When anyone mentions Indian cinema, we directly think of Bollywood movie, forgetting that Indian Cinema goes way beyond the Hindi film industry. Bollywood movies have dominated Indian cinema to such an extent that other regional movies often go unnoticed. It was only after the Box Office hit of Bahubali 1, that regional, especially South Indian movies, gained momentum. However, there are still movies from other regions in India that deserve recognition and acknowledgment. Here’s a list of 15 regional movies on Netflix that you can watch for a change from mainstream Bollywood:
1. Axone
Axone is a family drama released in 2019. It is a light-hearted comedy that encompasses the struggles of northeast Indians living on the mainland. Sayani Gupta, Lin Leishram, and Aslena Jamir have exceptionally played the characters in the story. A tale of friendship, it conveys the prejudices held against North Easterners. “Axone” is a traditional northeastern pork dish prepared during weddings. It gives out a pungent smell which proves to be a problem for people who are not used to it.
2. Kantara
Kantara is a recently released Kannada movie depicting a story of folklore and spirituality. It is widely appreciated for its vivid storytelling and cinematography. Truly an engaging movie that will make you feel every frame. Currently, Kantara has earned around Rs. 400 crores at the Box Office. It is also available on Netflix.
3. Village rockstars
Village Rockstars is a coming-of-age Assamese drama film that centers around a poor young girl from Assam who wishes to own a guitar and form a band with local boys. The Oscar-nominated film is written, edited, directed, and co-produced by Rima Das. It was released in 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival. This is one of the best regional movies on Netflix.
4. Ariyippu/Declaration
It is a 2022 Malayalam thriller drama that successfully encapsulates the struggle between righteousness and survival. The brilliant scriptwriting and cinematography have expressed the many shades of human nature. Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the movie will keep you on the edge of your seats throughout.
5. Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal
Starring our very favorite, Dulquer Salmaan, Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal is a 2020 Tamil romantic drama. It revolves around the story of two scammers who mend their ways for their love interests only to uncover a betrayal.
6. Krishna Vrinda Vihari
Krishna Vrinda Vihari is a Telugu romantic family drama released in 2022. It involves an interesting love plot- dealing with the lies a guy has to spin to be able to marry the love of his life. It is a mixture of comedy and romance making it a must-watch.
7. Dhh (2017)
Dhh is a Gujarati children’s film with a magical story. It is about 3 little children and their encounter with a magician who helps them gain confidence. This regional movie received the National Film Award For Best Feature film in Gujarati at the 65th National Films Awards and was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival.
8. Uyare (2019)
Uyare is a heart-touching about a girl aspiring to be a pilot who falls prey to an acid attack. It is the directorial debut of Manu Ashokan and is considered to be one of the best movies in the Malayalam Film Industry. It touches on the topics of social stigma pertaining to acid attack victims and conveys a very inspiring message.
9. Super Deluxe (2019)
Super Deluxe is a star-studded Tamil language film featuring Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Vijay Sethupathi, and Ramya Krishnan. It consists of four interwoven stories of the problems faced by four different characters in the movie. It subtly speaks on the topics of politics and sexuality and is a mix of a few genres making the film all the more interesting.
10. Bulbul can sing (2018)
Yet another Assamese film, Bulbul can sing is a film dealing with the heteronormative gender stereotypes of our society. It is the story of how adolescent teens explore their sexuality and come to terms with it. The movie is a masterpiece by Rima das, the director of the aforementioned Village Rockstars.
11. Thackeray (2019)
Thackeray is a biographical movie based on the story of Maharasthra’s famous politician and founder of Shiv Sena- Bal Thackeray. The character has been marvelously played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The movie almost had full houses when released in theatres and is now available on Netflix on public demand.
12. Nila (2015)
Nila is a soft romantic drama directed by Selvamani Selvaraj. It revolves around two childhood sweethearts who meet as adults and decide whether to pursue or not to pursue their love for each other. It is a movie characterized by subtle and sweet moments of love and desire. It is a wholesome Tamil movie that is a must-watch for all hopeless romantics.
13. Sila Samayangalil/Sometimes (2016)
A Netflix Original directed by Priyadarshan, Sila Samayangalil is a psychological drama including 7 people that cross paths at a clinic for their HIV tests.While trying to get their test results quickly, one of the results comes out to be positive leaving the characters in a mess.
14. Cycle (2018)
Cycle is a Marathi feel-good film. The story unravels as an astrologer loses his most prized possession- his cycle and finds it difficult to concentrate on his work. The backdrop and the characters of the movie are simple yet profound and convey a deep message.
15. C/O Kancharapalem (2018)
Winner of the Filmfare Award for Best Film, C/O Kancharapalem is a sweet drama film directed by Venkatesh Maha. It follows 4 love stories transcending caste, age, creed, and religion. It is a slice-of-life movie that will surely bring a smile to your face.
These were a few recent regional movies on Netflix that are a must-watch. These stories are very different from mainstream Bollywood and are a perfect reflection of how diverse our country is.
Also read: 10 Smash Hit South Indian Movies Of 2022 On Netflix You Shouldn’t Miss