Shubhabrata Dutta
Being one of India’s largest in scope and reach, the Telugu film industry produces more than 200 movies annually. Known as Tollywood in short, the industry is based in Hyderabad, Telangana, which also holds the Guinness World Record for the largest film production facility in the world, Ramoji Film City. Netflix knows the importance of regional cinema in India and its broad reach outside the country. Whether you are new to exploring Telugu cinema or are already a hardcore fan, the streaming service has quite the collection to keep you entertained.
28. Mathu Vadalara 2 (2024)
Sequel to ‘Mathu Vadalara’ (2019), ‘Mathu Vadalara 2’ centers on the jobless duo Babu Mohan (Sri Simha Koduri) and Yesu Dasu (Satya), who bribe their way into the H.E. (High Emergency) Team, a police unit. Their desperate need for money lands them in the middle of a complex conspiracy underscored by blackmailing, kidnapping, and murder. All they have for support is Nidhi (Faria Abdullah), their senior on the team, who also gets pulled into the mix. How they get out of it is what we find out in this crime comedy-drama that offers ample crime and comedy underscored by impressive performances. It can be streamed here.
27. Saripodhaa Sanivaaram (2024)
Helmed by Vivek Athreya, ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ pins a common man, Surya (Nani), who lives by his self-imposed set of rules of honor, against a corrupt cop, Dayanand (SJ Suryah), who oppresses innocent people. Adding to the drama is Surya’s romance with Charulatha (Priyanka Arul Mohan), who is a cop working under Dayanand. A layered storyline executed in a captivating manner makes ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ steer clear of regular vigilante narratives and be a well-crafted action thriller. You can watch it here.
26. Bhaje Vaayu Vegam (2024)
Directed by Prashanth Reddy, ‘Bhaje Vaayu Vegam’ stars Kartikeya Gummakonda as Venkat, an orphaned boy brought up by a poor farmer (Tanikella Bharani), along with his own son, Raju (Rahul Tyson). Raju grows up aspiring to work at a software firm, while Venkat wants to be a professional cricketer. However, neither is able to be successful after moving out to the city. Things get worse when the step-brothers get involved with bookies, thugs, and even cops and politicians, thanks to Venkat’s bet and subsequent cheating that costs him all the money. With their father’s health declining, the brothers need that money for his treatment, no matter how, thereby pinning them against powerful figures. While the film’s writing could have been better, it is saved by the performances of the leads, especially Gummakonda, and the action sequences. You can watch ‘Bhaje Vaayu Vegam’ (Fast like Wind) here.
25. Mad (2023)
A mindless stoner Slapstick comedy that you shouldn’t take seriously, ‘Mad’ follows three friends, Manoj (Ram Nithin), Ashok (Narne Nithin), and Damodhar (Sangeeth Shoban), who navigate their love life while studying in an engineering college. Their exploits, from getting involved in fights to irritating their professors to partying to wooing women and getting in trouble for all these, are what this movie explores. Directed by Kalyan Shankar, ‘Mad’ can be streamed here.
24. Guntur Kaaram (2024)
A movie propelled by the past, ‘Guntur Kaaram’ follows Veera Venkata Ramana (Mahesh Babu), who was abandoned by his mother Vasundhara Reddy (Ramya Krishnan) when he was just ten years old. Twenty-five years later, Ramana is asked by his grandfather, Vasundhara’s father, to sign documents severing all ties with his mother. This is supposed to help his mother, a politician, win the upcoming elections. A reunion looms, and only the film will reveal whether it will be teary-eyed or fiery-eyed. Will Ramana let go of his anger for her mother? Or will he take the documents as an opportunity to be reunited with his mom after such a long time? ‘Guntur Kaaram’ is directed by Trivikram Srinivas. It can be streamed here.
