• TFIDB TE
  • Image 1
    Image 2
    Image 3
    Image 4
    Greatest of All Time Telugu Movies (GOAT) Noteworthy Misses

    Some films, despite having all the potential to be considered among the GOAT, miss the mark by a slight margin. However, this does not diminish their popularity with audiences. As visual poems, they continue to offer unforgettable entertainment to all generations over time. Like GOAT films, they are known for their artistic content, critical acclaim, cultural significance, and impactful filmmaking. Let's discover these films that nearly reached the pinnacle but remain beloved by audiences.


    1 . Magadheera(July 31 , 2009)
    A|166 minutes|Action,Drama,Romance
    Raghuveer murders Indira's father and frames her beloved Harsha for the crime. Misunderstanding the situation, a heartbroken Indira distances herself from Harsha and disappears. Determined to find Indira and clear his name, Harsha sets out on a journey, during which he uncovers the secrets of his past life.
    2 . Muta Mestri(January 17 , 1993)
    U|Action,Drama
    Chiranjeevi plays Bose, a patriot who defends laborers against injustice in the vegetable market. Conflict arises with gang leader Atma (Sharath Saxena), leading to unexpected developments as Bose's patriotism is recognized by the CM (Gummadi Venkateswara Rao), who appoints him as a minister.
    3 . Nuvve Kavali(October 13 , 2000)
    U|146 minutes|Drama,Romance
    Tarun and Madhu have been friends since childhood but never confess their love for each other. The situation changes when Madhu gets engaged to someone else. This film, released in 2000, was a huge hit and a turning point in Tarun's career.
    4 . Choodalani Vundi(August 27 , 1998)
    U|148 minutes|Thriller
    In an attempt to save her husband Ramakrishna from goons sent by her father, Priya dies. Ramakrishna, framed in a false case, goes to jail, and his son is taken away by Priya's father. Upon release, Ramakrishna, with the help of a woman, retrieves his son.
    5 . Chatrapathi(September 29 , 2005)
    UA|165 minutes|Drama
    Shivaji and his family migrate from Sri Lanka to Visakhapatnam for a reason. Facing the local rowdy Bajirao who treats them like slaves, Shivaji rises as a leader to support his people.
    6 . Khadgam(November 29 , 2002)
    UA|144 minutes|Action,Thriller
    Three individuals from different religious backgrounds lose their friend in a terrorist attack and join hands to prevent another attack. The story then reveals what they do and how they stop the terrorism.
    7 . Eega(July 06 , 2012)
    UA|134 minutes|Fantasy,Romance
    Nani and Bindu love each other, but Sudeep, who also desires Bindu, kills Nani. Reborn as a fly, Nani seeks revenge on Sudeep. What happens next? That's the story.
    8 . Subhakankshalu(February 14 , 1997)
    U|154 minutes|Drama
    Two lovers from different religions elope and marry, turning their once-friendly families into enemies. What happens next? How do they reunite? This is the story.
    9 . Okkadu(January 15 , 2003)
    U|171 minutes|Action,Romance
    'Okkadu' is about Ajay, a national-level kabaddi player who goes to Kurnool for training. There, he rescues Swapna from Obul Reddy, a factionist, and hides her in his home in Hyderabad. This film was a significant break in Mahesh Babu's career.
    10 . Deyyam(June 21 , 1996)
    A|96 minutes|Drama,Horror
    A family shifts to a farmhouse where the young boy in the family starts talking to imaginary people. The story takes a turn when it's revealed that they are ghosts.
    11 . Money(June 11 , 1993)
    U|131 minutes|Comedy,Drama
    Chakri and Bose are good friends struggling with unemployment and unable to even pay their rent. In the midst of this, Bose falls in love with Renu, their landlord's daughter. However, her father disapproves of their marriage. Renu threatens to commit suicide if she cannot marry Bose.
    12 . Major Chandrakanth(April 23 , 1993)
    U|Drama
    Retired Army Major Chandrakanth fights against corrupt politicians in society. He discovers that his son is involved in a drug mafia and strives to reform him.
    13 . Varsham(January 14 , 2004)
    U|159 minutes|Action,Romance
    Venkat and Sailaja fall in love on a train. However, her father disapproves and decides to marry her off to a notorious rowdy named Bhadranna.
    14 . Ghatothkachudu(March 31 , 1995)
    U|170 minutes|Drama,Fantasy
    A child lives happily with her parents until they die unexpectedly in an accident. Some people try to kidnap the child, but Ghatotkachudu steps in to save her, leading to a series of adventures.
    15 . Jaganmohini(January 01 , 1978)
    UA|Drama
    Mohini, betrayed by a king, commits suicide and becomes a ghost. Meanwhile, the king dies and is reborn as a farmer named Raja. Mohini then seeks revenge on him.
