# List of Malayalam films of 1981

The following is a list of Malayalam films released in the year 1981.
| Opening | Opening | Sl. No. | Film | Cast | Director | Music Director |
| J A N | 9 | 1 | Ariyappedatha Rahasyam | Prem Nazir, Jayan | P. Venu | M. K. Arjunan |
| J A N | 23 | 2 | Arayannam | Sukumaran, Sathar | P. Gopikumar | Pukazhenthi |
| J A N | 23 | 3 | Thadavara | Jayan, K. P. Ummer | P. Chandrakumar | A. T. Ummer |
| J A N | 30 | 4 | Greeshma Jwala | Ratheesh, Sukumaran | P. G. Vishwambharan | A. T. Ummer |
| J A N | 30 | 5 | Orikkal Koodi | Madhu, Sukumaran | I. V. Sasi | |
| F E B | 6 | 6 | Thaalam Manasinte Thaalam | Prem Nazir, Sheela | A. T. Abu | G. Devarajan |
| F E B | 6 | 7 | Kaloopasana | Jagathy Sreekumar, Venu Nagavally | Ahuan Sebastian | K. Raghavan |
| F E B | 13 | 8 | Kolilakkam | Madhu, Jayan | P. N. Sundaram | M. S. Viswanathan |
| F E B | 21 | 9 | Aakkramanam | Madhu, Jayan | Sreekumaran Thampi | Shyam |
| F E B | 26 | 10 | Sanchari | Prem Nazir, Jayan | Boban Kunchacko | K. J. Yesudas |
| M A R | 3 | 11 | Theekkali | Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi | J. Sasikumar | G. Devarajan |
| M A R | 12 | 12 | Pinneyum Pookkunna Kaadu | Madhu, Ratheesh | Srini | Shyam |
| M A R | 12 | 13 | Nidra | Lalu Alax Vijay Menon, Shanthi Krishna | Bharathan | G. Devarajan |
| M A R | 12 | 14 | Kathayariyathe | Srividya, Sukumaran | Mohan | G. Devarajan |
| M A R | 12 | 15 | Asthamikkatha Pakalukal | Prem Nazir, Jose | A. Sheriff | A. T. Ummer |
| M A R | 20 | 16 | Arikkari Ammu | Madhu, Jayabharathi | Sreekumaran Thampi | V. Dakshinamoorthy |
| M A R | 20 | 17 | Abhinayam | T. Jayasree, Jayan, Vidhubala | Baby | K. J. Yesudas |
| M A R | 20 | 18 | Danda Gopuram | Madhu, Srividya | P. Chandrakumar | Shyam |
| A P R | 2 | 19 | Oppol | Menaka, Balan K. Nair | K. S. Sethumadhavan | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| A P R | 9 | 20 | Ira Thedunna Manushyar | Madhu, Jayabharathi | K. Sukumaran Nair | G. Devarajan |
| A P R | 9 | 21 | Sphodanam | Sukumaran, M. G. Soman, Mammootty | P. G. Viswambharan | Shankar–Ganesh |
| A P R | 9 | 22 | Choothaattam | Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi | K. Sukumaran Nair | Shyam |
| A P R | 10 | 23 | Thushaaram | Ratheesh, Seema | I. V. Sasi | Shyam |
| A P R | 10 | 24 | Kaattu Kallan | Prem Nazir, Sukumaran | P. Chandrakumar | A. T. Ummer |
| A P R | 24 | 25 | Swarangal Swapnagal | Soman, Jayabharathi, Srividya | A. N. Thampi | G. Devarajan |
| M A Y | 1 | 26 | Kodumudikal | Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi | J. Sasikumar | M. K. Arjunan |
| M A Y | 1 | 27 | Maniyan Pilla Adhava Maniyan Pilla | Maniyanpilla Raju, Venu Nagavally | Balachandra Menon | G. Devarajan |
| M A Y | 8 | 28 | Agnisaram | Jayan, Jose Prakash | A. B. Raj | M. K. Arjunan |
| M A Y | 9 | 29 | Ellaam Ninakku Vendi | Prem Nazir, Srividya | J. Sasikumar | V. Dakshinamoorthy |
| M A Y | 29 | 30 | Valarthumrugangal | Ratheesh, Sukumaran | Hariharan | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| J U N | 5 | 31 | Veliyattam | Menaka, M. G. Soman | P. T. Rajan | M. K. Arjunan |
