South Indian films are popular for their big characters and tremendous action sequences. However, many ventures remain in your heart long after the credits roll, thanks to their simplicity and heart-touching moments. Here is a list of South Indian movies that you should watch on OTT this Christmas season for a festive, cozy feel.
5 South movies to watch on OTT this Christmas
1. North 24 Katham
- Mould: Fahadh Faasil, Nedumudi Venu, Swathi Reddy, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sadiq
- Director: Anil Radhakrishnan Menon
- Style: adventure drama
- Where to watch: jiohotstar
In Fahadh Faasil’s films, Kumbalangi Nights and Awesham often take the spotlight, overshadowing some of his genuinely heart-touching ventures. One such film is the 2013 adventure drama North 24 Kaatham.
The film tells the story of Harikrishnan, a cunning IT professional from Kochi, who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and often behaves strangely. Due to his self-righteous behaviour, his office forces him to present a webinar in Thiruvananthapuram.
However, his routine life changes when he gets trapped due to a strike, which leads to his befriending Gopalan and Narayani, also known as Nani. What follows is a heart-warming story of harmony and self-discovery amid world turmoil.
2. rhythm
- Mould: Arjun Sarja, Meena, Jyotika, Ramesh Aravind, Lakshmi, Mohan Raman, Nagesh
- Director: spring
- Style: musical romantic drama
- Where to watch: amazon prime video
While the 1990s and early 2000s largely established Arjun Sarja as an action hero, one film that holds a special place in the hearts of hopeless romantics is the 2000 hit Rhythm.
The film tells the story of two lonely, widowed individuals, Karthikeyan and Chitra, who meet by chance in Mumbai and bond over shared grief and loss. As they slowly begin to find love again, they discover that their lives are unexpectedly linked by a tragic event from the past, all amid familial expectations and the hope of a new beginning.
3. Peli Choopulu
- Mould: Vijay Deverakonda, Ritu Verma, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Abhay Bethiganti, Nandu, Aneesh Kuruvilla
- Director: Tharun Bhaskar
- Style: romantic comedy
- Where to watch: sunnxt
Before portraying angry and serious characters, Vijay Deverakonda really shined as the lead actor in the simple yet touching romantic story Pelli Choopulu.
The film tells the story of Prashant, a lazy but talented aspiring chef, and Chitra, an ambitious woman who dreams of moving to Australia. They meet at the Peli Chupulu (matchmaking meeting) and after being accidentally locked in a room, bond over shared dreams and frustrations with family pressure. Eventually, they team up to start a food truck, embarking on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and romance.
4. Sachin
- Mould: Thalapathy Vijay, Genelia Deshmukh, Bipasha Basu, Vadivelu, Santhanam, Raghuvaran, Thalaivasal Vijay
- Director: John Mahendran
- Style: romantic comedy
- Where to watch: jiohotstar
Often described as the last full-fledged romantic comedy by Thalapathy Vijay, Sachin may have been under-appreciated at the time of its release, but it remains a fun and simple story of love.
The film tells the story of Sachin, a carefree and simple college student who falls in love at first sight with Shalini, a practical and popular girl who has many fans. Despite their constant clashes, Sachin is determined to win her over and adopts a unique approach to woo her, spending time together and gradually developing mutual feelings.
Whether Shalini ultimately reciprocates his love or not forms the crux of the story.
5. 1983
- Mould: Nivin Pauly, Anoop Menon, Nikki Galrani, Joy Mathew, Srinda Arhaan, Jacob Gregory, Saiju Kurup
- Director: abrid shine
- Style: coming of age sports drama
- Where to watch: sunnxt
1983 is a Malayalam film that is often overlooked as just another sports drama, but it offers a lot, providing a sense of emotional satisfaction that modern films rarely achieve, even in Mollywood.
The film centers on Ramesan, a cricket-obsessed man from a village in Kerala, whose childhood passion, inspired by India’s 1983 World Cup win, clashes with his father’s desire to pursue engineering. This struggle leads to academic failures, lost love, and a sedentary life.
The film beautifully portrays his journey through life, juxtaposing unfulfilled dreams with India’s cricketing disappointments, and ultimately finds meaning when Rameshan trains his son to achieve the dreams he could not fulfill.
The above mentioned movies are some cinematic gems that are suitable for a perfect Christmas watch on OTT. Hopefully, at least one of them will stay with you long after watching and give you a feeling of happiness.
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