# 5 Sundarikal (അഞ്ച് സുന്ദരികൾ)
**5 Sundarikal** (അഞ്ച് സുന്ദരികൾ; English: Five Beauties) is a 2013 Malayalam-language romantic anthology film consisting of five short films on love, each directed by a different filmmaker: [Amal Neerad](https://www.edgepedia.org/amal-neerad), Anwar Rasheed, Aashiq Abu, Sameer Thahir, and Shyju Khalid.[1](https://filmanic.com/movies/5-sundarikal/10187451.film) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/5-sundarikal/articleshow/20682797.cms) Amal Neerad produced the film under his banner Amal Neerad Productions and also directed one segment.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/5-sundarikal/articleshow/20682797.cms) The film was presented as a tribute to the centenary of Indian cinema.[3](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/south-first-look-five-directors-team-up-for-5-sundarikal/20130524.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Malayalam romantic anthology of five short films on love, each about 30 minutes[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/5-sundarikal-to-release-on-june-22/articleshow/20679248.cms) |
| Directors | Amal Neerad, Anwar Rasheed, Aashiq Abu, Sameer Thahir, Shyju Khalid[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/5-sundarikal/articleshow/20682797.cms) |
| Producer | Amal Neerad (Amal Neerad Productions)[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/5-sundarikal/articleshow/20682797.cms) |
| Release | June 2013; Filmibeat lists 21 June 2013, the Times of India and Malayala Chalachithram list 22 June 2013[5](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/5-sundarikal.html) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/5-sundarikal-to-release-on-june-22/articleshow/20679248.cms) |
| Segments | Sethulakshmi, Esha, Gowri, Kullante Bharya, Aami[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/5-sundarikal-to-release-on-june-22/articleshow/20679248.cms) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 20 minutes[6](https://www.moviebuff.com/5-sundarikal) |
| Certification | U (unrestricted public exhibition)[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/5-sundarikal-to-release-on-june-22/articleshow/20679248.cms) |
## Spoilers
### The five segments
**Sethulakshmi** (Shyju Khalid). An adaptation of M. Mukundan's short story "Photo", the segment follows a village schoolgirl (Baby Anikha) who collects wedding announcement photographs from newspapers and pastes them in a notebook. When a schoolmate (Chethan) suggests they have a similar photograph taken, her innocent wish leads to a dreadful experience involving the abuse of children.[9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm) Reviewers singled it out: the New Indian Express called it the segment worth buying a ticket for, and Rediff's critic wrote that the story was "well handled by the director."[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Jul/06/anchu-sundarikal-malayalam-494005.html) • [9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm)
**Esha** (Sameer Thahir). Starring [Isha Sharvani](https://www.edgepedia.org/isha-sharvani) and [Nivin Pauly](https://www.edgepedia.org/nivin-pauly), this segment is a light-hearted heist caper written by Siddharth Bharathan, about two young people who meet on [New Year's Eve](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-years-eve) in a palatial home and try to outsmart each other as thieves.[9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm) The New Indian Express judged its storyline weak and the segment out of place with the others.[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Jul/06/anchu-sundarikal-malayalam-494005.html)
**Gowri** ([Aashiq Abu](https://www.edgepedia.org/aashiq-abu)). [Kavya Madhavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kavya-madhavan) and [Biju Menon](https://www.edgepedia.org/biju-menon) play a couple in an inter-religious marriage, against their families' wishes, living in a secluded hill station. A visit by friends (Rimi Tomy and Tini Tom) on the eve of their wedding anniversary brings a subtle change in their relationship.[9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm) It was Rimi Tomy's first acting role.[11](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/reviews/anju-sundarikal-review-109886.html)
**Kullante Bharya** (Amal Neerad). The most elaborate story of the anthology, it follows a professional photographer ([Dulquer Salmaan](https://www.edgepedia.org/dulquer-salmaan)) confined to a wheelchair who observes his neighbors from his window and narrates their lives in voice-over. A flat is taken by a dwarf and a tall woman (Reenu Mathews), and neighbors speculate about their relationship until her unexpected death.[9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm) • [10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Jul/06/anchu-sundarikal-malayalam-494005.html) The New Indian Express noted a narrow resemblance to Hitchcock's Rear Window, and Moviebuff records the story as based on [Feng Jicai](https://www.edgepedia.org/feng-jicai)'s "The Tall Woman and Her Short Husband".[10](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Jul/06/anchu-sundarikal-malayalam-494005.html) • [6](https://www.moviebuff.com/5-sundarikal) This segment drew the strongest reviews: Kerala9 called it Amal Neerad's career best as director, and Filmibeat Malayalam's review named it the best film in the anthology.