Since making my 2022 list of South Indian films like RRR, I’ve watched so many more films from India. Not all of them have been gold—I’ve waded through enough male gaze and slow-mo action for a lifetime—but every now and then, I watch some true gems that I want to shout out from the rooftops.
Here are some more of my favorite movies to watch if you like RRR and want to explore more South Indian cinema.
Maaveeran
If you liked Boy Kills World or Minnal Murali, you’ll enjoy this film about a newspaper cartoonist who begins hearing a narrator in his mind after a head injury.
Sivakarthikeyan is Sathya, the cowardly cartoonist who becomes a reluctant hero for the residents of his building who are dealing with a crooked developer and shoddy construction.
The movie carries a social message about corruption and brings a lot of heart while giving us some truly great comedic moments.
The fight scenes, in particular, are a fast-paced departure from the typical slow-mo action we’d see in big commercial movies and they have an added layer of humor because our ass-kicking hero is terrified of being heroic.
Where to watch in the US: Prime Video
Meiyazhagan
A simple story that begins with a man forgetting a relative’s name at a family function quickly becomes one of the most heartwarming movies you’ll find.
I was reminded of Broker, which was one of my favorites from 2022, because this movie feels like a warm blanket.
It’s tender, touching, emotional, and beautiful, from the cinematography by Mahendran Jayaraju to the performances from Arvind Swamy and Karthi. This movie instantly earned a spot in my top 10 for 2024.
Where to watch in the US: Netflix
Aattam
This powerful film has been rightfully compared to 12 Angry Men for the #MeToo era.
It’s the story of an acting troupe that includes a movie star, a married man having an affair, and the sole woman in the group, who was assaulted by one of the members.
The gripping drama unfolding over the 139-minute runtime involves the men in the group meeting to discuss what to do about the incident.
This film is fueled by stellar characters and performances. Everyone feels fleshed out and real, making their decisions feel motivated in a way that is so enthralling, and simultaneously frustrating.
It’s a story we know all too well, but it’s fascinating to see the perspectives of the different men in the group as they wrestle with morality and selfish intentions.
Where to watch in the US: Prime Video
Aavesham
I have never been disappointed by a Fahadh Faasil performance and he is absolutely firing on all cylinders here.
This film is about three college freshmen who recruit a local gangster to help them fight off bullies and quickly realize they might have gotten more than they bargained for.
Faasil is Ranga, the gangster in question, who is an eccentric hothead capable of being hilarious one minute and exploding in violence the next. He’s essentially a parody of the type of hero you would see in your average South Indian blockbuster, right down to the lavish parties and the loyal sidekick, played to perfection by Sajin Gopu.
As someone who loves an over-the-top mass hero who can dodge bullets or seemingly break physics with his punches, I found Aavesham to be an absolute delight because it asks us what a guy like that does in his free time. (In this case, the answer is making unintentionally hilarious Instagram reels and slashing people over a game of charades.)
Where to watch in the US: Prime Video
Saripodhaa Sanivaaram
Nani stars as Surya, who had such anger issues as a kid that his mother made him swear to only fight on Saturdays. During the week, he leads a normal life as an insurance agent, but once Saturday hits, he goes through his list of people who have pissed him off and unleashes hell.
The concept and the action are fun, but the story gets more complex when Surya is pulled into a conflict with a psychotic cop played by S. J. Suryah.
Nani is effortlessly charming and able to switch between the chilled-out Surya during the week and the ass-kicking Surya we see every Saturday.
With some very solid payoffs and more for the female characters to do, I had a lot of fun with this one.
Where to watch in the US: Netflix
A few additional South Indian film recommendations:
96
Another emotional masterpiece from Meiyazhagan director C. Prem Kumar, this is the story of Ram and Janu who loved each other in their school days and finally see each other again at a class reunion 22 years after losing contact.
The story has major Past Lives vibes, but it brings something new to the table, particularly around its use of music.
There’s no question that Vijay Sethupathi is one of the best actors working right now. His performance in Super Deluxe made my previous list. He’s remarkable once again here, conveying so much through silence.
Matching him beat for beat is Trisha Krishnan, who shines like a diamond in this role, giving us longing, regret, playfulness, and vulnerability.
If you’re ready to have your heart flooded with bittersweet nostalgic longing, 96 will give you exactly what you’re looking for.
Where to watch in the US: Prime Video
Vikramarkudu
I couldn’t make one of these lists without including a movie from S. S. Rajamouli, who is, after all, the reason for the season when it comes to my Telugu film obsession.
This is a film about a thief who ends up the guardian of a little girl who claims he’s her father. He discovers that he looks exactly like her actual father, a heroic cop being hunted by a gang.
Certainly one of Rajamouli’s hornier movies, there are many elements in this that feel super dated. For example, Anushka Shetty, one of my all-time faves, is relegated mostly to being a hot girl—a far cry from the powerful Devasena. Despite its rough edges, there’s no question that Rajamouli has always been a master of emotion and the father-daughter stuff really works here.
Perhaps it’s because I’m far enough down the rabbit hole of TFI movies to appreciate it or perhaps it’s because I’ve been on a truly unhinged Ravi Teja binge, but I adored his performance, and I was really glad I gave this one a second watch after my initial viewing years ago.
Where to watch in the US: YouTube
Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire
I will fully admit that my opinion of this film is biased because I really like Prabhas. Much like Kalki 2898 AD, I’m predisposed to love pretty much anything that gives me a few good fight scenes with the gentle giant of the Telugu Film Industry.
The story of Salaar can be overcomplicated. At one point during an exposition dump, the character played by Shruti Haasan literally stops the movie to ask, “Wait…what?” There’s an elaborate backstory, feuding tribes, and a secret city, which can be a whole lot of information for your brain to process in what is only the first chapter in this saga.
Similar to the KGF franchise, director Prashanth Neel can be far too reliant on slow-mo and a dark, muted color palette, which can make the movie feel like style over substance at times.
But this film features two of my favorite fight scenes in Indian cinema, so it’s going on the list.
Where to watch in the US: Netflix
Enthiran (aka Robot)
I can’t believe it took me this long to watch this 2010 film and its 2018 sequel 2.0. I had seen clips for years, including some of the most memorable moments highlighted by Corridor Crew, but never had the chance to see the whole film.
This absolutely enormous Shankar film features the legendary Rajinikanth as a scientist who creates a powerful robot named Chitti. Wouldn’t you know it, Chitti starts developing emotions and quickly falls in love with his creator’s girlfriend, the outrageously beautiful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
The climax of this film features some of the most insane action I’ve ever seen with CGI so over-the-top that it becomes amazing. This film is truly wild and I had an absolute blast watching it.
The only downside is that it can be a little difficult to find Enthiran streaming in the US. I had to get a subscription to Sun Nxt for this one, but it was worth it.
Where to watch in the US: SunNxt
You can follow me on Letterboxd to keep up with what I’m watching, and if you watch any of the movies I’ve recommended, let me know what you think of them on Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads.