Regional movies have proven their prowess in the last few years. Discovering regional movies and watching them is a joy that can’t be defined in words! They are simple, relatable, with impeccable stories, and sometimes take us into a dreamland where we wish we were instead of the main character. Some of the best regional movies of 2023 have also mesmerized me with the storyline and characters that speak with eyes and take us beyond the barrier of subtitles!
Movies that define cinema and continuously engage us with the unexpected often come from the places that we least expected them- right from the goosebumps-giving movie like Kantara, to the smashing success of Sairat- some regional movies have challenged the notions like superstardom, high-budget, and the repeated storylines. Check out the 18 best regional movies of 2023 so far:
1. Ponniyan Selvan 2 (Tamil)
Also popularly known as PS-2, ‘Ponniyan Selvan II’ is the sequel of the PS-1 that performed well at the box office in 2022. The recently released historical drama is about Arulmozhi Varman- the heroic and most powerful ruler of the Chola dynasty and his quest to become- Rajaraja 1 and rule the whole of South India. This movie also performed exceptionally well and got an appreciation for Mani Ratnam’s direction, the performance of fine actors like Vikram, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and great cinematography.
2. Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (Malayalam-Tamil)
Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam with an English title- ‘Like An Afternoon Dream’ is a bilingual Tamil-Malayalam movie. It is a slice-of-life drama that shows the story of a group of Malayli people who board a bus to Kerela from Velankanni- they all doze off and one of the passengers- James wakes up to believe he is Sundaram- a runaway from a small village. Many beautiful dream sequences, dynamic shots, and a stellar star cast gave this movie a great review from the critics and viewers.
3. Virupaksha (Telugu)
This 2023 horror drama movie portrays the story of a man trying to discover the horrific reasons behind the mysterious deaths of a number of people in his village. This suspense and supernatural-themed movie will keep you hooked to your screens till the end! The movie stars big names like Sai Dharam Tej, and Samyukta Menon in lead roles and received a lot of critical acclaim upon its release.
4. Shesh Pata (Bengali)
This Bengali drama revolves around a formerly famous writer who is given a chance to revive his career by a publishing house- a book about his wife, an actress who was murdered- that he refuses. The movie shows the writer’s obscure life and the publishing house tries all the tricks to make him write. The movie got high reviews from the critics and the director Atanu Ghosh got appreciation for his attention to minute details and presented a plethora of relatable characters that the audience can empathize with.
5. Jodi (Punjabi)
This historical musical drama movie is based on real-life events inspired by the life of former Punjabi folk singer- Amar Singh Chamkila and his wife Amarjyot. The movie shows their dramatic rise in the 1980s Punjabi folk music scene and murder. The movie has received many good ratings including 94% likes on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.1 rating on IMDb. It stars commendable actors like Diljit Dosanjh, and Nimrat Khaira in the lead roles.
6. Kausalya Supraja Rama (Kannada)
This Kannada-language romantic comedy-drama movie revolves around a male chauvinist character- Ram who always believes that a woman’s sole duty is to follow behind the males of the family and perform their duties for the family. However, when he crosses paths with a strong woman- Shivani- he has two options in his life- leave the women of his life alone, or choose to mend his ways. What do you think will he do? Watch the movie to know the climax! It is a nice thought-provoking movie that has got a very high rating of 9/10 on IMDb- a must-watch!
7. Baipan Bhari Deva (Marathi)
This Marathi comedy-drama movie showed us how you can have a good movie without any action or romance taking place. The movie tells us the story of 6 estranged sisters who coincidentally decide to take part in the Mangalgauri competition and reunite at their childhood house. Further, the story shows their complex relationship and a lot that the audiences may find relatable. It got good reviews from critics, was a hit with the audiences too, and has an 8.7 rating on IMDb.
8. Kutch Express (Gujrati)
It is a Gujarati family drama film about a Gujarati housewife who believes that her married life is like a ‘perfect dream’ until it is broken and she finds out that her husband is having an affair. In order to pay him back for what he did, she empowers herself and tries to show him her real value. It is a simple story with a strong message and a dynamic star cast including Ratna Pathak Shah, Manasi Parekh, Dharmendra Gohil, and Darsheel Safary in prominent roles.