23. Dasara (2023)
In the village of Veerlapally, dominated by coal mines, the men’s existence revolves around alcohol. ‘Dasara’ unfolds as Dharni sacrifices his unrequited love for Vennela, who loves his best friend Suri. Turning to coal theft for survival, Dharni pledges to secure Suri a job at the Silk Bar. This pits him against the village Sarpanch’s son, Nambi, leading to a brutal jail incident. Rajanna intervenes, prioritizing Suri over political aspirations. Tragedy strikes on Suri and Vennela’s wedding night, leaving Dharni devastated and Vennela a widow in this poignant tale directed by Srikanth Odela. You can watch it here.
22. Virupaksha (2023)
Directed by Karthik Varma Dandu, ‘Virupaksha’ is a gripping thriller that is set in the remote village of Rudravanam which is subjected to supernatural events and mysterious deaths. While a priest declares that the village has to be locked down until the problem is solved, an outsider named Surya (Sai Dharam Tej), who falls for Nandini (Samyuktha Menon), who lives in Rudravanam, is revealed to have some kind of connection with the happenings. He is even addressed as Virupaksha, a form of the Hindu god Shiva, by the priest. Can he rid the village of its misery? What dark secrets does Rudravanam hold? Be a part of this mythological thriller right here.
21. Hi Nanna (2023)
A moving romance directed by Shouryuv, ‘Hi Nanna’ follows Viraj (Nani), a single father who has raised his now-6-year-old daughter Mahi (Kiara Khanna). However, Viraj has been unable to tell Mahi about her mother. He ultimately finds himself stuck in a situation and, without any other option, agrees to tell her who her mother is. This moment arrives after the two meet Yashna (Mrunal Thakur), who saves Mahi from an accident. Subsequently, Yashna sweetly asks Mahi to imagine her as her mother while her father tells the story. This is where Viraj’s past, with its string of mistakes, lies, and twists, comes to the forefront, all underscored by his relationship with Mahi’s mother, Varsha. Heartfelt, tender, and powerful, ‘Hi Nanna’ is a must-watch Telugu drama on Netflix. You can stream it here.
20. Virata Parvam (2022)
Starring Rana Daggubati, Sai Pallavi, Nandita Das, and Priyamani, ‘Virata Parvam’ is a period action drama that is set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement (a conflict between the Naxals, a Maoist group, and the central government) in India and follows Vennela (Pallavi) who falls for a Naxal leader named Ravi Shankar (Daggubati) aka Comrade Ravanna after reading his poems. However, Shankar is on the run from the government, and trust can be a compromise. Will Vennela’s love be rewarded? To find out, you can stream the film here.
19. Bheeshma (2020)
Starring Nithiin Reddy as Bheeshma Prasad and Rashmika Mandanna as Chaitra, this film is a must-watch for those looking for something light and fun. Bheeshma is a meme creator who is frustrated with being single. When he meets Chaitra, he instantly falls in love with her. Bheeshma is known for his silly one-liners at the oddest of times.
The romantic entertainer is directed by Venky Kudumula, who sticks to what he does best. However, the story is also set against a background of war between two companies- one, an organic foods company, and the other, a corporation using chemically enhanced crops. However, the film, in general, is kept on a lighter note with the dramatic theatrics that come with Venky’s films. Feel free to check it out here.
18. Spyder (2020)
The thriller directed by A.R. Murugadoss was filmed simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil with the film stars Mahesh Babu, Rakul Preet Singh, and the multifaceted S.J. Surya. Shiva (Mahesh Babu) is an Intelligence Bureau officer who spies on people’s calls and messages to help them.
He is determined to save the people of Hyderabad from a psychopath on the loose, Bhairavudu/Sudalai (S.J. Surya). Bhairavudu is a sadistic serial killer who derives joy from people grieving their loved ones. The plot thickens as Shiva and Bhairavudu/Sudalai’s paths cross repeatedly, lending various twists. Will Shiva finally be able to keep the people of Hyderabad safe? You can watch the movie here to find out.