[8](https://www.kerala9.com/news/review/5-sundarikal-anju-sundarikal-movie-review/) • [11](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/reviews/anju-sundarikal-review-109886.html)
**Aami** (Anwar Rasheed). The final segment stars [Fahadh Faasil](https://www.edgepedia.org/fahadh-faasil) as a man who has turned over a new leaf after marrying a naive, trusting girl (Asmitha Sood). Bouts of anger, violence, and old relationships try to lure him back to his former world when he travels away from her; Rediff's critic wrote that Faasil "plays the man brilliantly, bringing out the frustration of being faithful."[9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm)
## Concept and production
The five segments were built around five types of women: mother, daughter, lover, wife, and actress.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/5-sundarikal-to-release-on-june-22/articleshow/20679248.cms) The directors described the project as "a collective realisation of brotherhood and pure camaraderie between the directors and the core crew celebrating over two decades of friendship."[3](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/south-first-look-five-directors-team-up-for-5-sundarikal/20130524.htm) All five were alumni of Maharaja's College in Kochi, and the film's first-look event was held at the college auditorium where their friendship had begun.[7](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/cities/kochi/2013/May/22/unreeling-spools-of-two-decade-old-friendship-479579.html)
Four of the five directors had already established themselves; Sethulakshmi marked Shyju Khalid's directorial debut after his work as a cinematographer on films such as Traffic, Salt N' Pepper, and 22 Female Kottayam.[3](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/south-first-look-five-directors-team-up-for-5-sundarikal/20130524.htm) The cast included Fahadh Faasil, Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly, Kavya Madhavan, Jayasurya, Biju Menon, Honey Rose, Reenu Mathews, Isha Sharvani, Shine Tom Chacko, and [Vinayakan](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinayakan).[3](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/south-first-look-five-directors-team-up-for-5-sundarikal/20130524.htm) Music was composed by Bijibal, Gopi Sundar, Prashant Pillai, and Yakzan Gary Pereira, with cinematography by Amal Neerad, Shyju Khalid, Rajeev Ravi, Ranadive, and Alby.[6](https://www.moviebuff.com/5-sundarikal) • [8](https://www.kerala9.com/news/review/5-sundarikal-anju-sundarikal-movie-review/)
## Reception
Reviewers treated the film as a whole as uneven but worthwhile, in the way anthologies typically are. Rediff's Paresh C Palicha called it "an interesting anthology" and "a mixed bag that makes you experience a whole gamut of emotions"; Kerala9's Unni R Nair called it striking while cautioning that not every segment in an anthology is equally good.[9](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm) • [8](https://www.kerala9.com/news/review/5-sundarikal-anju-sundarikal-movie-review/) Nowrunning's Veeyen wrote that the film "handles the shift in styles and perspectives efficiently, evolving into a fine movie with full blooded characters and topnotch performances."[12](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/11307/malayalam/anju-sundarikal/4290/review.htm) A 2025 retrospective in E-CineIndia, the Indian journal of FIPRESCI, described 2013 as a landmark year for Malayalam anthology films and counted 5 Sundarikal, alongside D Company, among the anthologies planned and executed as such from the start.[13](https://fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8.-Art.-Chandrasekhar-A-Anthology.pdf)
## References
1. [5 Sundarikal (2013) – Filmanic](https://filmanic.com/movies/5-sundarikal/10187451.film)
2. [5 Sundarikal preview – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/5-sundarikal/articleshow/20682797.cms)
3. [First Look: Five directors team up for 5 Sundarikal – Rediff.com](https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/south-first-look-five-directors-team-up-for-5-sundarikal/20130524.htm)
4. [5 Sundarikal to release on June 22 – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/5-sundarikal-to-release-on-june-22/articleshow/20679248.cms)
5. [5 സുന്ദരികൾ (2013) – FilmiBeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/5-sundarikal.html)
6. [5 Sundarikal – Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/5-sundarikal)
7. [Unreeling spools of two-decade-old friendship – The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/cities/kochi/2013/May/22/unreeling-spools-of-two-decade-old-friendship-479579.html)
8. [5 Sundarikal movie review – Kerala9](https://www.kerala9.com/news/review/5-sundarikal-anju-sundarikal-movie-review/)
9. [Review: 5 Sundarikal is an interesting anthology – Rediff.com](https://m.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-five-sundarikal-is-an-interesting-anthology/20130624.htm)
10. [Anchu Sundarikal (Malayalam) review – The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2013/Jul/06/anchu-sundarikal-malayalam-494005.html)
11. [Anju Sundarikal review – FilmiBeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/reviews/anju-sundarikal-review-109886.html)
12. [Anju Sundarikal Movie Review by Veeyen – Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/11307/malayalam/anju-sundarikal/4290/review.htm)
13. [A. Chandrasekhar, anthology article – E-CineIndia, Jan–Mar 2025 (FIPRESCI India)](https://fipresci-india.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8.-Art.-Chandrasekhar-A-Anthology.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Malayalam films of the 2010s › Malayalam films of 2010 to 2015*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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