SS Rajamouli’s RRR (2022) introduced Indian Cinema to a global audience. As a kid who grew up on Telugu cinema with no one to talk to, seeing the world discuss and celebrate a film from a director I have been watching since Student No1 (2002) and the stars I had been following since Simhadri (2003) and Chritha (2007) was incredible. We didn’t have this site back then, so let me do it now. Here are a few Telugu movies to watch if you loved RRR.
Before that, here’s a brief introduction to the list. These movies are meant to give you a taste of different flavors of Telugu movies. You will see a film from most of the major actors and directors currently working in the industry. That does not mean that there is no other title in their filmography worth watching.
Baahubali: The Epic (2015)
This is the best place to start for a few reasons. For one, it’s an epic two-film saga on a scale that had not been seen in Indian Cinema. The films, aptly titled The Beginning (2015) and The Conclusion (2018), tell the story of a father, a son, and the kingdom of Mahishmati. They are also the last two films from director SS Rajamouli, and they were essential in allowing him to work with the budgets that allowed RRR to shine.
Rangasthalam (2018)
From director Sukumar, Rangasthalam is a roughly 3-hour action drama starring RRR star Ram Charan as the endearing Chitti Babu, a happy-go-lucky man who has a hearing disability. The film follows inter-village politics when Chitti Babu’s brother runs against the dreaded President. Rangasthalam is backed by smart writing, great cinematography, and a rustic soundtrack from DSP.
Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020)
Truth be told, there had to be at least one Allu Arjun movie on this list, as he is one of the biggest stars working in the industry. I could have gone with Pushpa, but I didn’t want to include another 2-in-1 or a film by Sukumar on the list. So we are going with the 2020 action comedy. While the story is fairly standard, it’s executed in a very charming way with a pleasing color palette, great musical interludes, and witty writing.
Krack (2021)
There is a sub-genre of Indian action cinema called Mass. They are Fast and Furious-style over-the-top blockbusters, and their success rate is hit or miss, but when they work, they can be highly entertaining. We can make a whole list of just Mass films we recommend watching. Until then, Krack offers a modern take on the classic formula, offering a little of everything from suspense and comedy to action and songs.
Vedam (2010)
Vedam, from director Krish Jagarlamudi, follows the story of three different individuals as their paths cross in unique and, at times, shocking ways. Backed by great performances from Allu Arjun, Anushka Shetty, and Vishnu Manoj, along with stirring music from RRR composer MM Keeravani, Vedam is an incredible movie. For maximum enjoyment, much like all other movies on this list, watch without reading the plot synopsis.
Jersey (2019)
There are only a few sports dramas in Tollywood, and even fewer memorable ones, but this is a rare exception. Jersey, from director Gowtam Tinnanuri, tells the emotional of Arjun, a talented but failed cricketer, who decides to return to cricket in his late thirties. One can also say that Nani delivers his career-best performance in this movie, but from Hi Nanna (2023) to Saripodhaa Sanivaaram (2024), he has done that multiple times at this point.
Arjun Reddy (2017)
Undoubtedly, the most adult film on this list. This directorial debut from Sandeep Reddy Vanga became a huge cult hit. Starring “The” Vijay Deverakonda, this gritty drama follows a young surgeon as he spirals after a college love failure. Arjun Reddy is bleak, it’s melodious, and it’s dripping with angst like you rarely see in Telugu cinema.
Those are our picks. I tried to restrict the list so that we didn’t get carried away and list a dozen or more movies. If there are movies you recommend that are not on this list, let us know by leaving a comment down below, and we might make a follow-up to this article. Thanks for reading and keep on popping!