam in an intimate manner.

Yet, there is a distinct undercurrent of poignancy in the melody, subtly hinting at the string of tragedies that will soon befall this happy unit and send the protagonist down a dark, vengeful path.

S P Venkatesh composed the track, with lyrics by S Ramesan Nair.

Onappaattin Thaalam Thullum from Quotation (2004)

IMAGE: Sujitha in Quotation.

Malayali cinema fans might not remember this violent action thriller, but they have definitely heard its catchy Onam anthem, which cleverly blends modern beats with traditional festive rhythms.

The sequence also marks the moment the recovering protagonist (Arun) sees the heroine (Sujitha) clearly for the first time. The bright, colourful Onam festivities provide a striking backdrop for the life she lives in, standing in stark contrast to the gritty criminal underworld he inhabits.

Sabeesh George both composed and sang the track, with lyrics by Brajesh Ramachandran.

Malare from Premam (2015)

IMAGE: Sai Pallavi in Premam.

Unlike the other entries on this list, Premam‘s most iconic and romantic song is not strictly about Onam.

Instead, it captures the blossoming love between Nivin Pauly’s George and his college lecturer, Malar (Sai Pallavi, in her unforgettable breakout performance).

However, a crucial portion of the song is set right in the middle of the college’s grand Onam celebrations, where the couple coyly exchange lingering glances and sweet conversation amid the festive chaos.

While the senior Yesudas dominated the previous tracks on our list, Malare was crooned by his talented son Vijay Yesudas. Rajesh Murugesan composed the popular hit, with lyrics by Shabareesh Varma (who also played one of George’s closest friends).

Thiruvaavaniraavu from Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016)

IMAGE: Nivin Pauly in Jacobinte Swargarajyam.

I do not think there is any modern track more heavily associated with Onam today than this beautiful Shaan Rahman composition.

Showcasing how the Malayali diaspora in the Middle East celebrates the festival with the exact same fervour as their families back home, the song also captures the absolute happiest point for the central family in this Vineeth Sreenivasan dramedy.

It perfectly highlights their warm togetherness before financial troubles eventually tear their world apart.

Unni Menon, Sithara Krishnakumar, and Meera Scharma provided the vocals, with lyrics by Manu Manjith.

Poli Poli Poove from Four (2022)

IMAGE: Gopika Ramesh in Four.

Four is a breezy high school campus entertainer that completely flew under the radar when it was released in 2022.

Alongside veteran actors like Siddique, Johny Antony and Suresh Krishna, the film featured a young cast featuring then-upcoming talents Mamitha Baiju and Gopika Ramesh.

While the movie itself might have faded from memory, its vibrant campus Onam song became quite a hit, largely thanks to its colourful visuals and Bijibal’s effervescent tune.

Poli Poli Poove was sung by Nishad and Sangeetha Sreekanth, with lyrics by Santhosh Varma.

Pularkale Poovilikettu from Pavi Caretaker (2024)

IMAGE: Dileep in Pavi Caretaker.

In this romantic family entertainer, Dileep plays the dedicated caretaker of a plush residential complex who acts as the ultimate go-to man for the tenants.

This melodious track sees the wealthy residents and the working-class employees celebrating Onam together, completely ignoring any class or religious divides. It is packed with vibrant visuals and an enjoyable, warm bonhomie between the characters.

Vijay Yesudas and Nithya Mammen lent their voices to this lovely Midhun Mukundan composition, with lyrics penned by Shibu Chakravarthy.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff