SOUTH INDIAN CINEMA

The Ultimate Guide to Must-Watch Films

◆ TAMIL CINEMA

20
Films
8.2
Avg IMDb
85%
Avg RT
8.5
Our Score
1

Anbe Sivam (2003)

IMDb 8.7 RT 85%
DramaComedyFantasy
9.5
Our Score
★ 8.7 ★ 85%
A carpenter and a naive young woman embark on a journey across India, discovering the true meaning of humanity and sacrifice.
2

Nayakan (1987)

IMDb 8.5 RT 100%
CrimeDramaAction
9.2
Our Score
★ 8.5 ★ 100%
The rise of a gangster in Chennai, inspired by the life of Mumbai's underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar.
3

Thalapathi (1991)

IMDb 8.5 RT 88%
ActionDrama
8.8
Our Score
★ 8.5 ★ 88%
The story of two orphans raised as brothers who find themselves on opposite sides of the law.
4

Mouna Ragam (1986)

IMDb 8.4 RT 95%
DramaRomance
8.9
Our Score
★ 8.4 ★ 95%
A recently widowed young woman struggles to adjust to her new life in a small town.
5

Thevar Magan (1992)

IMDb 8.4 RT 90%
DramaAction
8.7
Our Score
★ 8.4 ★ 90%
A village leader's son returns home after education to find his village in turmoil.
6

Hey Ram (2000)

IMDb 8.3 RT 82%
DramaHistorical
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.3 ★ 82%
A man seeks revenge for his wife's death during partition while confronting his beliefs about violence.
7

Indian (1996)

IMDb 8.3 RT 80%
ActionDrama
8.4
Our Score
★ 8.3 ★ 80%
An honest bureaucrat fights corruption while balancing his vendetta against a powerful politician.
8

Virumaandi (2004)

IMDb 8.2 RT 78%
DramaAction
8.3
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 78%
Two families in Tamil Nadu are locked in a generations-long feud, exploring the futility of violence.
9

Soodhu Kavvum (2013)

IMDb 8.2 RT 85%
Black ComedyCrime
8.6
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 85%
A simple kidnapping goes hilariously wrong when a group of unlikely criminals get involved.
10

Vada Chennai (2018)

IMDb 8.2 RT 92%
CrimeDrama
8.7
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 92%
A skilled carrom player gets trapped in the dangerous world of crime and politics in North Chennai.
11

Super Deluxe (2019)

IMDb 8.2 RT 91%
DramaThriller
8.8
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 91%
An ordinary family's life turns upside down when secrets from the past unravel.
12

Pather Panchali (1955)

IMDb 8.2 RT 96%
Drama
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 96%
A young girl in rural Bengal discovers the joy and sorrows of life through her father's poetry.
13

Pudhu Vasantham (1988)

IMDb 8.0 RT 85%
DramaFamily
8.3
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 85%
Four orphaned siblings struggle to survive and find happiness in the streets of Chennai.
14

Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990)

IMDb 8.0 RT 80%
ComedyAction
8.1
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 80%
Separated twins reunite as long-lost brothers, one an honest man and the other a con artist.
15

Ghilli (2004)

IMDb 8.0 RT 75%
ActionRomance
8.0
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 75%
A girl flees from gangsters and finds refuge with a simple man who takes on the underworld.
16

Saamy (2003)

IMDb 7.9 RT 70%
ActionCrime
7.7
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 70%
A corrupt police officer uses unorthodox methods to bring down a crime syndicate.
17

Anniyan (2005)

IMDb 7.9 RT 78%
ThrillerAction
8.2
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 78%
A man with multiple personalities - a normal guy, a superhero alter-ego, and a vigilante.
18

Thuppakki (2012)

IMDb 7.9 RT 82%
ActionThriller
8.0
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 82%
An army officer uncovers a terrorist cell and must stop them before they strike.
19

Vikram Vedha (2017)

IMDb 7.9 RT 85%
ActionThriller
8.4
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 85%
An encounter specialist pursues a gangster, leading to a game that blurs moral lines.
20

Petta (2019)

IMDb 7.8 RT 80%
DramaAction
7.9
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 80%
A landlord's peaceful life is disrupted when his past catches up with him.

