Identity (2025): Malayalam Thriller That Hooks You Then Loses Its Way

Tovino Thomas and Trisha Krishnan team up in a face-blindness mystery that starts strong, delivers style, but stumbles in the second half. Here’s everything you need to know before you watch.

Introduction: A New Year Thriller From Kerala

The Malayalam film industry kicked off 2025 with a bold action thriller. Identity (2025) hit theatres on January 2 — a deliberate New Year’s Day release. The film is directed by the talented duo Akhil Paul and Anas Khan, the same pair behind the well-received Anuragamanchi Roju (2018). This time, they set their sights on something bigger and more complex.

At its heart, Identity is a murder mystery built around a rare medical condition called prosopagnosia — or face blindness. It’s a condition where a person cannot recognize human faces, even people they know well. That single medical detail becomes the engine of the entire plot. It’s a clever idea, and for the most part, it works well.

The film stars Tovino Thomas, one of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars right now, alongside Trisha Krishnan in a pivotal role. Together, they make a compelling screen pair. Identity went on to become the third highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2025, with a worldwide collection of approximately ₹18 crore. Not a record-breaker, but a solid result for a thriller.

“Identity is the kind of film that reminds you why Malayalam cinema takes creative risks — even when those risks don’t fully pay off.”

Movie Overview

Full Title: Identity
Release Date: January 2, 2025 (India theatrical)
OTT Release: January 31, 2025 on ZEE5
Language: Malayalam (also available in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada on ZEE5)
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Runtime: 2 hours 36 minutes
Directors: Akhil Paul and Anas Khan
Producers: Raju Malliath, Dr. Roy C.J., Kochumon (Ragam Movies / Confident Group)
Music: Jakes Bejoy
Cinematography: Akhil George
Editor: Chaman Chakko
Box Office: Approximately ₹18 crore worldwide

Principal photography began on September 12, 2023, in Goa. Shooting also took place in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The wide range of locations gives the film a visual variety that feels bigger than most Kerala productions.

Storyline (No Major Spoilers)

Identity opens with a dark crime. A man named Amar Felix runs a blackmail operation from a hidden warehouse. He secretly records women and then extorts money from them. He is clearly dangerous and has been doing this for a long time.

Then, one night, someone breaks into the warehouse and kills Amar. The building burns down. The murderer leaves no trace. It seems like justice — but the police still have a job to do.

A skilled sketch artist and a determined police officer join forces to solve a gripping murder mystery. Their mission is to uncover the identity of a mysterious and cunning killer. The only clue they have is the detailed recollection of the killer’s face, imprinted in the memory of an eyewitness who survived the horrifying crime.

The twist? The eyewitness, Alisha, suffers from prosopagnosia after a traumatic accident. She cannot recognize faces — not even her own family. She can describe what she saw, but she can’t be sure she’d recognize the killer again. This creates a fascinating and original investigative challenge.

The first half of the film moves like clockwork. It’s tight, tense, and full of small surprises. The second half expands the scope and introduces several subplots. Some of these are interesting. Others feel like they belong in a different film. By the end, the story becomes fairly complex — but the directors manage to tie most threads together in an exciting final act.

Movie Review: Honest & Balanced

Identity is a film that earns genuine admiration for its ambition. Directors Akhil Paul and Anas Khan clearly studied their craft. Directors Anas Khan and Akhil Paul deliver a polished film that often feels like a Hollywood venture, thanks to its slick execution and ambitious vision. That’s a big compliment — and it’s mostly deserved.

What Works Well

The opening act is superb. The concept of using prosopagnosia as a plot device is genuinely original in Indian cinema. The filmmakers clearly did their research — the medical details feel accurate, and the condition is explained naturally through the dialogue, not in a lecture-style info dump.

The music by Jakes Bejoy elevates the intensity of the scenes. The background score is one of the best things about this film. It creates tension without overwhelming the scenes. The action sequences are choreographed with precision, exuding style and intensity. The car chase sequence, in particular, is a proper highlight.

Where It Stumbles

The second half is where Identity loses some of its footing. The second half feels overstuffed with complex narratives and too many viewpoints, leaving viewers feeling exhausted and occasionally lost. The film introduces several new characters and subplots after the interval, and while they all connect eventually, it asks a lot of the audience to keep up.

Multiple critics point out that the plot becomes overly convoluted, with an emphasis on keeping the audience guessing at the expense of coherence.

