12 South Indian movies that make up for a definite watch in your watchlist

South Indian movies leave us all in awe with their unique storytelling and characters so much so that we always end up asking for more!

When JK wishes to eat South Indian food in The Family Man, Muthu replies as "Kon sa South Indian food, it has 5 states" similarly we get that the South Indian cinema is comprised of cinema from different states coming altogether. But what is it about movies from South India especially the ones made in modern times that leave us netizens and cinephiles always asking for more? Is the storylines, that are as entertaining and engrossing as ever, or the actors who never fail to get right into the skin of their characters to leave us in awe.

The film made from this quality quartet of four languages has for decades mesmerized audiences aplenty and has now seemed to have broken new ground on the OTT space. From making us feel good to showing us mind-blowing climax South Indian films are producing world-class movies in all genres. Be it the larger-than-life blockbuster Bahubali, a tech-savvy experimental story like C U Soon, or the recently-released Malik, or indie ones like Kumbalangi Nights. These films have been getting their due recognition from all around the world for enhancing the entertainment quotient, and rightly so. So, for all the movie lovers who are exploring great work of storytelling through South Indian cinema, here are some movies that should be definitely on your watchlist.

Drishyam 2 (Amazon Prime Video)

Drishyam was on the first thriller-murder mystery movie to make a mark pan-India. It was very well received by the film critics, film fraternity, and audiences all over India. This Malayalam thriller movie was different from its intricate and detailed twists and turns. Every minute detail was taken care of and the movie had absolutely no margin for error. The fact that this movie was not only dubbed in many Indian languages but in Chinese as well as a testimony to how good this film was. Written and directed by Jeethu Joseph, the movie stars Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, and Asha Sharath in the lead roles.

Care of Kancharapalem - (Netflix)

This Telugu movie was written and directed by Venkatesh Maha, starring Subba Rao, Radha Bessy in pivotal roles. The movie is a slice of a life anthology film. The distinctive feature of this movie is that it casts over more than 80 non-actors and most of them are natives of Kancharapalem. The movie showcased three different phases, childhood, youth, and old age, of a man who had three lovers in these three phases. The protagonist showcased how life and time play a significant role when it comes to fate and destiny.

Soorarai Pottru (Amazon Prime Video)

Soorarai Pottru will definitely take you to the sky as it is inspired by events from the life of Simplify Deccan founder GR Gopinath. Directed by Sudha Kongara, this movie starring the superstar Suriya is a perfect mix of a good storyline that is nothing short of inspirational and a great cast. This movie will push you towards your goal and dreams and will make you determined to work to reach the pinnacle. A feel-good movie that grasps your attention right from the first frame to the last, it’s time to fly high with Suriya and Aparana Balamurali.

Netrikann (Disney+Hotstar)

This Tamil crime thriller was recently released on Disney+ Hotstar and is a remake of the South Korean film Bind. Directed by Milind Rau, this movie stars Nayanthara, Ajmal Ameer, and Sharan Shakti in lead roles. A female protagonist in a thriller film is not so common, yet this film did justice when it comes to keeping the viewers right at the edge of their seats by on-point acting, powerful dialogue delivery, phenomenal acting skills by the cast, and great cinematography. 

#Home (Amazon Prime Video)

Directed by Rojin Thomas, #Home is produced by Vivay Babu under the banner of Friday Film House and stars Indrans, Sreenath Bhasi, Vijay Babu, and Manju Pillai in pivotal roles. From watching the trailer, we are in store for a relatable comedy that narrates the story about kids, their parents, and a grandfather stuck in a home and the ups and downs that the family faces. It was released on August 19, a movie made with all soul and sincerity that’ll really make us feel good about the little things in life. 

Kuruthi (Amazon Prime Video)

Written by Anish Pallyal and directed by Manu Warrier the film Kuruthi stars Roshan Matthew, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Srindaa, Mamukkoya, Murali Gopy, and others in pivotal roles. This home invasion turning into an action thriller film is a wake-up call for society. With stellar performances, great cinematography, and editing this film will hook and grip you till the last and shows us the mirror into the society we are living in.

Joji (Amazon Prime Video)

This Malayalam-language crime film directed by Dileesh Pothan and written by Syam Pushkaran is inspired by William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Fahadh Faasil plays the title character, while Baburaj, Shammi Thilakan, and Unnimaya Prasad play other pivotal roles. Loved by the critics and the audiences alike the plot of the film revolves around a wealthy family of three sons and a father living in the countryside of Kerala. This film with exceptional talent such as Fahadh will always keep you at the edge and will leave you with some reality checks.

Irul (Netflix)

If South Indian movies are the dish to be served then Fahadh Fassil is one dish that definitely needs to be eaten. This Malayalam-language mystery thriller directed by Naseef Yusuf Izuddin in his directorial debut is what confuses and shakes you up completely. This web of lies will confuse and will keep you at the edge throughout. With brilliant performances and amazing thriller this Fahadh fassil starter is a pure entertainer.

Asuran (Amazon Prime Video)

This Tamil-language period action drama film written and directed by Vetrimaaran and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu is based on Poomani's novel Vekkai (transl. Heat). Starring Dhanush and Manju Warrier who makes her Tamil debut with this. The film's plot is influenced by the real-life Kilvenmani massacre that occurred in 1968 and is lauded by the critics, film festivals, and the audiences. This film with its brilliant craft and performances will tell you about a piece of history that you wouldn't know much about.

The Great Indian Kitchen (Amazon Prime Video)

This indie film has received great love from the critics and worldwide over in the film festivals with a recent win at the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne. A slice of the real-life story written and directed by Jeo Baby. Starring Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramood in pivotal roles the film tells the story of a newlywed woman who struggles to be the submissive wife that her husband and his family expect her to be. This film again works as a wake-up call and shows us the mirror of society with its deep-rooted ideologies.

Cinemabandi (Netflix)

This Telugu-language comedy-drama film was directed by debutant Praveen Kandregula and produced by the famous Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. This indie film features several debutant actors and is set in a village near the Andhra–Karnataka border. The plot is quite simple and revolves around a group of young filmmakers trying to make a film through a camera they found. This down to earth feel-good comedy-drama will swell your heart up and will showcase the importance of films in the lives of the people.

Jathi Ratnalu (Amazon Prime Video)

This Telugu-language comedy-drama film was written and directed by Anudeep KV and produced by Nag Ashwin. The film stars Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi, Rahul Ramakrishna, and Faria Abdullah in pivotal roles while Murali Sharma, Brahmanandam, and Naresh play supporting roles. This comedy riot follows three happy-go-lucky men who arrive in the city for a better life but land up in jail for a crime they didn't commit. With an exceptional craft, this is a film becomes for a great laughter riot.

So how many of these South Indian movies have you watched already? And what do you think about these movies taking the country and the world by storm with their exceptional storytelling? Tell us your thought in the comments!

Also Read: Fahadh Faasil- An extremely versatile actor

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