    16 . Babai Hotel(June 05 , 1992)
    U|Comedy,Drama
    Ramachandramurthy, the owner of Babai Hotel, falls in love with a young woman who frequents his hotel. Upon learning that she has someone else in her heart, he decides to marry her with that ‘Someone’.
    17 . Venky(March 26 , 2004)
    U|170 minutes|Comedy,Mystery,Romance
    Venkateswarlu, on a train to Hyderabad with police force friends, encounters a murder on the train. The murder implicates his close friends, but the truth is revealed when they join an academy.
    18 . Aame(undefined 00 , 1994)
    U|Drama
    Aame is a 1994 Telugu-language drama film by E. V. V. Satyanarayana. The film stars Ooha, Naresh and Srikanth. The film was remade in Kannada as Thaliya Sowbhagya (1995) starring Ramkumar and Shruthi and in Tamil as Thaali Pudhusu (1997) starring Ramki and Khushboo. The film won two Nandi Awards and one Filmfare Award. Aame was the first movie to feature Srikanth and Ooha together.
    19 . Peddarikam(undefined 00 , 1992)
    U|134 minutes|Action,Drama
    The plot centers around a family feud, with Basavapunnamma (Bhanumathi) instructing Janaki (Sukanya) to feign love for Krishnamohan (Jagapathi Babu) for revenge, which evolves into genuine affection.
    20 . Sirivennela(June 05 , 1986)
    U|181 minutes|Drama,Musical
    Jyothirmayi, a tour guide, helps Hari, a visually impaired flutist, to become a music expert. When he proposes to her, she decides to leave him, fearing her past might cause him pain.
    21 . Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy(October 02 , 2019)
    UA|170 minutes|Action,Drama,History
    As the British forces annex India, all the local rulers surrender. However, a king from the Rayalaseema region, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, stands against the British soldiers to protect the lands and wealth they have taken, rallying his fellow rulers to fight for independence. What challenges he faces and what leads to the battle are the main elements of the story.
    22 . Ramudu Bheemudu(May 21 , 1964)
    U|Drama
    Ramudu and Bheemudu, lookalikes, are tired of their respective lives and decide to switch places. This switch leads to unexpected twists in their lives.
    23 . Suswagatham(January 01 , 1998)
    U|150 minutes|Drama,Romance
    Ganesh loves Sandhya from his college, but she ignores his feelings. In the process of winning Sandhya's love, Ganesh loses a lot. What happened to his love story? This is the story.
    24 . Pelli Sandadi(January 12 , 1996)
    U|129 minutes|Musical,Romance
    Srikanth unknowingly falls in love with Swapna, the sister of the girl he is supposed to marry. Upon discovering his sister’s wedding plans, Swapna decides to sacrifice her love for her sister's happiness. What happened next? Who did Srikanth end up marrying? The rest of the story follows.
    25 . Arundhati(January 16 , 2009)
    A|131 minutes|Horror,Thriller
    After many years, Arundhati returns to her ancestral village only to discover that she is the spitting image of her great-grandmother, Jejamma. During her visit, she learns of an evil spirit that seeks to destroy her family. Arundhati engages in a fierce battle against this malevolent entity to save her lineage.
    26 . Vivaha Bhojanambu(April 27 , 1988)
    U|142 mins|Comedy
    Seetharam misunderstands Lavanya's intentions and develops a hatred for women. However, she tries to change his misconceptions and win him over.
    27 . Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana(January 14 , 2005)
    U|161 minutes|Comedy,Romance
    In the movie plot, Siri and Sriram mutually fall in love. During their relationship, Sriram gets into a conflict with Siri's brother and her family. Consequently, Siri's brother decides to take her back to their village. Determined to find Siri, Sriram goes after them, only to face an unexpected turn of events upon his arrival. The plot then revolves around the challenge that Sriram proposes to Siri's brother to win her back.
    28 . Simhadri(July 09 , 2003)
    U|175 minutes|Drama
    In the film, Ram Bhupal Varma (portrayed by Nazaar) brings a young orphan named Simhadri (played by Jr. NTR) into his family. As Simhadri matures, a deep bond forms between him and Varma's granddaughter, who finds herself falling for him. Yet a shadow hangs over their burgeoning romance—a mysterious connection between Simhadri and a mentally unstable girl. The unraveling of Simhadri's perplexing relationship with this girl and his ties to Kerala are the pivotal questions that drive the narrative forward.
    29 . Dasara Bullodu(January 13 , 1971)
    U|160 minutes|Drama
    Both Radha and Nirmala are in love with Gopi, but Gopi loves only Radha. Realizing their feelings, Nirmala decides to bring them together.
    30 . Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi(February 04 , 2000)
    U|172 minutes|Comedy
    Ravi, Rambabu, and Jambulingam, working as mechanics in a car company, recklessly spend money against their wives' wishes. To meet their needs, they borrow a large sum from the company peon near Vijayawada. Meanwhile, they risk losing their jobs.
