2023 was a fantastic year for movies, with excellent productions from all throughout the Southern states submitting fresh, captivating stories that viewers eagerly devoured. We’ll look at some of the most anticipated South films that will be hitting cinemas this year as the year draws to a close and the new one gets ready to start.
1. Indian 2
Starring: Kamal Haasan, Siddharth, Kajal Agarwal, SJ Suryah, Rakul Preet Singh
Director: S Shankar
Following the 1996 release of Indian, the Tamil-language vigilante action film featuring Kamal Haasan in the lead role is the actor’s second working with director S Shankar. In this follow-up to their first movie, Kamal Haasan plays Senapathy again. Senapathy is an elderly freedom fighter who becomes vigilante and battles corruption.
2. Devara: Part 1
Starring: Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Prakash Raj, Shine Tom Chacko
Director: Koratala Siva
One of the most eagerly awaited Telugu movies of 2024 is Devara: Part 1, which stars Janhvi Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, and Jr. NTR. Fans are eager to see what the RRR star has in store for them. According to the filmmaker, the movie would appeal to a wider audience than his Prabhas-starring debut Mirchi.
3. Malaikottai Vaaliban
Starring: Mohanlal, Sonalee Kulkarni, Danish Sait, Hareesh Peradi
Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery
Malaikottai Vaaliban, another much anticipated movie from Malayalam cinema that opens in 2024 is Mohanlal. The film is the first joint venture between Mohanlal and Lijo Jose Pellissery, and it has an intriguing plot and a novel storyline.
4. Vettaiyan
Starring: Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier
Director: TJ Gnanavel
For their debut collaboration, Rajinikanth and Jai Bhim renowned director TJ Gnanavel have cast the actor as a retired Muslim police officer who is determined to make things right. With stars like Rana Daggubati, Fahadh Faasil, Manju Warrier, Rithika Singh, Dusshara Vijayan, and many more playing significant roles in the movie, the Tamil film Vettiyan also signifies the reunion of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth after many years.
5. Pushpa 2: The Rule
Starring: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, Sunil, Anasuya Bharadwaj
Director: Sukumar
Directly following the events of Pushpa: The Rise (2021), Pushpa 2: The Rule tells the narrative of a red sandalwood smuggler who is seeking to establish himself. The film stars Allu Arjun in the title character. Sukumar is the writer and director of the action-drama film, which stars Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Rashmika Mandanna, Fahadh Faasil, and many more.
6. The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT)
Starring: Thalapathy Vijay, Mic Mohan, Prabhu Deva, Prashanth, Sneha, Laila
Director: Venkat Prabhu
The first collaboration between Thalapathy Vijay and Venkat Prabhu is titled The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT). A group of actors, including Mic Mohan, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Laila, Jayaram, Meenakshii Chaudhary, and Yogi Babu, appear in the movie. The movie is billed as a Thalapathy Vijay-style film in the vein of Venkat Prabhu, with Vijay portraying a father and a son.
7. Game Changer
Starring: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, SJ Suryah, Jayaram, Anjali
Director: S Shankar
Next up for RRR star Ram Charan is a cameo in S Shankar’s film Game Changer, which he is directing alongside Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2. The film’s screenplay was written by S Shankar, while Jigarthanda DoubleX director Karthik Subbaraj supplied the story.
8. Kantara: Chapter 1
Starring: Rishab Shetty
Director: Rishab Shetty
Rishab Shetty plays the lead in the Kannada language action-thriller Kantara: Chapter 1, which he also wrote and directed. The film explores the origins of Panjurli Deiva, a mythical deity prominent in the Tulu part of the country; it acts as a prelude to the 2022 film Kantara.
9. Guntur Kaaram
Starring: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshii Chaudhary, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishnan, Jayaram
Director: Trivikram Srinivas
The Telugu action-drama film Guntur Kaaram, which stars Mahesh Babu and was written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas, is the actor-director team’s third joint venture following the success of Athadu and Khaleja. Originally, Sreeleela played the secondary lead in the movie alongside Pooja Hegde, but after the latter decided not to continue with the project, Sreeleela was promoted to the lead part and Meenakshii Chaudhary was cast as the second lead.
10. Kalki 2898 AD
Starring: Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone
Director: Nag Ashwin
Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani are among the ensemble cast of Nag Ashwin’s epic mythological-science fiction dystopian film Kalki 2898 AD. Prabhas plays the titular role in the movie, which is based on the Hindu mythological legend known as Kalki. Kamal Haasan plays the primary adversary in the story.
11. Kanguva
Starring: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Jagapathi Babu
Director: Siva
Kanguva, a Tamil language period action film with Suriya in the lead role, is directed by Siruthai fame Siva. Adi Narayana wrote the screenplay, and lyricist Madha Karky wrote the dialogue. The movie stars a large ensemble cast, including Bobby Deol and Disha Patani, who are making their Tamil film debuts. Suriya plays six parts. In important roles in the movie are performers like Redin Kingsley, Jagapathi Babu, Yogi Babu, Natarajan Subramaniam, and many others.