◆ TELUGU CINEMA

20
Films
7.7
Avg IMDb
78%
Avg RT
7.9
Our Score
1

Rangasthalam (2018)

IMDb 8.4 RT 88%
ActionDrama
8.6
Our Score
★ 8.4 ★ 88%
A villager with hearing impairment becomes a powerful figure in his village, fighting corruption.
2

Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)

IMDb 8.1 RT 87%
ActionFantasyDrama
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.1 ★ 87%
A exiled prince in ancient India discovers his purpose and fights to reclaim his Kingdom.
3

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)

IMDb 8.2 RT 89%
ActionFantasy
8.7
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 89%
The epic conclusion revealing the truth behind Baahubali's exile and his legacy.
4

RRR (2022)

IMDb 7.8 RT 83%
ActionDramaHistorical
8.4
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 83%
Two Indian revolutionaries in the 1920s fight for freedom against British colonial rule.
5

Arjun Reddy (2017)

IMDb 8.2 RT 90%
DramaRomance
8.8
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 90%
A brilliant but volatile surgeon loses everything when his personal life spirals out of control.
6

Mahanati (2018)

IMDb 8.2 RT 92%
BiographyDrama
8.7
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 92%
The extraordinary life of South Indian cinema legend Savitri, from stardom to downfall.
7

Eega (2012)

IMDb 7.8 RT 84%
ComedyFantasy
7.9
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 84%
A man is murdered but is reborn as a housefly to protect his widow.
8

Attarintiki Daredi (2013)

IMDb 7.8 RT 78%
ActionComedy
7.8
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 78%
A man takes on political corruption to unite his estranged grandfather with his family.
9

Jersey (2019)

IMDb 7.8 RT 86%
DramaSport
8.3
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 86%
A former baseball player returns to the sport to fulfill his son's dream.
10

Fidaa (2017)

IMDb 7.6 RT 75%
RomanceComedy
7.5
Our Score
★ 7.6 ★ 75%
A young Indian woman falls in love with an American man, but cultural differences create obstacles.
11

Maharshi (2019)

IMDb 7.6 RT 74%
ActionDrama
7.4
Our Score
★ 7.6 ★ 74%
A successful businessman returns to his village to help his childhood friend become a leader.
12

Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020)

IMDb 7.6 RT 76%
ActionComedy
7.6
Our Score
★ 7.6 ★ 76%
A chef discovers he was switched at birth and must navigate two contrasting families.
13

DJ: Duvvata (2017)

IMDb 7.5 RT 72%
ActionComedy
7.5
Our Score
★ 7.5 ★ 72%
A complex gangster manipulates multiple individuals to achieve his revenge plan.
14

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)

IMDb 7.5 RT 78%
ActionHistoricalDrama
7.8
Our Score
★ 7.5 ★ 78%
A warlord in 19th century India leads a rebellion against British colonial rule.
15

Pokiri (2006)

IMDb 7.7 RT 80%
ActionThriller
7.9
Our Score
★ 7.7 ★ 80%
A hitman infiltrates a crime syndicate, playing both sides in a dangerous game.
16

Businessman (2012)

IMDb 7.4 RT 68%
ActionThriller
7.3
Our Score
★ 7.4 ★ 68%
A man rises from poverty to become a powerful businessman with a dark past.
17

Temper (2015)

IMDb 7.4 RT 72%
ActionDrama
7.4
Our Score
★ 7.4 ★ 72%
A corrupt police officer undergoes a transformation after being assigned a difficult case.
18

Khaleja (2010)

IMDb 7.3 RT 65%
ActionComedy
7.2
Our Score
★ 7.3 ★ 65%
A man with supernatural powers fights against evil forces threatening a village.
19

Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016)

IMDb 7.1 RT 65%
ActionComedy
7.0
Our Score
★ 7.1 ★ 65%
A police officer takes on a powerful gangster who terrorizes a village.
20

Rakshas (2004)

IMDb 7.0 RT 60%
ActionDrama
6.8
Our Score
★ 7.0 ★ 60%
A man returns to his village to fight corruption and injustice.

