Pathemari (transl. Dhow) is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language period drama film written and directed by Salim Ahamed and starring Mammootty in the lead role, with a supporting cast that includes Jewel Mary, Siddique, Sreenivasan, Salim Kumar, Shaheen Siddique, Viji Chandrasekhar, and Joy Mathew. The plot follows the life of Pallikkal Narayanan (Mammootty) who migrated to the Middle-East in the early 1960s when the Kerala Gulf boom was just beginning.

Resul Pookutty handled the sound recording while music was composed by Bijibal and cinematography by Madhu Ambat. The principal photography began in October 2014. The film was shot in Kerala and the Middle East. Distributed by Eros International, Pathemari was released on 9 October 2015 and received critical praise. Pathemari was selected for the Indiwood Panorama Competition section at the 2nd edition of Indiwood Carnival 2016 in Hyderabad.

A young Narayanan and Moideen along with a group of men travel to Dubai by Dhow in search of a better life. Launchi Velayudhan is responsible for smuggling young men into the Gulf. In Dubai, both Narayanan and Moideen find work as construction labourers and reside with other labourers. They sacrifice their happiness and work hard to earn enough money for their families.

Narayanan regularly visits his home and gifts his family and friends imported items. During one visit, Narayanan informs his wife that he will not be returning to Dubai and will settle down in Kerala to start a business. However, after realising that his family value money more than him and that his wife is afraid of losing her social image, Narayanan returns to Dubai.

Meanwhile, Narayanan's widowed sister Nirmala's daughter, who both live in Narayanan's house is not getting a Bridegroom as she has no money or property. Chandraettan offers Narayanan land which belongs to Nirmala and in return asks him to give his house to Nirmala's daughter. Chandraettan believes that since Narayanan is wealthy, he can build a lavish house for himself and Narayanan happily agrees. Post-marriage, Chandraettan informs Narayanan that Nirmala's son-in-law is interested in renting the house to earn extra income. Narayanan is upset since he lives in the same house with his wife and children. Narayanan decides that he will pay monthly rent to Nirmala's son-in-law.

Many years later, Narayanan's children are now young adults, and are only concerned about Narayanan's wealth and not him.

Eventually, Narayanan passes away and his dead body is flown back to Kerala. His family still does not show any respect for him despite his death. After the final rituals, the family surprisingly see a Television interview of Narayanan, where he reveals that because of him, his family are happy and not in poverty. He never informed his family of the hardships he endured and never felt guilty of working hard because he was earning for his family despite their lack of concern for him. He is satisfied when people smile and is responsible for their happiness. His last wish is to be reborn and have the same family and friends and make them happy.

In November 2013, Salim Ahamed announced that he would be directing a film that deals with the Gulf and various aspects of it and that it will star Mammootty in the lead, in his second collaboration with Ahmed after Kunjananthante Kada (2013). Madhu Ambat was reported to handle the cinematography with the sound recording done by Resul Pookutty. It was in 2013 that Ahamed narrated the story to Mammootty. He expressed interest, and the total screenplay was finished in a span of one year. Salim said he chose Mammootty for the role of Narayanan because he could portray the three stages of life of the protagonist. “I did not model Narayanan on any one individual but on a few workers like him in the Gulf,” he said.