17. Fidaa (2017)
Starring Varun Tej & Sai Pallavi, ‘Fidaa’ is a rom-com directed by Sekhar Kammula. The film explores the love-hate relationship between Varun (Tej), an NRI in the US, and Bhanumathi (Pallavi), a strong-minded suburban girl. While Varun is the first to grow feelings, things get complicated between the two due to misunderstandings. Bhanumathi agrees to marry someone else despite having a new-found likeness for Varun. Can he confess his love to her and make it up to her before it’s too late? ‘Fidaa’ has a straightforward story, but the interaction between the lead characters, the result of the wonderful chemistry between Tej and Pallavi, makes the film a compelling and heart-warming watch. You can stream it here.
16. Salaar (2023)
Also known as ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire,’ this epic action film is directed by Prashanth Neel and stars Prabhas, of ‘Baahubali’ fame, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Sriya Reddy, and Shruti Haasan. It begins with the story of young best friends Deva (Prabhas) and Varadharaja (Prithviraj), and then, after showing that they are now enemies, starts exploring what led to their enmity. In the middle of this is a girl named Aadhya (Shruti Haasan), who is staying with Deva, who is responsible for protecting her as she is the target of those who want to hurt her father as a form of revenge. With her within reach, they can extract that revenge from her. How these two stories intersect and whether the two former friends can come together again is what we see in this film. You can watch the movie here.
15. Sir (2023)
Starring Dhanush and Samyuktha Menon, ‘Sir’ is a period drama directed by Venky Atluri. The story is set in the 90s and revolves around an assistant teacher who is transferred from a private school to a government one to serve full-time. The issues he comes across are overwhelming, including how the education of the kids is being turned into a commodity of profit by the powerful without any regard for their future and well-being. What follows is his fight against this conspiracy that poses a threat to the very future of the state and the country. To find out whether he can accomplish anything, you can watch ‘Sir’ here.
14. Eega (2012)
Director S. S. Rajamouli made his power of imagination very clear with this movie back in 2012. While the plot is a straightforward reincarnation story, only Rajamouli could have thought of a human being reincarnated as an ‘eega’, i.e., the fly (English). Starring Nani, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Kiccha Sudeep, the movie tells the story of three people, namely Nani (Nani), Bindu (Samantha), and Sudeep (Kiccha Sudeep). Nani loves Bindu, and while she doesn’t reveal it to him, she has feelings for him too. This chemistry cannot be digested by powerful industrialist Sudeep, who has a taste in beautiful women and desires Bindu. He thus kills Nani, who is then reincarnated as a housefly. However, this doesn’t stop Nani from coming back for the woman he loved in his past life. What follows is the way he takes revenge on Sudeep and saves Bindu. A revenge story unlike any other, ‘Eega’ is available for you to watch here.
13. Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020)
This film is written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas and became one of the highest-grossing films in the Telugu film industry. The story follows a young man, Bantu, played by Allu Arjun, who is despised by his father, Valmiki (Murali Sharma), and seeks his validation. When he learns that his biological father is Ramachandran, a wealthy businessman and not Valmiki, he tries to create a space for himself in the family that he truly belongs to.
‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ is the perfect package for entertainment as it captures the whole range of emotions and spice, including drama, action, romance, and swag. The actors’ performances have impressed the critics and are one of the most talked-about aspects of the film. You can stream ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ here.
12. Adhugo (2018)
‘Adhugo’ is the hilarious pursuit of a village behind Bunty, the little pink piglet! Bunty is the apple of his owner, Chanti’s eye. The innocent animal and his friend lead a peaceful life when some people, each having their selfish motives, crash land on them. The young lover Abhishek wants to apologize to his girlfriend after giving the piglet as a surprise gift. Six Pack Shakti is a fitness freak in the town who wants the piglet as a pet. Gutka Gangaraju and Sharjah Shankar try to steal the piglet to participate in an illegal animal racing tournament. With so many people having so many intentions to try and take away the piglet, ‘Adhugo’ races towards a hilarious culmination of the race. The interesting thing is Bunty becomes a sign of good luck for all of them because of his strange birthmark. Can his lucky charm save him from the greedy people running after him? To find out, you can stream ‘Adhugo’ here.
