Enjoyed Por? Here are 5 college dramas to binge-watch on OTT

Director Bejoy Nambiar’s college brawl drama Por has arrived on Netflix after its less than a month-long run at the theatres. Starring Arjun Das and Kalidas Jayaram in leading roles, the film is a classic college drama, which touches upon student politics, romance, ragging, queerness, mental health, gang fights, drugs and much more. The film also features Sanchana Natarajan and TJ Bhanu as the female leads. If you enjoyed watching Por, here are 5 college dramas, that you can stream on OTT. 

Aayutha Ezhuthu

This Mani Ratnam film shaped the genre of campus drama in Indian cinema. Starring Suriya, Madhavan and Siddharth in leading roles, the film revolves around a goon, who dreams of making it big in life; a student leader, who strives to keep politicians away from the college election; and a third happy-go-lucky guy who wants to settle abroad. An accidental meeting on Napier Bridge changes their lives forever and what happens next forms the crux of the story. One of the most celebrated college dramas, the film won praise from critics and audience and went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed films in Mani Ratnam’s filmography. The film’s screenplay and Madhavan’s portrayal as a goon named Inbasekar earned him several laurels. The film was also remade in Hindi, titled Yuva.  

Streaming on: Apple TV+

Classmates

This Malayalam college romance thriller still lives in the hearts of Malayaees even after several years. Starring a vibrant cast, including Prithviraj Sukumaran, Narain, Jayasurya, Indrajith Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan, the film revolves around a group of college friends who meet after many years for a class reunion. However, due to an unexpected turn of events, several dark secrets are revealed, which alter their lives. The film is known for its dreamy campus life in Kerala along with the vigorous energy behind campus politics. The film effectively captures romance and campus drama, making this Lal Jose directorial a must-watch in this list.  

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

Puthiya Mugham

Directed by Diphan, this Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer focuses on campus ragging and how a young man from a village makes a strong comeback to take revenge. With an intelligent screenplay and music, the film became a critical success. The film notably paved the way for Prithviraj’s stardom in Malayalam cinema. Apart from Prithviraj, the film also stars Bala, Priyamani, Meera Nandan and Oviya in key roles.  

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

Kalloori

Tamannaah Bhatia made her entry into Kollywood cinema through this coming-of-age film. The blockbuster film, directed by Balaji Sakthivel, narrated the real-life story of three college girls who were burnt alive in the 2000 Dharmapuri bus burning incident. Starring Akhil, Tamannaah Bhatia, Bharani, Hemalatha, Maya Reddy, Rajeshwari, Sailatha, Prakaash, Kamakshi Nathan, and Thisaigal Arunkumar, the film highlighted the heartwarming friendship between a group of friends but was also appreciated for its realistic approach. Tamannaah’s performance as Shobana is credited as one of the best roles in her career. 

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

Also read: Por director Bejoy Nambiar Interview - Assistant direction is always my learning ground and will never leave it

Kadhal Desam

There isn’t anyone who can forget the iconic song ‘Mustafa’ from the film Kadhal Desam, starring Abbas, Vineeth and Tabu. This college drama revolves around two youths, who hail from rival colleges with one being rich and the other poor, but become good friends after an incident. Their friendship takes a hit when they fall in love with a girl without realising that they are in love with the same person. How it affects their friendship and how the story unravels later form the crux of the film. The fun and vibrant college romance and the friendship between the boys make the film a perfect college drama to add to your watch list. 

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video 

Watch 50k+ Titles on SonyLiv, Zee5, Fancode and 20+ OTTs and 250+ Live TV channels with OTTplay Premium subscription at just ₹75 for the first month.