There is no other listicle as easy to compile, as Best South Indian Movies of 2022. Mostly, this year will be remembered as the time when regional cinema roared in theatres and even exceeded the collection figures of Hindi mainstream movies. From SS Rajamouli to Pa Ranjith, the commercial and critical elements of the movies were intact with the spirit of cinema. And resulted in some grand and blockbuster flicks. Therefore, to help you with the watchlist, here are some gems of the year.

Check Out the 10 Best South Indian Movies of 2022

1. RRR

Maestro filmmaker SS Rajamouli (Baahubali: The Beginning, Magadheera) returned with another period epic film RRR, which shattered almost all the domestic and worldwide box office records this year. The three-hour-long movie was one of the biggest hits of 2022, and also presented India, on the global map.

Starring NT Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charan Teja, the film revolves around two revolutionaries/freedom fighters who decide to join forces to confront the British Raj. The film has already been nominated for the Golden Globe Awards in two major categories and is also expecting a possible OSCARS nod. You can stream the film on Netflix.

2. Natchathiram Nagargiradhu

PA Ranjith’s dream-like dissection of love and its various definitions in Natchathiram Nagargiradhu is easily one of the purest works of art, in a long-long time. The film feels like a constant wave of emotions, that travels through different hardships and difficulties, only to reach the final point of solace.

The film revolved around an independent theatrical group and the lives of their actors and was layered with a mix of resonating tracks. The star cast of the movie included Kalidas Jayaram as Iniyan, Dushara Vijayan as Rene, Kalaiyarasan as Arjun, Shabeer Kallarakkal as Sagas Ratchagan, Sindhuja Viji, Charles Vinoth. You can stream it on Netflix.

3. Vikram

Vikram was one of the most hardcore and robust films of the year, that reignited the gangster genre. The Tamil language film starred Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahadh Faasil in titular roles and was written and directed by Written & Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Moreover, the plot of the flick revolved around a special agent investigating the trail of cold-blooded murders, which ultimately leads him to a drug lord.

Girish Gangadharan served as the cinematographer while Philomin Raj headed the editing department of the commercial film. You can watch it on ZEE5.

4. Ponniyin Selvan: I

Ponniyin Selvan: I was a Tamil-language historical film directed by Mani Ratnam and produced by Allirajah Subaskaran under the banner of Lyca Productions. The film was based on the Tamil historical novel of the same name written by Kalki Krishnamurthy.

The plot is set in the 10th century and follows the life of Arulmozhivarman, also known as Rajaraja Chola I, one of the greatest rulers of the Chola dynasty in South India. The story begins with the birth of Arulmozhivarman and follows his journey as he becomes the ruler of the Chola kingdom. Moreover, the star cast of the film included Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha, Prabhu, R Sarathkumar, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Rahman and Radhakrishnan Parthiban.

Moreover, you can watch the A R Rahman musical flick on Amazon Prime Video.

5. KGF Chapter 2

Kannada-language action film KGF Chapter 2 was directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the banner of Hombale Films. It was also the sequel to the 2018 film KGF Chapter 1, which established a massive cult following, right after its release.

The film stars Yash in the lead role of Raja Krishnappa Bairya, also known as Rocky, a man who rises from humble beginnings to become a powerful figure in the world of gold mining. The story follows Rocky’s journey as he navigates the dangerous and cutthroat world of the KGF mines in Karnataka, India.

KGF Chapter 2 also had an ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, and Prakash Raj. Furthermore, the film was also one of the biggest hits of the year. You can stream it on Amazon Prime Video.

6. 777 Charlie

The film stars Rakshit Shetty in the lead role of Charlie, a man who is on a mission to save his dog, also named Charlie, from a group of thugs. It was directed by Kiranraj K and was produced by GS Gupta and Rakshit Shetty.

The rest of the film follows Charlie as he embarks on a journey across the country, accompanied by his dog, to rescue his pet from the thieves and bring him home safely. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters and faces challenges and obstacles that he must overcome. You can stream it on Amazon Prime Video.

7. Sita Ramam

Sita Ramam was easily the most heartwarming and feel-good flick of the year, which gave us multiple moments of love and tenderness. It was directed by Hanu Raghavapudi and had a screenplay written by him and Raj Kumar Kandamudi. Moreover, the star cast of the flick included Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur in the lead roles.

The story of the film transcends generations and is centred around a soldier, who receives a letter from a girl named Sita. Thereby, embarking him on a journey of a lifetime. You can watch the movie on Disney Plus Hotstar.

8. Vikrant Rona

The science fiction film Vikrant Rona was directed by Anup Bhandari and produced by Ajay Reddy. Morever, the film starred Sudeep in the lead role of Vikrant, a man who is on a mission to investigate a spine-chilling murder.

The Kanada language flick was also successful in resonating with the audience and proving them with a treat of science fiction and adventure. Furthermore, you can stream Vikrant Rona on Disney Plus Hotstar.

9. Kantara

Another highly successful South Indian flick of 2022, was Rishab Shetty’s Kantara. Based on the spiritualistic accounts of a forest officer, the film unravels itself like folklore, which ultimately translates into a surrealist tale of moral decisions. Furthermore, Arvind S. Kashyap serves as the cinematographer of the film, which is now available to watch on Netflix.

10. Karthikeya 2

The Telugu-language action thriller film Karthikeya 2 was written and directed by Chandoo Mondeti. And was also the sequel to the 2014 film Karthikeya, which receives equal amounts of critical and commercial praise.

The film stars Nikhil Siddhartha in the lead role of Karthikeya, who sets on a dangerous path to find the anklet of Lord Krishna. You can stream the film on ZEE5.

Tell us about your favourite South Indian film of the year, in the comment section below.

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