◆ HINDI CINEMA

20
Films
8.0
Avg IMDb
90%
Avg RT
8.5
Our Score
1

Sholay (1975)

IMDb 8.2 RT 90%
ActionAdventureDrama
9.0
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 90%
Two criminals are hired to capture a notorious bandit, but their mission becomes a battle for survival.
2

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

IMDb 8.0 RT 100%
RomanceDrama
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 100%
A young couple meet on vacation and must navigate family expectations to be together.
3

Lagaan (2001)

IMDb 8.1 RT 95%
DramaHistorySport
8.8
Our Score
★ 8.1 ★ 95%
Indian villagers challenge British officers to a game of cricket to protest unfair taxes.
4

3 Idiots (2009)

IMDb 8.4 RT 100%
ComedyDrama
8.9
Our Score
★ 8.4 ★ 100%
Three engineering students challenge the conventional education system while searching for their dreams.
5

Rang De Basanti (2006)

IMDb 8.1 RT 93%
DramaHistory
8.7
Our Score
★ 8.1 ★ 93%
Colonial-era freedom fighters' stories inspire modern Indian college students to take action.
6

Gandhi (1982)

IMDb 8.0 RT 88%
BiographyDramaHistory
8.6
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 88%
The extraordinary life of Mohandas Gandhi, from lawyer to independence leader.
7

Mother India (1957)

IMDb 8.1 RT 82%
Drama
8.4
Our Score
★ 8.1 ★ 82%
A poor farmer's wife struggles to protect her family against hardships and societal pressures.
8

Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

IMDb 8.0 RT 95%
DramaHistoricalRomance
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 95%
A court musician's son falls in love with a royal courtesan, leading to a tragic tale of sacrifice.
9

Drishyam (2015)

IMDb 8.2 RT 88%
ThrillerDrama
8.8
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 88%
A man's family becomes entangled in a crime investigation, and he'll do anything to protect them.
10

Andhadhun (2018)

IMDb 8.0 RT 86%
ThrillerMystery
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 86%
A piano player with impaired vision becomes witness to a murder, leading into a web of deception.
11

Gully Boy (2019)

IMDb 7.9 RT 84%
DramaMusic
8.0
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 84%
A street performer from Mumbai discovers his talent for rap and pursues his dreams.
12

Article 15 (2019)

IMDb 8.1 RT 87%
DramaCrime
8.6
Our Score
★ 8.1 ★ 87%
A police officer confronts caste discrimination and injustice in rural India.
13

Tumbbad (2018)

IMDb 8.0 RT 91%
HorrorFantasyDrama
8.4
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 91%
A family seeks hidden treasure tied to a cursed goddess, with devastating consequences.
14

Dangal (2016)

IMDb 8.4 RT 97%
BiographyDramaSport
8.8
Our Score
★ 8.4 ★ 97%
A former wrestler trains his daughters to become world-class wrestlers, defying gender norms.
15

PK (2014)

IMDb 7.9 RT 78%
ComedyDramaSci-Fi
7.8
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 78%
An alien in India questions religious practices and superstitions.
16

Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

IMDb 7.8 RT 82%
DramaComedy
8.2
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 82%
A man embarks on a journey to reunite a lost Pakistani girl with her family.
17

Kahaani (2012)

IMDb 7.9 RT 90%
ThrillerMystery
8.3
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 90%
A pregnant woman searches for her missing husband in Kolkata, unraveling a web of mysteries.
18

Queen (2014)

IMDb 7.9 RT 87%
ComedyDrama
8.2
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 87%
A woman embarks on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé calls off the wedding.
19

Margarita with a Straw (2019)

IMDb 7.7 RT 92%
DramaRomance
8.4
Our Score
★ 7.7 ★ 92%
A disabled girl navigates love, sexuality, and identity while challenging societal norms.
20

Swades (2004)

IMDb 8.2 RT 85%
Drama
8.6
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 85%
An Indian scientist returns to his homeland and inspires change in a rural village.

