PremiumTop Telugu movies of 2021 on OTT that should be on your watchlist
From Vakeel Saab to Sridevi Soda Center, have you watched these popular Tollywood films?
Shilpa S
Last Updated:
2021 has certainly been a good year for Tollywood. A wide range of Telugu language films, spanning different genres, have set fire to the box office as well as the digital space this year, becoming hits with fans and critics alike.
And it certainly seems to have decided to continue the trend in the coming year as well, with some much awaited blockbusters awaiting their releases, including SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus, RRR.
As the year is about to wrap up, here is a list of the 21 most popular and loved Telugu language films which you can binge watch to mark the perfect way to end the year.
1
Vakeel Saab
This legal drama film tells the story of three young women who find themselves trapped in a messy situation, when a man attempts to label them as murderers and makes their lives a living hell. Their only hope in life is an alcoholic and disillusioned lawyer, who begrudgingly agrees to take up their case. Vakeel Saab stars Pawan Kalyan in the lead.This film is the Telugu remake of the 2016 Hindi movie, Pink, which starred Taapsee Pannu and Amitabh Bachchan.
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to Watch
2
Narappa
This Srikanth Addala directorial is based on the Poomani novel Vekkai, and is the remake of the 2019 Tamil film, Asuran. Set in the 1980s, Narappa tells the story of a vicious battle between greedy and tyrannical landlords and Dalit farmers. The film’s events mirrors real-life historical events that took place in Tamil Nadu, where Dalit farmers were massacred by landlord-led gangs. The film deals with several hard-hitting social issues like caste and class discrimination. The film stars Venkatesh, Priyamani, and Ammu Abhirami.
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3
Naandhi
This courtroom drama film narrates the tale of Surya Prakash, a young man who becomes falsely accused in a high profile case involving the murder of a lawyer. As he languishes in jail for years, his entire life comes crumbling around him and he starts to wonder if he will ever be able to clear his name. The film intended to draw attention to the plight of people under trial who are imprisoned, and received critical acclaim. A Hindi language adaptation, starring Ajay Devgn, is also being developed.
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to Watch
4
Drushyam 2
A sequel to the 2014 movie, Drushyam 2 sees Rambabu and his family as they are still haunted by the gruesome events of the first film. In the sequel, the murder case that Rambabu and his family are suspected of, is reopened due to an unexpected turn of events. He must scramble to protect his family yet again before it’s too late. Venkatesh, Meena, Nadhiya, Naresh, Kruthika and Esther Anil reprise their roles in the sequel. Both films are adapted from the Malayalam films, Drishyam 1 and 2.
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to Watch
5
Sreekaram
Sreekaram’s story is unique in that it traces the journey of a young man who decides to leave his corporate job to become a farmer in his native village. Although he is dissuaded from the idea by everyone around him, including his father who is also a farmer, the man sticks to his decision, and in the process, helps revolutionise the farming practises of his village with his drive. The drama film stars Sharwanand and Priyanka Arul Mohan in lead roles.
6
Republic
This riveting political drama tells the tale of a young IAS officer who, after becoming disillusioned by the rampant corruption prevalent in the political system, decides to bring some much needed change upon entering the service. But it is easier said than done, since one of the corrupt figures he decides to face off against is none other than his own father. This Deva Katta directorial features Sai Dharam Tej, Aishwarya Rajesh, Jagapathi Babu and Ramya Krishna in lead roles.
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to Watch
7
Krack
This high octane action thriller tells the story of an intense feud between a police officer and a vicious gangster. The story is told in the form of flashbacks by a prisoner as a sort of warning tale to another, and narrates the sequence of events that made him end up in jail. The filmmakers had revealed that they took inspiration for the story from multiple real-life incidents that took place in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The film features Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan, Samuthirakani, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar in pivotal roles.
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to Watch
8
Aranya
Starring Rana Daggubati in the lead, Aranya is a story which revolves around the importance of the bonds between humans and animals. Director Prabhu Solomon had stated that he wanted to bring to light the issues of rampant elephant abuse that took place in the country and the film features real-life elephants in it as well. In addition to Daggubati, the film also features Shriya Pilgaonkar and Zoya Hussain as well.
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to Watch
9
Uppena
With its premise built around the horrific casteism prevalent in the country, Uppena tells the story of a young man who is the son of a fisherman who falls in love with an influential landlord’s daughter. Although she reciprocates his affections, her narrow minded father decides to make sure to break the couple up no matter what it takes. Panja Vaisshnav Tej and Krithi Shetty star in the film in the lead roles.
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to Watch
10
Cinema Bandi
This quirky comedy drama revolves around the story of an auto driver who, after finding an expensive camera in his vehicle, decides to make use of the opportunity to go into the filmmaking business. As an idea for a story develops in his mind, he starts roping in people he knows to act in his maiden production. On the other side, the real owner of the camera already starts her arduous search for her precious possession.