What’s Good

Original concept around prosopagnosia
Tovino Thomas is excellent throughout
Jakes Bejoy’s background score is outstanding
Stylish action sequences and car chase
Strong, gripping first half
Production design and cinematography

What Could Be Better

Second half becomes overly complicated
Too many subplots slow the pace
Some characters are underdeveloped
Long runtime at 2 hours 36 minutes
Certain twists feel forced or predictable

Our Verdict

Identity is worth watching once, especially if you enjoy cerebral crime thrillers. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a confident, well-made film with genuine craft on display. Think of it as a good airport thriller — engaging while it lasts, with a few scenes you’ll genuinely remember. Audiences who stick through the complicated middle section are rewarded by an exciting final act.

Where to Watch Identity (2025) Legally

If you want to watch Identity (2025), please use only legal, licensed platforms. Supporting legal viewing ensures that filmmakers and artists are fairly compensated for their work.

ZEE5 — Official OTT Partner

Cinema Halls (Theatrical Run Ended)

ZEE5: Identity was released on January 31, 2025 on the ZEE5 platform. It is available in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada on ZEE5. A subscription is required.
Theatrical: The film released in cinemas on January 2, 2025. The theatrical run has now concluded.
Future Platforms: Availability may expand to other platforms in the future. Check official streaming sites for the latest updates.

Important Note — Please Watch Legally: We strongly encourage all fans to watch Identity through official, licensed platforms like ZEE5. Piracy is illegal in India and many countries worldwide. It directly harms the livelihoods of actors, directors, crew members, and everyone involved in making a film. When you pay for content legally, you support the industry that creates the stories you love. Say no to piracy — choose legal streaming.

FAQs

What is Identity (2025) about

Identity (2025) is a Malayalam action thriller about a sketch artist and a police officer who team up to investigate a murder. The key witness to the crime suffers from prosopagnosia — a medical condition that makes it impossible to recognize human faces. The film explores how investigators handle a case when their only witness cannot identify the killer by face.

Who are the main actors in Identity (2025)

The main cast includes Tovino Thomas as Haran Sankar (a sketch artist), Trisha Krishnan as Alisha (the witness with face blindness), and Vinay Rai as Allen Jacob (a police officer from Karnataka). The supporting cast includes Mandira Bedi, Shammi Thilakan, Aju Varghese, and Archana Kavi, among others.

Where can I watch Identity (2025) online legally

Identity (2025) is available to stream legally on ZEE5. It premiered on the platform on January 31, 2025, and is accessible in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. You need a valid ZEE5 subscription to watch the film. Please avoid illegal websites or apps — they harm the film industry.

Is Identity (2025) worth watching

Yes, Identity (2025) is worth a single watch, particularly for fans of crime thrillers and mystery films. The first half is excellent, and Tovino Thomas delivers a strong performance throughout. The music by Jakes Bejoy is also a highlight. The second half is more complicated and may test your patience, but the film finishes well. Overall, most critics gave it a 3 out of 5 rating.

Who directed Identity (2025)

Identity (2025) was written and directed by the duo Akhil Paul and Anas Khan. They are the same directors who previously worked together on the 2018 Telugu film Anuragamanchi Roju. The film was produced under the Ragam Movies and Confident Group banners.

What is prosopagnosia, as shown in Identity (2025)

Prosopagnosia is a real neurological condition, also known as face blindness. People with this condition cannot recognize human faces — even the faces of close family members or their own reflection. In Identity (2025), the character Alisha develops this condition after a head injury. The film uses this condition cleverly as the central mystery device: the only witness to a crime literally cannot identify the person she saw.

What was the box office collection of Identity (2025)?

Identity (2025) had a modest but solid box office run. The film earned approximately ₹18 crore at the worldwide box office, making it the third highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2025 at the time of its run. While it did not break records, it was considered a financially acceptable result for the production.

Conclusion

Identity (2025) is a film that dares to be different. In a landscape full of typical action-hero films, it builds its thriller around a medical condition most people have never heard of. That alone deserves credit.

Tovino Thomas carries the film with skill and confidence. Trisha Krishnan brings warmth and depth to a character that could have been a passive plot device. Jakes Bejoy’s score adds a rich layer of atmosphere. And for about half its runtime, this is one of the more gripping Malayalam thrillers in recent years.

The second half is messy and demanding. It asks for patience. But if you stay with it, the payoff is real. Identity is not a perfect film — but it is an honest attempt at smart, original cinema. And that’s something to appreciate.

Our final recommendation: Stream it legally on ZEE5 on a quiet evening. Go in without high expectations, and you’ll likely come away pleasantly surprised. Malayalam cinema fans and thriller enthusiasts will find enough here to enjoy.