11. Evvarikee Cheppoddu (2019)
Hari (Rakesh Varre) and Harathi (Gargeyi Yellapragada) fall in love but belong to different castes. This poses a problem, especially with Harathi’s father, who is very conservative in his outlook. How Hari manages to get Harathi’s father’s approval forms the story. Although love stories can be predictable, this story manages to back it up with an essential social message supported by solid performances by the actors. The film delicately deals with the sensitive issue of caste discrimination with a humorous touch. Rakesh Varre also happens to be the film producer and has teamed up with Basava Shankar for direction and screenplay. You can watch the movie here.
10. Ante Sundharaniki (2022)
The Vivek Athreya-directed romantic comedy tells the story of Sundar (Nani), who belongs to an orthodox Hindu family, and Leela (Nazriya Nazim), who has a Christian background. While their interfaith relationship poses an obstacle to their marriage, the extent of the lies they tell their respective parents adds more obstacles to the already messed up situation. As the religious beliefs of the two families collide, Sundar and Leela find themselves taking a foreign route, literally. ‘Ante Sundharaniki’ is as much a family drama as a rom-com. The effortless performances of the leads add to the overall feel that the story provides, proving its worth as a true-to-form family entertainer. You can watch the film here.
9. Oh! Baby (2019)
‘Oh! Baby’ is a fantasy comedy film revolving around Savitri, also known as Baby (Samantha Akkineni), who magically gets a chance to relive her twenties after she receives a picture clicked in a studio. The film is a remake of Miss Granny, a South Korean film. What would you do if you were given a chance to relive your bygone years? This comic journey of a seventy-year-old builds on the juxtaposition of someone who looks young but has the soul of a septuagenarian. ‘Oh! Baby,’ directed by B.V. Nandini Reddy, is counted as one of Samantha’s finest performances of her career. You may watch the film here.
8. Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya (2020)
The title of the film translates to “The Angry Form of Uma Maheswara,” premiered on Netflix on the 30th of July 2020. The comedy-drama is a remake of the Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaaram. This is Venkatesh Maha’s second directorial venture after the film C/O Kancharapalem. The story is about a soft-spoken and simple photographer, Mahesh (Satyadev), who is beaten up and insulted by a bully when he intervenes to stop a conflict in the town marketplace. This incident changes him; he takes an oath that he will not wear slippers until he has exacted his revenge, but it is not as easy as he thinks. People and circumstances constantly test him to see if he stays true to his oath. The protagonist’s naivety is touching, and one can see the enormous impact subtle changes in his life have on him. Feel free to check out the movie here.
7. Major (2022)
Directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka, ‘Major’ (simultaneously released in Telugu and Hindi) tells the real-life story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, played by Adivi Sesh, who served in the National Security Guards, India’s counter-terrorist unit. He was martyred during the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, the worst in the country’s history. While showcasing the life of Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the movie delves into the horrific tragedy that transpired during the 60-hour siege that cost the lives of 166 people and injured many more. However, Major Unnikrishnan’s life is much more than the attacks, and ‘Major’ proves it. You can stream it here.
6. Cinema Bandi (2021)
When Veerababu (Vikas Vashisht), a rickshaw driver, finds an expensive video camera that someone forgot in his rickshaw, he, along with Ganapathi (Sandeep Varanasi), a friend of his, who is a still photographer, decides to make a cinema. As for the cast, they have their whole village to themselves. Meanwhile, Sindhu (Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy), the owner of the camera, returns to the village with her friends, making inquiries. What follows is a humorous and beautiful string of events that is bound to bring a smile to your face. Will Veerababu’s cinema become a reality? You can watch ‘Cinema Bandi,’ directed by Praveen Kandregula, here and find out for yourself.