◆ MALAYALAM CINEMA

20
Films
7.8
Avg IMDb
87%
Avg RT
8.2
Our Score
1

Virus (2019)

IMDb 8.3 RT 96%
ThrillerDrama
9.0
Our Score
★ 8.3 ★ 96%
Medical professionals in Kerala fight to contain a deadly Nipah virus outbreak.
2

Lucifer (2019)

IMDb 7.9 RT 85%
ActionDramaCrime
8.3
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 85%
A powerful business tycoon enters politics to fulfil his deceased friend's last wish.
3

Premam (2015)

IMDb 7.9 RT 88%
RomanceComedyDrama
8.2
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 88%
A young man's journey through love and heartbreak, spanning three stages of his life.
4

Drishyam (2013)

IMDb 8.3 RT 100%
ThrillerCrimeDrama
9.2
Our Score
★ 8.3 ★ 100%
A family man's teenage son kills a powerful politician's son, leading to a battle of wits.
5

Bangalore Days (2014)

IMDb 7.9 RT 86%
DramaRomance
8.1
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 86%
Three cousins in Bangalore navigate love, career, and family expectations.
6

Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016)

IMDb 8.0 RT 94%
Drama
8.5
Our Score
★ 8.0 ★ 94%
A photographer's simple quest for an apology becomes a journey of self-discovery.
7

Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

IMDb 8.3 RT 97%
Drama
8.9
Our Score
★ 8.3 ★ 97%
Four brothers with troubled lives share a house, each dealing with their own demons.
8

Take Off (2017)

IMDb 8.2 RT 93%
DramaBiography
8.7
Our Score
★ 8.2 ★ 93%
Indian nurses trapped in war-torn Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion strive to return home.
9

Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017)

IMDb 7.9 RT 90%
DramaCrime
8.4
Our Score
★ 7.9 ★ 90%
A couple is abducted by a policeman, leading to unexpected events in their lives.
10

Minnal Murali (2021)

IMDb 7.8 RT 95%
SuperheroComedyDrama
8.0
Our Score
★ 7.8 ★ 95%
Two distant cousins discover they have superpowers and must save their village.
11

Sudani from Nigeria (2018)

IMDb 7.7 RT 92%
ComedyDrama
8.1
Our Score
★ 7.7 ★ 92%
A terminally-ill Nigerian patient and his Malayali nurse form an unlikely friendship.
12

Angamaly Diaries (2017)

IMDb 7.7 RT 88%
CrimeDramaAction
7.9
Our Score
★ 7.7 ★ 88%
A young man's journey through the underworld of Angamaly, fighting for survival.
13

Koode (2018)

IMDb 7.7 RT 85%
Drama
7.8
Our Score
★ 7.7 ★ 85%
Three siblings reunite at their ancestral home, confronting past memories and emotions.
14

Uyare (2019)

IMDb 7.7 RT 89%
DramaThriller
8.3
Our Score
★ 7.7 ★ 89%
A woman fighter pilot fights for justice after being brutally attacked by her boyfriend.
15

Kammatipaadam (2016)

IMDb 7.6 RT 82%
CrimeDrama
7.8
Our Score
★ 7.6 ★ 82%
A gang leader looks back at his violent past and its consequences.
16

Munnariyippu (2015)

IMDb 7.6 RT 80%
Drama
7.7
Our Score
★ 7.6 ★ 80%
A former Naxalite tries to rebuild his life but his past catches up with him.
17

Aadhi (2018)

IMDb 7.5 RT 75%
ActionDrama
7.6
Our Score
★ 7.5 ★ 75%
A man haunted by his past becomes entangled in a dangerous game of revenge.
18

Theevram (2018)

IMDb 7.4 RT 74%
ThrillerMystery
7.5
Our Score
★ 7.4 ★ 74%
Mysterious events unfold when a man returns home after 12 years to attend his father's funeral.
19

Njan Steve Lopez (2013)

IMDb 7.3 RT 72%
DramaComedy
7.4
Our Score
★ 7.3 ★ 72%
A man forms an unexpected friendship with a con artist who pretends to be a foreigner.
20

Godha (2017)

IMDb 7.3 RT 78%
DramaSport
7.6
Our Score
★ 7.3 ★ 78%
A female wrestler's journey from a small village to the national tournament.