I watched almost 50 movies this month and I don’t think I could possibly rank them. So instead I’ve decided to recommend movies by genre and language so that this more easily accessible!

English (for Normies)

Comedy

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Plot Summary – Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.

One of the wildest and most unique films I’ve ever watched. Taika Waititi is a genius and I had a wonderful time with this film.

Dark Comedy

In Bruges (2008)

Plot Summary – Ray and Ken, two hitmen, get stuck in Bruges, Belgium, after an unsuccessful mission. The situation becomes complicated when their boss asks Ken to kill Ray.

I haven’t died laughing this much in a film but it’s definitely not for the light-hearted as it pulls no punches with its comedy. The jokes are often crass and offensive but you can tell that it’s satire and it really adds to the appeal of the film.

Wholesome Family Watches

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

Where to Watch – Disney+ Hotstar

Plot Summary – After reckless young lawyer Gordon Bombay gets arrested for drunk driving, he must coach a kids hockey team for his community service. Gordon has experience on the ice, but isn’t eager to return to hockey, a point hit home by his tense dealings with his own former coach, Jack Reilly. The reluctant Gordon eventually grows to appreciate his team, which includes promising young Charlie Conway, and leads them to take on Reilly’s tough players.

I was expecting this to be cringy and boring but it won my heart over in a really nice way. I had a lot of fun watching this movie and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun time.

The Mitchells vs The Machines (2021)

Where to Watch: Netflix

Plot Summary – A quirky, dysfunctional family’s road trip is upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity’s unlikeliest last hope.

This was such a brilliant commentary on technology and it was a genuinely fun watch. I loved the animation style and the theme was also so fun.

Science Fiction

Primer (2004)

Where to Watch – MUBI

Plot Summary – Friends and fledgling entrepreneurs invent a device in their garage which reduces the apparent mass of any object placed inside it, but they discover that it has some highly unexpected capabilities – ones that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything they want. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity is the first challenge they face. Dealing with the consequences is the next.

This is everything Tenet was trying to be and so much more. A Science Fiction movie that isn’t afraid to embrace the science aspect which makes it a very technical watch. I read someone saying recently that it doesn’t pretend to make sense but it does make sense and I just don’t think everyone has the capability understand it and there’s nothing wrong with that. It takes the basic principle of recursion into a time-travel and sci-fi story and there’s something so fascinating about that as a Computer Science student.

South Indian Cinema (for Cultured People)

Tamil

Comedy

Velayilla Pattathari (2014)

Where to Watch – Disney+ Hotstar (as Raghuvaran B Tech in Telugu)

Plot Summary – Raghuvaran, who is unemployed for years, gets his dream job but a powerful rival is keen to put him down. Can he take on his adversary?

This was one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, I had so much fun with it. It manages to be so funny and also have so much heart and some genuinely shattering emotional moments. This is probably my favourite Indian movie soundtrack after Kirik Party and Ulidavaru Kandanthe (Rakshit, Kannada bias sorry Anna).

Action Comedy

Thadam (2019)

Where to Watch – Sun NXT (with English subtitles)

Plot Summary – The murder of a youngster creates confusion among a few cops when they find out that the one accused in the crime has a look-alike!

This was such a consistently enjoyable and fun movie with so many unique aspects to it. One of the best movie twists as well. I was thoroughly impressed with this one.

Drama

Karnan (2021)

Where to Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Plot Summary – An angry young man fights for the rights of his oppressed people. Can he save them from those who wield power and weapons?

This is the best film of 2021 so far! I was genuinely so impressed with symbolism and themes. I’ve written a full review going in-depth into the film so I won’t bother re-iterating it here, just know that it’s a must watch!

Pariyerum Perumal (2018)

Where to Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Plot Summary – A law student from a lower caste begins a friendship with his classmate, a girl who belongs to a higher caste, and the men in her family start giving him trouble over this.

Such a hard-hitting and visceral film. It had me questioning the morals and beliefs we held as a society and the shocking oppression of ‘lower-caste’ people in our country.

Thriller

Maanagaram (2017)

Where to Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Plot Summary – A handful of diverse characters find themselves in extraordinary situations that are interlinked with one another.

This was one of the most interesting and satisfying thrillers I’ve ever watched and the way all the storylines meet in the end was so well-done. It really captures the intensity of the city accurately.

Wholesome Family Watches

Kaaka Muttai (2014)

Where to Watch – Disney+ Hotstar

Plot Summary – Two slum kids yearn to taste a pizza after being enticed by the pizza shop that has opened near their locality. What happens when they mange to find the money to buy one?

This is genuinely the most interesting and heartwarming movie I’ve ever watched. I haven’t found myself genuinely smiling ear-to-ear as much as I did during this movie!

Kannada

Comedy

Mayabazar 2016 (2020)

Where to Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Plot Summary – An honest cop, a conman and a hopeless romantic form an unusual team during the days of demonetisation to pull off a scam. A scam that is bigger than demonetisation, but things go haywire.

I don’t know whether to classify this as a thriller or a comedy but it was definitely equal proportions of fun and intrigue with a twist in the end that I didn’t see coming.

Crime Thriller

Om (1995)

Where to Watch – Sun NXT

Plot Summary – Satya, the son of a priest, leads a straightforward life until he meets the girl of his dreams. His love for her drags him into the world of crime, making him lose everyone he is closed to.

A film that paved the way for modern Kannada cinema. Upendra’s cult-classic is a timeless masterpiece that acts as Kannada’s first gang thriller and the use of real gangsters to consult with the script and act in the movie adds a layer of authenticity to the first ever depiction of Bangalore’s underworld.

Where to Watch – Sun NXT

Plot Summary – Kannada culture and tradition is under threat as Malayalam is trying to be forced upon the students and their education. It is up to a group of youngsters to save their school and in the process, their heritage.

Such a wholesome and well-made movie. Loved the message, it’s so rare that we get a film that is so proudly about preserving Kannada and its heritage. Hit me on a personal level.

Malayalam

Drama

Ayyapanum Koshiyum (2020)

Where to Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Plot Summary – The story revolves around the clash between Ayyappan, a senior police officer who serves at the Attappadi Police Station and Havildar Koshi, who comes to the village with a motive.

A film where throughout the run-time I didn’t know which side to pick. A great moral battle and clash of the egos.

Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

Where to Watch – Amazon Prime Video

Plot Summary – The story of four brothers living in the fishing hamlet of Kumbalangi when Saji, Boney and Franky decide to help Bobby stand by his love.

One of the best family-dramas I’ve ever watched with an absolutely crazy ending. All out great performances and story. The vibes of this movie are immaculate.

If you got to this part of the article, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy these films! Thank you for reading.

PS – What does Andhra Pradesh/Telangana bring to the table in all honesty?