Looking for wholesome entertainer South Indian movies or an action-driven films, 2024 has set new standards when it comes to films offered by South Indian cinema. Explore this list and find out how these films not only won the audience’s hearts but also have set a new trend for the upcoming filmmakers to work towards a holistic cinema for future generations.
Malayalam:
1) Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph, Nikhila Vimal
What happens when a young man who doesn’t want to get married after his breakup, agrees to a marriage with his best friend’s sister? Yeah, the start of the movie is interesting but what is more mind-blowing is the young man’s ex-fiance turns out to be his best friend’s present wife. So, what happens when the people involved in the love quadrilateral get to know about the truth? This film is a must-watch for people who are looking for clean comedy in the simple backdrop of a village.
2) Aavesham
Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Hipzster, Mithun Jai Shankar
If you are looking for a college drama with a thriller backdrop then this movie is a must-watch for you. Don’t consider it to be a romantic drama as we have 4 stars coming together to give you a laughter riot in this comedy gangster film. So, the story goes this way three engineering college students want to win over a bully senior and thus, they team up with a local gangster. The gangster likes these teenagers so much that he becomes a dominant person in their lives. During the initial days, all is well but what happens when they fail in their exams and find it challenging to live up to the expectations of their parents? Watch the film for Fahadh Faasil’s performance.
3) The Goat Life/Aadujeevitham
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jimmy Jean-Louis, K.r. Gokul
When it comes to critically acclaimed movies in Indian cinema, Malayalam cinema always has a few films to offer that will just blow your mind. The Goat Life directed by Blessy is one such film that you must check out for its amazing performances and a simplistic story told in a beautiful manner. So, the story follows an Indian man who seeks work in Saudi Arabia. However, he finds himself in a forced job as a goat herder in a remote desert and that too without pay.
Tamil:
4) Amaran
Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Sai Pallavi
This biographical war film based on the real-life story of Major Mukund Varadarajan will surely keep you hooked throughout the film. The film not just talks about the real struggles of the Major while carrying out his duties to protect the Nation but also shows a page of his challenges to maintain a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend Indhu who becomes his wife later. One of the finest performances by Sivakarthikeyan who usually has shown his comic style in acting in majority of his films.
5) Maharaja
Cast: Anurag Kashyap, Sachana Namitas, Mamata Mohandas, Natarajan Subramaniam, Abhirami, Aruldas, Munishkanth, Manikandan, Singambuli and Bharathiraja
The film sheds light on the story of a barber who reports to the police about a missing iron dustbin named Lakshmi after his house is ransacked. Why he is registering a police complaint for a dustbin? Watch the film to understand his real intentions.
6) Lubber Pandhu
Cast: Gethu Dinesh and Harish Kalyan, Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, Swasika, Bala Saravanan, Kaali Venkat, Geetha Kailasam, Devadarshini, TSK, Jenson Diwakar and Pradeep Durairaj.
Lubber Pandhu is the story set in a rural backdrop where there is tough rivalry between two gully cricket stars named Anbu and Gethu. What happens when Gethu’s daughter falls in love with Anbu and how the tensions escalate forms the crux of the story.
Telugu:
7) Guntur Kaaram
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenaakshi Chaudhary
There is nothing with its box office numbers that should prompt you to watch Guntur Kaaram. The film is based on a son who yearns for his mother’s love who he assumed to have left during his childhood. However, later he discovers the real reason behind her decision which prompts him to save her life no matter what. Watch the film for its performances and story narration.
8) Kalki 2898 AD
Cast: Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, Disha Patani
Watch this ambitious cinema that is futuristic and yet has traditional roots. If you don’t understand the film, that is completely fine, some films are not made to give any lesson or meaning. Watch the film for the action-packed performances of veteran actors and the mind-blowing visuals that literally make you wonder where our Indian cinema is heading when it comes to global standards.
9) Lucky Bhaskar
Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Ramki
Originally a Telugu film, but the dubbing is amazing for all other languages like Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tamil, so watch the film in your preferred language and know the story of a middle-class bank employee and how he faces opposition from the influential when he tries to give up the corrupt practices.
Kannada:
10) Yuva
Cast: Yuva Rajkumar, Sapthami Gowda, Achyuth Kumar
If you are looking for college drama, then Yuva is an apt film. The film focuses on two groups whose rivalry increases in an engineering college. How the students come together to fight against gang warfare is what the film focuses on.
11) Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi
Cast: Ganesh, Malvika Nair, Sadhu Kokila
The film is a wholesome entertainer that follows the story of a rich man’s son who works as a valet to win the girl’s heart whom he falls in love with. However, he has a long way to walk to get approval from the girl’s parents.
12) Max
Cast: Sudeepa, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Sunil, Samyukta Hornad, Sukrutha Wagle and Anirudh Bhat
This Kannada film Max is an action-packed thriller that captures your attention from the start of the film and keeps you hooked till the end. No doubt that Sudeep’s strong screen presence, amazing action moves, and intense performance ensure that every scene is exciting. With a mind-blowing story, powerful music, and a satisfying climax scene, Max should be on your must-watch list this year. Please note that the film stands out on its own and proves why Sudeep is one of the best stars in Indian cinema.
