Movies like Ustad Hotel (2012)
The best movies like Ustad Hotel (2012) are Le Grand Chef (2007), The Lunchbox (2013) and Punyalan Agarbattis (2013). If Ustad Hotel hooked you with its drama and comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest rated3 Idiots (2009)8.0/10 from 2,905 votes
- NewestVaazha II (2026)Released 2026
- In MalayalamPunyalan Agarbattis (2013)Also in Malayalam
Le Grand Chef (2007)
A disgraced chef tries to restore his name by competing in a culinary contest to win the knife of Korea's last royal chef.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
The Lunchbox (2013)
A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system (Mumbai's Dabbawallahs) connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life. They build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. Gradually, this fantasy threatens to overwhelm their reality.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPunyalan Agarbattis (2013)
Punyalan Agarbattis is the story of Joy Thakkolkaran, a young entrepreuner from Thrissur. His new business venture 'Punyalan Agarbattis' involves manufacturing agarbattis from elephant dung. Fragrance and quality of his incense sticks aside, its mosquito repellant capabilities too have pleased those who tried the samples. However, Joy suddenly has a new set of people and problems as 'Punyalan Agarbattis' comes to a halt.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Chef (2017)
Roshan Kalra is a three-star Michelin chef who gets fired from New York's Gulli restaurant after he punches a customer. Forced to take a break, he flies to Kochi to spend time with his son, Armaan and his estranged wife Radha Menon. It's a fruitful trip because he manages to mend broken family ties. In a bid to help him get his mojo back, his wife suggests he put up his own food truck and begin afresh.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Bharathanatyam (2024)
A man makes a startling discovery following his father's sudden hospitalization and attempts to prevent his family's secret from reaching the local townsfolk.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
A story centered around an Indian family who moves to France and opens a restaurant across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisVijay Superum Pournamiyum (2019)
Vijay and Pournami are two very different sort of people who first meet because of a misunderstanding. Vijay is a lazy engineering graduate unwilling to follow his passions and Pournami is an unlucky bold girl who doesn't give up on her dreams. They don't seem to find a lot of things in common at first; but as time passes more avenues open up for them to collaborate and learn from each other.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016)
Mahesh, a studio photographer and owner of the studio. As the story moves on, Mahesh encounters an anonymous fight ending up with taking revenge that leads to certain realizations in his life.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPachuvum Athbhuthavilakkum (2023)
In return for getting ownership his shop space in Mumbai, Prakashan is tempted into helping his landlord's mother on a mission. Will he succeed? What does success mean?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Big Night (1996)
Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMalarvaadi Arts Club (2010)
Five friends are disappointed about the way their favorite hangout Malarvaadi Arts Club is headed. They take the responsibility of reviving the club in their own hands.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Burnt (2015)
Adam Jones is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKumbalangi Nights (2019)
Four brothers living in the fishing hamlet of Kumbalangi share a love-hate relationship with each other. Their relationship progresses when Saji, Boney and Franky decide to help Bobby stand by his love.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisSunday Holiday (2017)
Mr. Unni Mukundan who is very passionate about his first movie, coincidentally meets Mr. David Paul, a famous movie director. At the same time, the life experiences of Amal, who relocates himself to Cochin from Thalaserry, makes him undergo a total change in his vision of life due to his acquaintance with Nakutti and Rahul, the residents of 'Sargapournami' his home in Cochin. Sunday Holiday is a beautiful story that is replete with comedy.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Tadka (2022)
A middle-aged Tukaram is passionate about food and archaeology but it’s a misplaced call from Madhura that adds the tadka to his life. While love simmers, Nicole and Sidharth’s story spices up too.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Godha (2017)
A washed-up wrestler's life changes when he brings a passionate female wrestler from Punjab to his conservative Kerala village, sparking a comedic yet inspiring revolution in the local wrestling pits.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009)
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year is the sometimes thoughtless, sometimes thoughtful story of a fresh graduate trying to find a balance between the maddening demands of the 'professional' way, and the way of his heart - and stumbling upon a crazy way which turned his world upside down, and his career right side up. Welcome to the world of sales boss!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisEnglish Vinglish (2012)
In the United States for the first time, an Indian housewife with a limited command of English turns Manhattan into her personal language school.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNeram (2013)
Mathew is a graduate in software engineering, but is now jobless. He is waiting for his good time to get a good job. Mathew has borrowed some money as loan. Now he cannot give it back as he has no job. Mathew's childhood friend Jeena Johnykkutty is ready to help him as she could. She has a job. Her father Johnykkutty does not like Mathew and he always tries to trouble Mathew whenever he gets a chance. At this time Mathew's good time arrives; but along with it many problems too. The gripping events that follow plot the rest of 'Neram'.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSu.. Su... Sudhi Vathmeekam (2015)
Sudhi, a clerk in a school, struggles in his life as he is suffering from dysarthria. His life takes a new turn after meeting Kalyani, a speech therapist.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Monsoon Wedding (2001)
A stressed father, a bride-to-be with a secret, a smitten event planner, and relatives from around the world create much ado about the preparations for an arranged marriage in India.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMade In China (2019)
A struggling Gujarati businessman ventures into the world of China where he gets a brilliant business idea that could change his life forever.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Cook Up a Storm (2017)
An international culinary competition becomes a battleground between rival cooks, one famous for his Cantonese street food and the other a Michelin-starred chef trained in France. But their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when they discover a common foe and combine their skills in a fusion of East and West.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like this3 Idiots (2009)
Rascal. Joker. Dreamer. Genius... You've never met a college student quite like "Rancho." From the moment he arrives at India's most prestigious university, Rancho's outlandish schemes turn the campus upside down—along with the lives of his two newfound best friends. Together, they make life miserable for "Virus," the school’s uptight and heartless dean. But when Rancho catches the eye of the dean's daughter, Virus sets his sights on flunking out the "3 idiots" once and for all.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways as the residents find new purpose in their old age.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisKadaseela Biriyani (2021)
A studious teen who wants a simple life is conned by his violent older brothers into joining their grandiose plan to avenge their murdered father.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Rathnan Prapancha (2021)
Rathnakara is an insurance agent living a mundane life with his unapologetically loud mother Saroja. An uncomfortable truth about his life leads him to go on a trail to find his world. What does he learn eventually?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018)
Set in Chellanam, Kochi, the story revolves around the death of Vavachan Mesthiri in a coastal village. It showcases the events that unfold between two evenings and looks at death from different perspectives.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisVaazha II (2026)
Four friends – Hashir, Alan, Ajin and Vinayak – are considered losers and troublemakers by parents, family and the school management. They face immense social pressure as they reach adulthood, embarking them on an emotional journey of self discovery and acceptance, where they finally learn to take up their responsibilities and find success.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy & drama
The Great Indian Kitchen (2022)
After marriage, a woman struggles to be the submissive wife that her husband and his family expect her to be.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama
Like Ustad Hotel and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Ustad Hotel?
The closest matches to Ustad Hotel are Le Grand Chef (2007), The Lunchbox (2013) and Punyalan Agarbattis (2013). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Ustad Hotel?
People who watched Ustad Hotel most often go on to Le Grand Chef (2007), The Lunchbox (2013) and Punyalan Agarbattis (2013).
What is the highest-rated movie like Ustad Hotel?
3 Idiots (2009), rated 8.0/10 by 2,905 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Ustad Hotel?
Vaazha II (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Malayalam movies like Ustad Hotel?
Yes: Punyalan Agarbattis (2013), Bharathanatyam (2024) and Vijay Superum Pournamiyum (2019).
How are movies similar to Ustad Hotel chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Ustad Hotel, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.