31 Best South Indian Movies You Just Cannot Miss

When it comes to entertainment the South Indian film industry is one of the best. South Indian movies are immensely popular worldwide, there have been several blockbuster Bollywood movies that are a remake of the best South Indian movies.

The best South Indian movies dubbed in Hindi are among the highest grossing movies in the world. The movies are a mix of action, drama, dancing, and a lot of masala! The movies are produced in South Indian regional languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, or Malayalam. South Indian movies dubbed in Hindi are also very popular.

If you are a movie enthusiast you cannot afford to miss out on the best South Indian movies that are highly rated and critically acclaimed. There are movies in various genres- there is the best thriller South Indian movies, best action South Indian movies, best horror South Indian movies, and best psychological thriller South Indian movies.

We have curated the top South Indian movies that you should definitely watch:

1. Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)

Directed by none other than S.S. Rajamouli Baahubali: The Beginning is a masterpiece.

The story revolves around a man named Shiva who comes across his past, unaware of his legacy. This movie has it all in a grand way, suspense, romance, and action. The special effects, sets, and performances of the actors are stunning. This is among the best south Indian movies dubbed in Hindi.

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Genre: Action/War

Watch on: Disney+Hotstar, Netflix

2. Dasavathaaram (2008)

The main attraction of this South Indian movie, Kamal Hassan plays 10 different characters, thus the name, Dasavathaaram. The plot revolves around a scientist who does all that he can to prevent a disaster when a bioweapon is let loose in a country with billions of people.

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Genre: Sci-fi

Watch on: YouTube

3. ’96 (2018)

After 22 long years Ram and Janu, two high school sweethearts, meet at a school reunion. The movie follows them reminiscing about their past and struggling with emotions. All you want after watching the story unfold is for them to get back together. Do they? Watch this amazing movie on the list of the best South Indian movies to know more!

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Genre: Romance/Drama

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

4. Asuran (2019)

One of the best South Indian movies of 2019, Asuran follows the story of a farmer whose son seeks revenge by murdering an upper-caste landlord. The best thing to look out for is the performance of Dhanush. He even got the National Award for Best Actor for his role in this action drama.

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Genre: Action/Drama

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

5. Sivaji (2007)

Listed among the top 10 South Indian movies, this movie stars Rajinikanth. Sivaji is one of the most entertaining movies out there. An NRI philanthropist returns to India with the aim to do good for his own countrymen but his noble efforts are hedged by corrupt politicians. Among the best south Indian movies dubbed in Hindi, this is a must-watch.

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Genre: Action/Romance

Watch on: Zee5

6. Magadheera (2009)

Another awesome work by S. S. Rajamouli, Magadheera falls into the category of a fantasy film that links the present lives of the characters to their 400-year-old past selves. The Bollywood movie Raabta was a remake of this movie.

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Action/Romance

Watch on: Disney+Hotstar

7. Drishyam (2013)

How far would you go to defend your family? This movie has a gripping plot that will capture your attention for a long time. This crime drama is full of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is undoubtedly one of the best South Indian movies that have remakes in several languages.

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Genre: Thriller/Crime

Watch on: Hotstar/YouTube

8. Arya (2004)

Allu Arjun made his mark in the South Indian film industry with the movie Arya. There are two movies in this series, both are very popular. The songs of these movies are also famous. The plot is all about a love triangle.

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Genre: Romance/Action

Watch on: Zee5

9. K.G.F. (2018)

Released in 2018, KGF has a huge fanbase and has a sequel KGF Chapter 2, this action-packed period drama is one of the most popular South Indian movies. The plot revolves around a man who sets forth to acquire wealth and power in order to fulfill the wish of his dying mother.

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Genre: Drama/Action

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Voot

10. Mayaanadhi (2017)

When Maathen kills a police officer, he decides to meet his lady love before leaving the country. But things turn sour and this becomes the second biggest mistake of his life.

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Drama/Romance

Watch on: YouTube

11. Lucifer (2019)

Lucifer can be counted among one the best Malayalam movies. The story revolves around the death of the Chief Minister of the state and the power struggle between two forces thereafter. This political thriller features Mohanlal and is a must-watch as it is one of the best thriller South Indian movies.

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Genre: Action/Thriller

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

12. Chandramukhi (2005)

Chandramukhi is a South Indian horror-comedy that follows the story of a dancer whose ghost is trapped in an old palace. The movie features Rajinikanth as a psychiatrist who is called upon by the victims to solve the mystery.

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

Genre: Horror/Fantasy

Watch on: Hotstar

13. Ratsasan (2018)

This is a Tamil psychological crime thriller movie and one of the best south Indian movies of recent times with a high IMDb rating. The plot follows a psychotic serial killer targeting school girls and a police officer who chases after him. It is one of the best south Indian movies dubbed in Hindi.

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Genre: Crime/Drama

Watch on: Hotstar

14. 777 Charlie (2022)

It is one of the best South Indian movies 2022. The bond between a man played by Rakshit Shetty and the dog made this movie secure its place at the top of the list of best South Indian movies. A lonely pessimist boy named Dharma gets a new perspective on life when he receives unconditional love from a dog named Charlie. If you are an animal lover, you should definitely watch this movie.

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

Genre: Adventure/Drama

Watch on: Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video

15. C U Soon (2020)

It is a thriller with a gripping plot where a software engineer looks for the missing fiancee of his cousin. The story revolves around his struggles in finding them. This thriller is one of the best movies of 2020.

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

16. C/o Kancharapalem (2018)

Four unconventional love stories set in a town surrounding the people and village of Kancherapalem have been showcased in this South Indian movie. As the plot unfolds it covers everything from love, hate, struggle, and family to religion. Directed by Venkatesh Maha, it is indeed one of the best South Indian movies that you shouldn’t miss.

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Genre: Drama

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix

17. Thani Oruvan (2015)

This is one of the best thriller South Indian movies which revolves around an upright IPS officer. The officer is after a corrupt and powerful scientist by the name of Siddharth Abhimanyu. The movie is all about the conflict between the two. The plot is quite engaging and interesting to watch.

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Genre: Action/Romance

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, SunNXT

18. Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (2013)

The story is about two individuals, Suni and Kasi who set out on a journey to Nagaland to find Kasi’s girlfriend. This South movie is about a road trip but has much more to offer.

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Genre: Drama/Adventure

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

19. Vada Chennai (2018)

The plot follows the story of an expert carrom player, who helps settle gangster rivalries. But when those same thugs threaten to destroy his locality, he turns against them. Dhanush plays the role of the lead character.

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Genre: Drama

Watch on: MX Player, SonyLIV

20. Super Deluxe (2019)

Among the best South Indian best movies on Netflix, Super Deluxe is the one that you don’t want to miss. The performances of the actors are brilliant and the story is gripping. You better watch it quickly.

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Genre: Dark Comedy

Watch on: Netflix

21. RRR (2022)

It is a fictitious story about two legendary revolutionaries, a fearless one and an officer in the British force. They bond over fighting for their country in the 1920s. They join forces and chart out an inspirational path of freedom against the dictatorial rulers during the British rule in India.

This movie is not only listed among the best South Indian movies but also among the highest grossing South Indian movies. Directed by S. S. Rajamouli, it features Ram Charan, N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, and many more.

RRR song Naatu Naatu has given India its first-ever Golden Globe. It got the prestigious Golden Globe award for the best original song with the hit single ‘Naatu Naatu’. RRR is also one of the best south Indian movies dubbed in Hindi.

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Genre: Drama/Action

Watch on: Hotstar, Netflix, Zee5

22. Pariyerum Perumal (2018)

This movie is a love story between an upper-caste woman and a lower-caste man. Jothi, an upper-caste woman falls in love with a man belonging to a lower caste by the name Pariyan. The film is all about the struggles and chaos that follow and the atrocities in society.

