I am a Telugu guy and movies as a hobby is deeply imbibed in us from childhood. It’s very common for two Telugu people to discuss movies. Some of these movies gave me a new perspective and changed me a bit. This blog is just a reminder of such impactful movies and also movie recommendations in general. I don’t watch much Hollywood and my opinions related to those are very limited.
While some of us feel proud about this, I don’t feel great about this. Movies were a significant part of my childhood and adult life and I slightly regret not picking up other hobbies. Nevertheless, this is my attempt to share my opinions and how they influenced me.
I am not a critic and not aspiring to be one. These are my opinions and solely reflect my views, although they are influenced by offline and online discussions on forums like IMDb and Reddit.
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Most of Bollywood is dominated by people from Punjab, West Bengal and Maharashtra. And these cultures are reflected in the movies. Directors of Bengal origin usually make thought-provoking movies that deal with human psychology. Directors of Punjabi origin usually have rich backdrops. Directors from UP and Bihar deal with raw themes. It’s the biggest cinema industry and has covered all the genres but received a lot of criticism for half-baked stories and less talented actors. South Indian movies (more specifically Telugu) started gaining more traction because of better stories and actors.
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A much-explored genre of Indian cinema. There are many stories which explore different ideologies and aspects of love. As it’s a multifaceted emotion, with different people having different opinions on it. It’s contradictory in some ways too.
Malli Raava Chi La Sow Godavari Anand Yeto Vellipoindi Manasu Yemaya Chesave Oh My Kadavule Ishq(Telugu) Ishq(Malayalam) Raja Rani(Tamil) Sunday Holiday Ohm Shanti Oshana Pelli Choopulu Oohalu Gusagusalade Manmadhudu Sammohanam Malli Malli Idhi Rani Roju Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty Sita Ramam Ninnu Kori Orange Most Eligible Bachelor Bommarillu Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum Aandavan Kattalai 7G Rainbow Colony Mozhi Irugapatru Amaran OK Kanmani Thiruchitrambalam Alaipayuthey Minnale Nuvvu naaku nachav Geetanjali Love Story Nuvve Nuvve Ninne Pelladtha Ante Sundaraniki Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam Ala Modalaindi Kakkaa Kakkaa/Gharshana Raghavan/Vettaidu Veliyaadu Roja Bombay Good night Maayanadhi Jab We Met The Lunchbox Dum Laga Ke Haisha Qarib Qarib Single Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Hasee toh phasee Love Aaj Kal Mungaru Male Sapta Sagarcha Ello Wake up Sid Socha Na Tha
Movies with no actual relationship between the characters but they meet at crossroads in critical situations because of unforeseen circumstances. Usually, filled with subplots of characters and gradually connected to the final act.
Maanagaram Express Raja Vedam Om Shanti(Telugu) Aayutha Ezhuthu Manamantha Super Deluxe (film) Traffic Aaranya Kaandam Journey(Telugu) Virus 2018 Brochevarevarura Dasavatharam Neram Soodhu Kavvum Keeda Cola Awe(Telugu) Evadi Gola Vaadidi(Telugu)
Rashomon effect describes how multiple individuals recount the same incident in different ways. Many Indian directors explored this concept in their films. As it suggests, these are mostly drama/thriller movies, where the movie keeps the audience guessing. Without sufficient evidence, the truth would never come out unless the director decides to reveal it. Following are the movies in which I personally find this explored.
Strong Rashomon-Style Narrative Ulidavaru Kadanthe Brilliant movie from Rakshit Shetty where everyone has their own perception of the incident and acts accordingly. Everybody is right from their own lens, unlike other movies where one of the eyewitnesses falsifies the truth. Karnataka’s culture is aesthetically portrayed. The director has other movies where he acts himself and was very instrumental in its subsequent success.
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Kannada has only a few good movies. And films are not as popular as they are in other southern states. Most of the movies carry rich culture in them, unlike commercial movies from Telugu and Tamil.
Action Ugramm Kantara Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1 K.G.F K.G.F: Chapter 2 Drama 777 Charlie Thriller Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana Ulidavaru Kadanthe Kavaludaari U Turn Romance Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side A Sapta Sagaradaache Ello - Side B Kirik Party Dia Mungaru Male Comedy Avane Srimannarayana Rathnan Prapancha
Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, popularly known as NKPK, is an out-and-out comedy and is based on a real-life incident the director experienced. This movie brought more limelight to VJS after Pizza. The story revolves around Prem (VJS) and his three friends when unexpectedly he experiences retrograde amnesia while playing cricket just before 2 days of his marriage. How his friends manage this situation and get him married is the plot. VJS’s dialogue delivery is witty and makes us laugh even though he repeats the same dialogues again and again. I can’t speak Tamil but I am able to understand dialogues and comedy without subtitles.
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Aandavan Kattalai is a new-age drama advocating against lies and shortcuts to get things done through illegal means. The story revolves around Gandhi, who wants to go abroad through a travel visa and settle there as an immigrant to pay off his debts. To make this visa process easier, he gets a passport with marital status as married and uses Karmeghakuzhali as his wife’s name. His visa gets rejected but he eventually gets another opportunity to go to London but now has to remove the wife’s name.