9. 2018 (Malayalam)
This survival drama movie is based on the events that happened during the 2018 Kerela floods. It showed some realistic eye-opening incidents that are inspired by true life events. The movie follows the lives of people from different backgrounds coming together and helping each other to survive through a calamity. The movie was a masterpiece in terms of script, VFX, and acting and also got a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes- a great weekend watch for you.
10. Vaarasudu/Varisu (Telugu)
This Telugu action drama stars big names like Vijay and Rashmika Mandana in lead roles. It shows the story of a smart man taking over the reins of the family business- a step that irks his brothers and a lot happens because of that. The movie is a ‘South-Indian Dhamaka’ package that we all love watching! It is termed as a decent family entertainer that you can watch with a bag of popcorn and enjoy along with a nice touch of great music!
11. Jailer (Tamil)
It is a movie starring the superstar Rajnikanth, aka Thalaiva who can breathe life into any movie! ‘Jailer’ is an action drama thriller that tells the story of a retired honest jailer who goes on a manhunt to find the kidnappers of his- a path that leads him to a darker place and meets some familiar faces- will he overcome all risky obstacles? Only the viewers can tell. The movie was released recently and is said to be one of the highest-grossing movies and one of the best regional movies of 2023 so far!
12. Kaai Jotta (Punjabi)
It is a romance drama movie with a very refreshing story! A movie that revolves around a budding young lawyer who sees her school teacher suffering injustice because of the patriarchal and highly male-dominated society. He vows to help her and sow a seed of equality in this unjust society. The movie stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Neeru Bajwa, and Satinder Sartaaj in the lead roles.
13. Raktabeej (Bengali)
It is a political thriller that revolves around the story of the President of India who travels everywhere to fulfill his duties. But, returning to his hometown he realizes that he was the target of a terror plot and his luck was on his side. However, is the danger gone or is it still looming over his head? Well, watch this movie inspired by the true events – the Burdwan blast that happened in 2014. The movie is rated a 9/10 on IMDb- seems like a must-watch movie!
14. Por Thozil (Tamil)
It is a high-octane crime thriller that won’t let you even blink your eyes for once! The movie is about a newly appointed highly motivated officer who, along with his senior investigative officer, team up for a murder case. What looks like a simple murder turns out to be a series of connected murders and now they have to catch a serial killer. They have to catch this killer before more lives are taken. An edge-of-the-seat thriller that will keep you hooked till the end.
15. Romancham (Malayalam)
This is a horror comedy that enjoyed a high viewership and a lot of appreciation from the critics as well. A group of young bachelor boys decide to get some cheap thrills with a game of Ouija in their new house. What looks like a fun night turns eerie when the night turns supernatural and they actually end up inviting a spirit in their house. The gives you a mixture of laughs and jump-scares.
16. Leo (Tamil)
A superhit crime thriller drama and a pure masala entertainer. This movie is a must-watch for two reasons- Thalapathy Vijay, and hair-raising action sequences! It is about Parthiban, a cafe owner who crosses paths with local thugs and challenges them, thus getting caught in the web of gangsters and a drug cartel. Along with Vijay, the movie also stars Sanjay Dutt, Trisha Krishnan, Kamal Haasan, and Anurag Kashyap in prominent roles.
17. Veera Simha Reddy (Telugu)
An action drama movie about a man who gets estranged from his parents and settles down in the USA. After many years, when he comes to know about his parents’ struggles and his father’s death- he returns to India to take revenge on those who killed his after. However, many past facts about his father come out once he comes back. The movie stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shruti Haasan, and Honey Rose in leading roles.
18. 2018: Everyone Is A Hero (Malayalam )
A brilliant action thriller movie set during the 2018 Kerela floods that created havoc in the area and affected several lives. This movie depicts how local people struggled during that time through anecdotal stories of people like doctors, workers, farmers, and so many more. It also throws light on their collective efforts to survive this calamity and bring their lives back to normal.
Which of the above Best Regional Movies of 2023 So Far have you watched? Tell us your favorite among them.
Also Read: 13 Best South Indian Movies Of 2023 Everyone Should Watch