Best of 2024: 10 south films of the year that redefined theatrical success and enthralled the audience

South Indian films have proved it once again. Even as an Oscar nomination was not shortlisted from the southern states, the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada film industries came together to make their voices prominent nationwide. Telugu films like Kalki 2898 AD were made on a pan-Indian appeal, Malayalam cinema, on the other hand, mastered the perfect balance between box office and content through films like Bramayugam. Tamil and Kannada films too had its own share of contribution, with some new projects getting made. On that note, here are top 10 south films that redefined theatrical success and enthralled the audience.

Best of 2024: 10 South Films of the Year

(in no particular order)

Premalu

Premalu, the Malayalam romantic drama featuring Naslen and Mamitha Baiju under Girish AD’s directorial, became the first blockbuster of India cinema this year. The film revolves around a graduate who moves to Hyderabad, with plans to migrate to UK. However, he falls in love with an IT employee. After the film became successful across India, the makers announced that a sequel is in the making, with the lead cast reprising their roles.

Maharaja

Maharaja is headlined by Vijay Sethupathi, and directed by Nithilan Saminathan. The Tamil film is a revenge action drama, revolving around a father who lodges a complaint about a missing dustbin. However, there is more than what meets the eye. Also featuring Sachana Namidass, Natty, Anurag Kashyap, Singampuli, Mamta Mohandas and others, Maharaja became a blockbuster success and even had a phenomenal theatrical run in China.

Also read: Maharaja Movie Review: Vijay Sethupathi is brilliant in this karmic drama filled with convenient choices 

Manjummel Boys

Manjummel Boys has undoubtedly become the major blockbuster from Malayalam cinema, earning much-needed national recognition as well. The film is helmed by Chidambaram and features an ensemble cast, including Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Lal Jr., Deepak Parambol, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Arun Kurian, Khalid Rahman and Shebin Benson. The film is based on the real-life incident that took place in Guna Caves in 2006. It revolves around the rescue operation after one from a tourist group falls into a deep pit.

Amaran

Amaran is helmed by Rajkumar Periasamy and is a biopic of late Major Mukund Varadarajan. The Tamil film stars Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role, with Sai Pallavi playing Mukund’s wife Indhu Rebecca Varghese. Amaran is a love story that traces Mukund’s passion to join Indian Army, as it also depicts the life he had with his wife. The film is produced by Kamal Haasan and has music scored by GV Prakash Kumar.

Pushpa 2

Pushpa 2/ Pushpa: The Rule is about a small-time smuggler who grows up to become the kingpin of red sanders smuggling trade. The film is headlined by Allu Arjun, and also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil. Sukumar has helmed the film, which went on to create box office records.

Lubber Pandhu

Lubber Pandhu is a Tamil sports drama which features Harish Kalayan and Attakathi Dinesh in the lead roles. Directed by Tamizharasan Pachamuthu in his debut, the film revolves around an ego clash between two men who are the best cricket players in town. As circumstances would have it, they tend to get related, when one of them falls in love with the other’s daughter. Lubber Pandhu is a fantastic film driven by cricket, male ego, and family drama, which made it a success at the box office. Kaali Venkat, Bala Saravana, Swasika, Sanjana, Geetha Kailasam and others are part of the film.

Also read: Lubber Pandhu Movie Review: Harish Kalyan's sports-family drama hits it out of the park, delivers six after six through powerful dialogues 

Aavesham

Aavesham is a Malayalam action-comedy film helmed by Jithu Madhavan. The film stars Fahadh Faasil in the lead role, who also produced the film along with Nazriya Nazim and Anwar Rasheed under Fahadh Faasil and Friends and Anwar Rasheed Entertainments. Also featuring Hipzster, Mithun Jai Shankar, Roshan Shanavas and Sajin Gopu with Midhutty and Mansoor Ali Khan, the film revolves three college students who befriend a gangster to take revenge on their bullying senior. Aavesham became a box office success upon its release, with many praising Fahadh’s characterisation and performance.

Also read: Aavesham movie review: Fahadh Faasil's dynamite performance saves the day 

Lucky Baskhar

Lucky Baskhar is a Telugu period crime drama helmed by Venky Atluri. The film stars Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, along with Meenakshi Chaudhary, Tinnu Anand, Ramki, Raghu Babu, Sachin Khedekar and Kasi Viswanath, among others. The film revolves around a hard-working and struggling bank employee who tastes success through smuggling and indulges in more malpractices to earn money.

Hanu-Man

Hanu-Man is a Telugu superhero film which is written and directed by Prasanth Varma. It stars Teja Sajja, Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Samuthirakani, Vinay Rai, Vennela Kishore and Raj Deepak Shetty, among others. Set in a fictional village, the film revolves around a young man who gets the superpowers of Hanuman to protect his folks from a supervillain. The film marks the first instalment of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe.

Bheema

Bheema is a Kannada action thriller film directed by Vijay Kumar and stars Duniya Vijay. Others part of the cast include Ashwini, Black Dragon Manju, Gili Gili Chandru, Rangayana Raghu, Achyuth Kumar, Gopal Krishna Deshpande and Ramesh Indira. The film revolves around a common man who stands up against a drug dealer and politician who is the source of substance abuse in his locality.