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to Watch
11
Thimmarusu: Assignment Vali
This crime thriller film tells the story of a lawyer on a mission to right a wrong. Eight years after a bartender is sentenced to a life in prison for murdering a cab driver, a young lawyer stumbles upon a shocking revelation in the case - that maybe the former was wrongfully framed in the incident. This Telugu film is a remake of the Kannada film Birbal Trilogy Case 1: Finding Vajramuni. Thimmarusu: Assignment Vali stars Satyadev Kancharana, Priyanka Jawalkar and Ajay as the leads.
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to Watch
12
Aakashavaani
This slice-of-life film tells the bizarre story of how a group of tribal villagers, cut off from the rest of civilization, happens upon a radio and starts worshipping it as a God. As their fervour gets more intense, they start to follow whatever sound that comes out of it as divine proclamations. The film is led by Samuthirakani, Vinay Varma, Teja Kakumanu and Prashanth. Aakashavaani was directed by Ashwin Gangaraju.
13
Adbhutam
Combining the elements of science-fiction and romance, Adbhutam tells the tale of two people who meet in the most bizarre of circumstances, on the verge of committing suicide. While the man is unhappy with the way his musical career is going, the woman is downcast due to her inability to pass her entrance exams and due to familial pressure of marriage. But as chance would have it, the two unexpectedly connect via phone just as they are about to die. But as their friendship blossoms, they realise some very strange phenomena are responsible for their connection.
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to Watch
14
Jathi Ratnalu
This comedy-drama follows the story of three friends, who decide to make their way to a city in search of their fortune. But as luck would have it, they find themselves in jail for a crime they did not commit. In a twisted turn of events, the three unwittingly find themselves involved in a dangerous game, and must save themselves before it is too late. The film features Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi, Rahul Ramakrishna, and Faria Abdullah in pivotal roles.
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to Watch
15
Love Story
Love Story is a romantic drama film that traces the story of a young inter-caste couple, Mounika and Revanth who fall in love after becoming co-workers at a zumba centre. Fearing the wrath of Mounika’s relatives due to the differences in their caste, the couple decide to elope and devise a scheme so that no one comes asking about their whereabouts. But a shocking revelation puts a hold to their plans. The film stars Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi in lead roles.
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to Watch
16
Play Back
This science-fiction drama film tells the story of Karthik and Sujatha who meet when they find each other on the opposite ends of a phone call. But try as they might, they cannot seem to call anyone else from their phones and throughout the course of their conversations, they make a shocking and strange discovery that they both are conversing from periods set almost 26 years apart. The film features Dinesh Tej, Ananya Nagalla, Arjun Kalyan, and Spandana in lead roles.
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to Watch
17
Rang De
This quirky rom-com tells the story of Anu and Arjun, who have been neighbours for years, but who viewed each other through very different eyes. While Anu is fond of Arjun, the latter despises her due to her achievements, so much so that he foils her chance at studying abroad. But Anu gets her revenge in her own devious way, which changes the course of both of their lives. The film stars Nithiin and Keerthy Suresh.
18
Most Eligible Bachelor
Most Eligible Bachelor is a romantic-comedy film that features Akhil Akkineni and Pooja Hegde in lead roles. The film tells the story of a young man whose aspirations of getting married and being settled in life leads him to fall in love with a young woman. Although she was introduced as a potential match and then rejected by his parents due to mismatch in their horoscopes, he makes up his mind to marry her anyway, although she is less than thrilled about the idea.
19
A1 Express
This sports drama film tells the story of a hockey player with a troubled past, who is called back into the game to win an important match involving high stakes. As he narrates the tragic story which led him to stop playing the sport he once loved, it mirrors the nepotism and intense corruption within the sport that stifles players with true talent. A1 Express is a remake of the 2019 Tamil film, Natpe Thunai and stars Sundeep Kishan and Lavanya Tripathi in lead roles.
20
Zombie Reddy
One of the first films to introduce Tollywood to the world of zombies, Zombie Reddy tells the story of a young man whose jolly road trip turns awry when his friend gets bitten by a zombie. Unknowingly, the infected man unleashes a chain of events which snowballs into a zombie apocalypse. The idea for the apocalyptic nature of the film takes its inspiration from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The film stars Teja Sajja, Anandhi, and Daksha Nagarkar
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to Watch
21
Sridevi Soda Center
Sridevi Soda Centre tells the story of a young man, Suri Babu whose expertise in lighting arrangements leads to him dreaming of starting a business of the same in his village. He falls in love with a young Sridevi, who is also smitten with Babu’s charm. But the woman’s father, who runs a soda business in their village, vehemently opposes the union, citing the caste difference between the couple. The romantic drama film stars Sudheer Babu and Anandhi in lead roles.
