The CBI film series
The CBI film series is a series of four Malayalam films directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swami featuring Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer. The series started off in 1988 with the block buster Oru CBI Diary Kurippu. The films depicts a team of CBI officers led by Sethurama Iyer investigating into a murder case.
Franchise Evolution & Timeline Analysis
The The CBI film series has evolved significantly over a span of 33 years, growing from a singular narrative into a complex cinematic universe. With 5 interconnected entries, tracking the consistency of the franchise reveals fascinating trends in audience sentiment.
The "Series" Benchmark: 6.0/10
The franchise maintains a steady average rating of 6.0. While most series experience "Sequel Fatigue," The CBI film series has managed to keep its narrative quality relatively stable, with Sethurama Iyer CBI standing out as the peak cinematic achievement.
Continuity vs. Commercial Appeal
Our data indicates that while the "Release Order" is preferred for first-time viewers, the "Chronological Order" provides a much deeper understanding of the world-building within the The CBI film series. The timeline highlights a clear three-act structure across all chapters.
Timeline & Watch Order
We recommend watching the The CBI film series franchise in the following order to fully experience the narrative expansion.
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Prabhakar Varma is appointed by the police to investigate the suicide of Omana, the daughter-in-law of a businessman. Varma decides to investigate further when ...
Jagratha
A renowned actress, Aswathi, is murdered. When a CBI officer, Sethurama Iyer, investigates the case, he unravels a dark secret about Aswathi which brings forth ...
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Alex, who is awaiting execution, confesses to having committed six out of the seven murders he is acquitted for. Officer Sethurama Iyer decides to trace the ori...
Nerariyan CBI
A string of mysterious murders happen in an aristocratic mansion. The owners of the mansion seek CBI officer Sethurama Iyer's help to find the person responsibl...
CBI 5: The Brain
Series of bucket-killing murders happening in the city. Failure to resolve by police, a team of CBI Officers under CBI officer Sethurama Iyer take up the invest...
Common Questions about The CBI film series
How many movies are in the The CBI film series?
There are currently 5 movies in the The CBI film series, starting from Jagratha to the latest release, CBI 5: The Brain.
What is the best order to watch the The CBI film series?
The best way to watch the The CBI film series is usually in release order: starting with Jagratha and ending with CBI 5: The Brain. Check our timeline for the full chronological breakdown.
Which is the highest-rated movie in the The CBI film series?
According to movieMx ratings, the fans have a strong preference for Sethurama Iyer CBI in this franchise.