| J U N | 12 | 32 | Thakilu Kottampuram | Prem Nazir, Sheela | Balu Kiriyath | Darsan Raman, P. Susheeladevi |
| J U N | 19 | 33 | Kilungaatha Changalakal | Prem Nazir, Sumalatha | C. N. Venkita Swamy | A. T. Ummer |
| J U N | 26 | 34 | Kallan Pavithran | Nedumudi Venu, Adoor Bhasi | P. Padmarajan | Shyam |
| J U L | 3 | 35 | Paathira Sooryan | Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi | K. P. Pillai | V. Dakshinamoorthy |
| J U L | 3 | 36 | Sneham Oru Pravaaham | Jagathy Sreekumar, Sukumaran | Dr. Shajahan | K. J. Joy |
| J U L | 3 | 37 | Venal | Sukumaran, Nedumudi Venu | Lenin Rajendran | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| J U L | 10 | 38 | Parankimala | Sukumari, Nedumudi Venu | Bharathan | G. Devarajan |
| J U L | 10 | 39 | Inaye Thedi | Kalasala Babu, Sankaradi | Antony Eastman | Johnson |
| J U L | 17 | 40 | Vayal | Soman, Shuba | Antony Eastman | G. Devarajan |
| J U L | 24 | 41 | Agni Yudham | Jayabharathi, Jagathy Sreekumar | N. P. Suresh | A. T. Ummer |
| J U L | 29 | 42 | Saahasam | M. G. Soman, Sumalatha | K. G. Rajasekharan | Shankar–Ganesh |
| J U L | 31 | 43 | Sankharsham | Prem Nazir, Sukumaran, Ratheesh | P. G. Vishwambharan | Shankar–Ganesh |
| J U L | 31 | 44 | Kaahalam | Prem Nazir, Raveendran, Nanditha Bose | Joshiy | A. T. Ummer |
| A U G | 7 | 45 | Munnettam | Mammootty, Ratheesh | Sreekumaran Thampi | Shyam |
| A U G | 7 | 46 | Avatharam | Sukumaran, Seema | P. Chandrakumar | A. T. Ummer |
| A U G | 14 | 47 | Garjanam | Madhavi, Rajnikanth | C. V. Rajendran | Ilaiyaraaja |
| A U G | 14 | 48 | Dhanya | Srividya, Mohanlal | Fazil | Jerry Amaldev |
| A U G | 14 | 49 | Sreeman Sreemathi | Srividya, Vijayan | Hariharan | G. Devarajan |
| A U G | 21 | 50 | Attimari | Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi | J. Sasikumar | K. J. Joy |
| A U G | 21 | 51 | Prema Geethangal | Ambika, Shanavas | Balachandra Menon | Johnson |
| A U G | 21 | 52 | Thrasam | Aravindan, Balan K. Nair | Padiyan | |
| A U G | 28 | 53 | Kolangal | Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu | K. G. George | |
| S E P | 4 | 54 | Raktham | Prem Nazir, Madhu | Joshiy | Johnson |
| S E P | 5 | 55 | Chaatta | KPAC Lalitha, Nedumudi Venu | Bharathan | |
| S E P | 10 | 56 | Vida Parayum Munpe | Prem Nazir, Nedumudi Venu | Mohan | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| S E P | 10 | 57 | Sambhavam | Madhu, Srividya | P Chandrakumar | V. Dakshinamoorthy |
| S E P | 10 | 58 | Enne Snehikkoo Enne Maathram | Srividya, Ratheesh | P. G. Vishwambharan | K. V. Mahadevan |
| S E P | 10 | 59 | Vazhikal Yaathrakkar | Shubha, Sukumaran | A. B. Raj | Ben Surendar |
| S E P | 10 | 60 | Parvathy | Prem Nazir, Latha | Bharathan | Johnson |
| S E P | 25 | 61 | Dhruvasangamam | Mohanlal, Manavalan Joseph | J. Sasikumar | Raveendran |
| S E P | 28 | 62 | Guha | Jagathy Sreekumar, Mini | M. R. Jose | Shankar–Ganesh |
| O C T | 2 | 63 | Dwandha Yudham | Adoor Bhasi, Kuthiravattam Pappu | C. V. Hariharan | Jerry Amaldev |
| O C T | 2 | 64 | Manassinte Theerthayathra | Shubha, Sukumaran | Thamban | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| O C T | 2 | 65 | Cancerum Laingeekia Rogangalum | | P. R. S. Pillai | |
