Indian cinema is not just Hindi films, and movies from the southern film industries are ready to dominate. The Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada language industries have been producing remarkable films that have forced audiences to sit up and take note. Tamil films showed that it was possible to be anti-caste and not be ‘anti-box office’; and Bollywood needs to catch up.
Here are the best regional films of 2021 that must be on your watch list.
Asuran | Prime Video
Vetrimaaran’s film 'Asuran' is a revenge drama that talks about land grabbing, oppression and caste politics in Tamil Nadu's Kovilpatti and surrounding areas in the ‘60s to ‘80s. A superbly crafted gem, 'Asuran' is a script-driven, low-budget film that sends a social message and has a socially relevant topic. The film earned Dhanush the coveted Best Actor award at the BRICS Film Festival, along with the National Film Award.
Jai Bhim | Netflix
Jai Bhim starring 'Suriya', shattered all records on Netflix and becoming the highest-ranked movie on IMDB. The film is based on real-life events that happened in retired Madras High Court Justice K. Chandru's life. The film follows the struggles of a tribal woman who fights the system with the help of an activist advocate to find her husband. The film is sincere, unflinching and relentless.
Drishyam 2 | Prime Video
Headlined by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, 'Drishyam 2' earned critical acclaim upon its release on Amazon Prime Video in February this year. The film is a sequel to the 2013 hit crime drama 'Drishyam', directed by Jeethu Joseph. The Malayalam film industry yet again proved that it is creating a benchmark in the new wave of cinema.
Joji | Prime Video
Director Dileesh Pothan and screenwriter Syam Pushkaran with actor Fahadh Faasil, have managed to deliver one more winner this year. 'Joji' is a chilling film that is a must watch. An engineering dropout, dreams of becoming rich without his family's help, however, things take a turn after an unexpected event in the family.
Master | Prime Video
'Master' is a departure from the usual overdose of heroism we get from a typical Vijay film. In the film, Lokesh sort of breaks the practice of undermining the villain. Unlike other big hero movies, we know everything about the villain, played by Vijay Sethupathi, and very little about the hero, played by Vijay. The unhurried nature of the film makes it interesting.
Also watch| Suriya's 'Jai Bhim' is Golden Globe Awards 2022's official entry as Best Non English film