5. Shyam Singha Roy (2021)
This Rahul Sankrityan directorial is a feast for the eyes. Set across two timelines underscored by the theme of reincarnation, ‘Shyam Singha Roy’ tells the story of two characters, Vasu and Shyam Singha Roy, both played by actor Nani. While Vasu is pursuing his passion for filmmaking in present times, Shyam Singha Roy defends himself as a social reformer in the 1960s. But how are these two characters connected? Saying anything more would be a disservice to the film itself. So watch it right away if you haven’t already. It is one of the best Telugu films to have come out of 2021. You can watch ‘Shyam Singha Roy’ here.
4. Mallesham (2019)
Starring Priyadarshi, Jhansi, Ananya Nagalla, and Ananda Chakrapani, ‘Mallesham’ is a biographical drama movie inspired by the life of Chintakindi Mallesham. The Raj R directorial follows Chintakindi, a sixth-standard school dropout who is motivated to help his mother and other people like her in the village by designing a weaving machine. While the far-fetched idea seems impossible to achieve for someone with so little formal education, Chintakindi is unlike most people and is determined to achieve his goal. When the going gets tough, the school dropout puts everything on the line and ends up revolutionizing the weaving industry in the process. If you, too, want to be a part of the revolution, you can stream the film here.
3. Awe! (2018)
‘Awe!’ is the story of five women hailing from five different backgrounds and are entangled in five different predicaments. The movie, which is touted as a psychological thriller, has some brilliant performances and nearly flawless writing. It has a fantastic animation-powered title track introducing each of the five female protagonists. They include a biker girl turned psychiatrist, a girl-next-door, a chef, a magician, and a junkie.
Even though these women have nothing to do with each other, they are connected by a fragile string, Kali. She is a troubled woman who decides to commit suicide and plans a mass murder along with her hara-kiri. The mysterious connection between Kali and her deadly mass murder plan with the five women makes ‘Awe!’ a brilliant thriller. The movie takes the viewers from comedy to horror and then to drama before culminating in a mind-blowing climax. To experience it, you may watch it here.
2. Kalki 2898 AD (2024)
An epic drama that blends sci-fi and mythology, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is made on a grand scale and features some of the biggest Indian moviestars, including Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas. Set in a dystopian future, it centers on two characters: a loner named Bhairava (Prabhas), who makes a living out of bounties, and Ashwatthama, a mythological figure cursed with immortality.
The way these two characters encounter each other is set against the backdrop of a Kasi, the world’s last city, ruled by Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), a god-king. His army is in constant conflict with rebels who believe in the arrival of Kalki, an avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu, who shall defeat the evil forces of Yaskin and bring peace to Kasi. Meanwhile, Ashwatthama, too, awaits Kalki’s arrival, an event that will relieve him of the curse that Lord Krishna put on him.
A magnificent breakthrough in the Indian sci-fi dramas, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is directed by Nag Ashwin. It is the first installment of the Kalki Cinematic Universe and can be watched right here.
P.S. – ‘Kalki 2898 AD: Part 2’ is expected to come out in 2027.
1. RRR (2022)
Topping the list is ‘RRR’ directed by S.S. Rajamouli. It is the third Indian movie and the first Telugu movie to receive a Golden Globe that it got for ‘Naatu Naatu’ as the best original song, along with a Best Foreign Language Film nomination. The song also got an Oscar for the same at the 95th Academy Awards, which made it the first Indian song to achieve the feat. Set during the British Raj, the movie tells the story of two Indian guys, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan), who is an officer in the British army, and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.), who is a revolutionary, and how their lives get interconnected in more ways than one. While it is a huge miss not to have watched it in the theaters, ‘RRR’ offers the perfect cinema experience replete with emotions that you can easily stream here.
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