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Genre: Drama

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

23. Kaithi (2019)

This movie is about the life of an ex-convict, Dilli. Soon after leaving the prison, he wishes to meet his daughter. But it becomes a distant dream for him as he gets involved in the middle of a drug raid. This movie has an attention-grabbing plot with renowned actors in the lead roles. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, this drama thriller movie has won eight awards and four nominations.

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Genre: Action/Thriller

Watch on: Hotstar, SonyLIV

24. Jersey (2019)

This movie is all about the life of a former cricketer, Arjun. The cricketer has not been very fortunate in his cricketing career. But the determined player decides to revive his career in the late 30s against everyone’s skeptical mindset. Considered one of the best South movies, it features Nani, Shraddha Srinath, Sathyaraj, and many more renowned actors.

The movie also has a Bollywood remake (2022) starring Shahid Kapoor, Pankaj Kapur, and Mrunal Thakur in lead roles.

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Genre: Drama/Sport

Watch on: MX Player, Hotstar, Zee5, SonyLIV

25. Visaaranai (2015)

The movie is based on a real-life story of a person. The plot is about a person who wrote his experience into a book called Lockup in Tamil. It is about the struggle of four immigrants who are tortured by the local police who force them to accept a crime they did not commit. The story is intense as they battle for justice. It is among the best South Indian movies dubbed in Hindi.

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Genre: Thriller/Crime

Watch on: YouTube, Netflix

26. Drishyam 2 (2021)

Drishyam 2 is a continuation of Drishyam, which was released in 2013. Jeethu Joseph made this sequel after the success of the first movie. The plot revolves around Georgekutty trying to protect his family. The plot and performances by the actors will keep you hooked to the screen as it is loaded with gripping and nail-biting storytelling. The movie cast is similar to the first one including Mohanlal, Meena, and Ansiba. It definitely falls on our list of must-watch South Indian movies.

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Genre: Drama/Crime

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

27. Vikram Vedha (2017)

The storyline of this movie is about a police officer, Vikram, and a smuggler-murderer, Vedha. When Vikram’s partner, kills Vedha’s trusted assistants, things take a dark turn and Vedha changes Vikram’s life with his hide-and-seek. Considered among the action best South Indian movies, the movie features R. Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Shraddha Srinath. This South movie is a must-watch if you are an action lover.

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Genre: Action/Crime

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Zee5

28. Soorarai Pottru (2020)

The plot of this movie is inspired by book Simply Fly. It is about the story of Nedumaaran Rajangam, whose friends call him Maara. Listed among the best South Indian movies, it is directed by Sudha Kongara. The movie won eight awards and five nominations.

This South movie features renowned actors and actresses Suriya, Paresh Rawal, Aparna Balamurali, and many more.

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Genre: Drama/Action

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

29. Praana (2019)

This best South Indian movie is directed by V.K. Prakash and revolves around the life of a young woman. Actress Nithya Menen portrays the lead character. The woman makes up her mind to live an antisocial life in an old mansion away from the hustle-bustle of the city. The story is spooky and full of jump scares that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

30. Peranbu (2018)

Written and directed by Ram, this drama movie has bagged three awards and five nominations.

The plot revolves around a single father who tries to raise his daughter diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The movie showcases the optimistic side of the father-daughter bond. The lead characters are played by renowned actors Mammootty and Anjali. The movie is full of positivity and is one of the best South Indian movies list.

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Genre: Drama

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video

31. Randhawa (2019)

Directed and written by Sunil Acharya, this thriller movie is full of action. This South Indian movie revolves around the protagonist Robert who is seeking the truth. In order to find his true identity he embarks on a journey to a distant village called Odeyana Samudra. The movie is exciting and has a lot of interesting plot twists. It deserves a place on the best South Indian movies list.

IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

Genre: Thriller

Watch on: Voot

So, here is our list of the best South Indian movies that you shouldn’t miss out on. You can pick any one of them when you are in the mood to watch a movie. We are sure you will love it.