| O C T | 7 | 66 | Thaaraavu | Srividya, Nedumudi Venu | Balachandra Menon | Raveendran |
| O C T | 8 | 67 | Adima Changala | Prem Nazir, Sheela | A. B. Raj | M. K. Arjunan |
| O C T | 16 | 68 | Archana Teacher | Madhu, Sukumari | P. N. Menon | Shyam |
| O C T | 30 | 69 | Ilaneer | Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan | Sithara Venu | Shyam |
| O C T | 30 | 70 | Poocha Sanyasi | Sukumari, Rajkumar | Hariharan | K. J. Yesudas |
| O C T | 30 | 71 | Thrishna | Mammootty, Rajalakshmi | I. V. Sasi | Shyam |
| O C T | 30 | 72 | Swarnappakshikal | Sukumaran, Nedumudi Venu | P. R. Nair | Raveendran |
| O C T | 30 | 73 | Kadathu | Prem Nazir, Shankar | P. G. Vishwambharan | Shyam |
| O C T | 30 | 74 | Oridathoru Phayalvaan | Rashid, Nedumudi Venu | P. Padmarajan | Johnson |
| N O V | 12 | 75 | Aarathi | Sukumaran, Mala Aravindan | P. Chandrakumar | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| N O V | 17 | 76 | Urukku Mushtikal | Prem Nazir, Sheela | K. P. Jayan | Shyam |
| N O V | 17 | 77 | Thenum Vayambum | Prem Nazir, Mohanlal | Ashok Kumar | Raveendran |
| N O V | 20 | 78 | Karimpoocha | Ratheesh, Seema | Baby | K. J. Joy |
| N O V | 20 | 79 | Njan Ninne Marakkilla | Sukumaran, Ambika | Vijay | Guna Singh |
| N O V | 27 | 80 | Hamsa Geetham | Seema, Ratheesh | I. V. Sasi | Shyam |
| N O V | 27 | 81 | Itha Oru Dhikkari | Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi | N. P. Suresh | A. T. Ummer |
| D E C | 4 | 82 | Visham | Srividya, Ratheesh | P. T. Rajan | Raghu Kumar |
| D E C | 4 | 83 | Aambal Poovu | Sukumaran, Jose | Harikumar | V. Dakshinamoorthy |
| D E C | 11 | 84 | Oothikachiya Ponnu | Poornima Jayaram, Shankar | P. K. Joseph | M. K. Arjunan |
| D E C | 11 | 85 | Nizhal Yudham | Sukumaran, Ravikumar | Baby | K. J. Joy |
| D E C | 25 | 86 | Ammakkorumma | Ratheesh, Jagathy Sreekumar | Sreekumaran Thampi | Shyam |
| D E C | 25 | 87 | Thaaravu | Madhu, Srividya | Jeassy | K. J. Yesudas |
| D E C | 31 | 88 | Ahimsa | Ratheesh, Mammootty | I. V. Sasi | A. T. Ummer |
| D E C | 31 | 89 | Aparna | Prathap Pothen, Balakrishna Pillai | C. P. Padmakumar | |
| | | | Elippathayam | | | |
| | | | Randu Mukhangal | | | |

## Dubbed films

| Title | Director(s) | Original film | Original film | Cast | Ref. |
| Title | Director(s) | Film | Language | Cast | Ref. |
| Chattambi Krishnan | Vijaya Nirmala | | | | |
| I Love You | Nandan | | | | |
| Sapthapathy | K. Viswanath | | | | |
| Panneer Pushpangal | Bharathy Vasu | Panneer Pushpangal | Tamil | Suresh, Shantikrishna | |
| Oru Thalai Ragam | T. Rajender | Oru Thalai Ragam | Tamil | | |
| Oridathoru Mandravathi | Mani Murugan | | | |
| Jeevikkan Padikkanam | Singeetam Srinivasa Rao | Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi | Telugu | Kamal Haasan, Jayasudha, Rojaramani | |
| Siva Mahima | | | | |
| Njan Njanalla | Shankar Nag | Janma Janmada Anubandha | | |
| Nancy | Singeetam Srinivasa Rao | | | |
| Bala Nagamma | K. Sankar | | | |
| Vamshavriksham | Bappu | | | Kamal Haasan, Madhavi |