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Honestly, I just watched Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum based on some Reddit recommendations. It is a good movie but I didn’t feel anything extraordinary about it, but it has a huge fan base because of the chemistry between the lead pair. I didn’t connect because I didn’t find a solid reason for them to love each other except for the fact that VJS is with Madonna during her tough time. One other reason could be Kollywood didn’t have good rom-coms like Tollywood. This reminds me of RDX in Malayalam, where it seems pretty ordinary for Tamil and Telugu watchers.
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I like Malayalam movies the most because of their simplicity and relatable stories. They are the best storytellers and the production budget is minimal. Content drives the movie and actors have less reservation about the type of roles.
Thriller 2018
Drishyam
Drishyam 2
Eko
Jana Gana Mana
Maheshinte Prathikaram
Take Off
Memories
Anjaam Pathiraa
Mumbai Police
Helen
Virus
Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi
Kappela
Driving License
Kooman
Detective Thrillers Sookshmadarshini Kishkinda Kaandam Iratta Rekhachitram Anweshippin Kandethum Shahi Kabir movies Ronth Ela Veezha Poonchira Joseph Nayattu Social Drama The Great Indian Kitchen Aattam Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey Njan Prakashan Ishq Vikrithi Kaathal - The Core Ponman Comedy Premalu Sudani from Nigeria Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 Thanneermathan Dinangal Neram Romancham BroDaddy Aavesham JanEMan Unda North 24 Kaatham Alappuzha Gymkhana Padakkalam Vellimoonga Romance Premam Hridayam Ohm Shanti Oshana Sunday Holiday Amen Maayanadhi Salt N’Pepper Action Ayyappanu Koshiyum Malik Kammatti Paadam Parava Angamaly Dairies Lucifer Varathan Thudarum Cop movies Action Hero Biju Kannur Squad Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum Operation Java Drama #HOME Mukundan Unni Associates Kumbalangi Nights Bangalore Days Classmates Traffic Guppy Pathemari Ustad Hotel Charlie Uyare Nna, Thaan Case Kodu Saudi Vellakka Joji C U Soon Jacobinte Swarajyam Bheeshma Parvam Manjummel Boys Neru Medical Ayalum Njanum Thammil Sports Godha Superhero Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra Minnal Murali
Most Tamil movies are made around village backgrounds with regional issues. Here are my top picks:
Social Drama/Thriller Jai Bhim Pariyerum Perumal Karnan Visaaranai Aruvi Mandela Kadaisi Vivasayi Peranbu Super Deluxe Aayitha Ezhuthu Viduthalai: Part 1 Anbe Sivam Kattradhu Thamizh Meiyazhagan Aaranya Kandam Ayothi Gargi Taanakkaran Hey Ram Love Story/Romance 96 Alaipayuthey Vaaranam Aayiram Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Oh My Kadavule Thiruchitrambalam O Kadhal Kanmani Thulladha Manamum Thullum Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum Amaran Irugapatru Mozhi Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi Taramani 7G Rainbow Colony Engaeyum Eppothum Kandukondain Kandukondain Good Night Raja Rani Drama Padayappa Soorarai Pottru Jigarthanda Jigarthanda Double X Dragon Deiva Thirumagal Kannathil Muthamittal Boys Parking Vinodhaya Sitham Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee Pichaikkaran Maareesan Sports drama Sarpatta Parambarai Jeeva Lubber Pandhu Bison Kaalamaadan Irudhi Suttru Science Fiction 24 Indru Netru Naalai Enthiran Periodic Drama Ponniyin Selvan Action Kaithi Vada Chennai Asuran Vikram Pudhu Pettai Anniyan Mahaan Paruthiveeran Subramaniapuram Virumandi Ayirathil Oruvan Dasavatharam Maaveeran Mark Antony Commercial Action Baashha Kaththi Indian Velaiilla Pattadhari Mankatha Sivaji: The Boss Mersal Master Theri Jailer Cop movies Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu Kaakha Kaakha Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru Vikram Vedha Thuppakki Yennai Arindhaal Sardar Political movies Aaytha Ezhuthu Madras Uriyadi Ko Thriller Thani Oruvan Raatchasan Vazhakku Enn 18/9 Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru Kurangu Bommai Kuttrame Thandanai Thegidi Naan Yutham Sei Maanagaram Anjathe Thadam Por Thozil Vishwaroopam Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal Imaikkaa Nodigal Sathuraanga Vettai Maharaja Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum Eleven Ayan Irumbu Thirai Thupparivaalan 8 Thottakkal Kuttram 23 Comedy Soodhu Kavvum Panchatanthiram Tourist Family Chennai 600028 Vanakkam Chennai Kaakkaa Muttai Maanaadu Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom Love Today(2022) Mundasupatti Boss Engira Bhaskaran Aandavan Kattalai Doctor Kolamaavu Kokila Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara Vaayai Moodi Pesavum Horror Demonte Colony Maya Pizza Andhakaaram