Whether you love Marvel, DC, or are tired of superheroes altogether, give Minnal Murali a chance. You’ll walk away rooting for the little guy in the yellow sweater—not because he can run faster than lightning, but because he stumbles, fails, and still chooses to stand up for his home.

In a cinematic landscape saturated with caped crusaders saving metropolises from alien invasions, Minnal Murali arrived as a refreshing, earthy gust of wind. Directed by Basil Joseph and written by Arun Anirudhan and Justin Mathew, this 2021 Malayalam film doesn’t just tell the story of a man who gets struck by lightning; it tells the story of a small-town tailor who learns that being a hero isn't about power—it's about purpose.

What follows is a classic origin story with a deeply human twist. While Jaison initially uses his powers for personal gain (winning a cricket match, impressing his love interest), he is forced to step up when Shibu’s escalating vendetta threatens to destroy the entire village. The film cleverly deconstructs the superhero trope: Jaison doesn’t want to be a hero; he just wants a visa. His journey from reluctant accidental hero to self-sacrificing guardian is both hilarious and heartbreaking.