    31 . Preminchukundam Raa(May 09 , 1997)
    U|151 minutes|Romance
    Giridhar falls in love with Kaveri. However, Kaveri's father opposes their marriage and sends his goons to separate them. How does Giridhar win his love? This is the story.
    32 . Attarintiki Daredi(September 27 , 2013)
    U|175 minutes|Action,Drama,Family
    The hero comes to India to reunite his aunt with his grandfather. What challenges does he face in this process? How does he reunite his aunt with the family? That is the story.
    33 . Ready(June 19 , 2008)
    UA|175 minutes|Comedy,Romance
    Unintentionally, the hero disrupts the heroine’s wedding. However, she is not fond of the marriage. In a turn of inevitable circumstances, the hero is compelled to take her to his home. What happens next? What threat looms over the heroine from the villains? This forms the plot of the story.
    34 . Oopiri(March 25 , 2016)
    U|158 minutes|Comedy,Drama,Romance
    Confined to a wheelchair, Vikram Aditya (Nagarjuna) hires Seenu (Karthi) to look after him. What events unfold during their journey? How do their lives change?
    35 . Pedarayudu(June 15 , 1995)
    UA|164 minutes|Drama
    Pedarayudu, the village head, makes judgments from a traditional throne. A teacher's suicide implicates his brother Raja, leading to an unforeseen twist in the story.
    36 . Manam(May 23 , 2014)
    UA|163 minutes|Drama,Family
    The film is shaped around reincarnations intertwined with love. What events occurred in this emotional journey? That is the story.
    37 . Ladies Tailor(November 26 , 1986)
    U|154 mins|Comedy,Drama
    Sundaram, a lazy tailor, believes destiny will make him wealthy. A tribal leader tells him marrying a girl with a birthmark on her leg will make him rich. Sundaram embarks on a quest to find this girl.
    38 . Devullu(November 09 , 2000)
    U|149 mins|Drama,Family
    Two children learn that their parents are on the verge of getting a divorce. In an attempt to keep their family together, they embark on a heartfelt journey to visit seven sacred sanctuaries, honoring the wish of their grandmother. During this quest, they face numerous challenges and hardships.
    39 . Ammoru(November 23 , 1995)
    U|124 minutes|Fantasy,Horror
    Bhavani, a devout follower of the Goddess, gets a sorcerer imprisoned. After his release, he seeks revenge on her, prompting Bhavani to seek the Goddess's help.
    40 . Justice Chowdary(May 28 , 1982)
    U|155 minutes|Drama
    Justice Chowdary is an honest judge whose family members are murdered by a local goon. Seeking vengeance, Chowdary steps down from his judicial role to bring the culprit to justice.
    41 . Mayuri(undefined 00 , 1985)
    U|142 minutes|Musical
    Mayuri is a 1985 Indian Telugu-language biographical dance film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by Ramoji Rao. Based on the life of Sudha Chandran, the film stars her in the titular role while P. L. Narayana, Nirmalamma, Y. Vijaya, Potti Prasad, K. K. Sharma, S. R. Raju and Suthi Veerabhadra Rao played supporting roles.
    42 . Chantabbai(August 22 , 1986)
    U|Comedy,Drama
    Pandu Ranga Rao, a detective known as James Pond, is approached by a woman seeking her lost brother, leading to intriguing twists in his life.
    43 . Swarnakamalam(July 15 , 1988)
    U|143 minutes|Musical
    A young woman from a family of dancers, unfortunately, rejects her inherited dance legacy. However, her perspective changes when she meets someone who believes dance is a beautiful art form.
    44 . Sitaara(April 12 , 1984)
    U|Musical
    Devadas, a photographer, helps Sitara, a destitute woman. He assists her in becoming a model and film star and strives to reunite her with her loved one.
    45 . Fidaa(July 21 , 2017)
    U|134 minutes|Comedy,Drama,Romance
    Varun, an NRI medical student, comes to India for his brother's wedding and falls in love with Bhanumathi, a girl from Telangana. A misunderstanding arises between Bhanumathi and Varun. The story explores whether they reconcile or not.
    46 . Pushpa: The Rise – Part 01(December 17 , 2021)
    UA|179 minutes|Action,Thriller
    Pushpa (Allu Arjun) is a red sandalwood coolie. He rises to a position where he advises Konda Reddy's (Ajay Ghosh) brothers in smuggling. How does Pushpa climb to a level where he controls the syndicate? What is the conflict with Mangalam Srinu (Sunil)? That's the story.
    47 . Orange(November 26 , 2010)
    U|160 minutes|Drama,Romance
    A man, skeptical about love, falls for a woman. When she proposes a lifelong commitment, he hesitates to accept her proposal.
    48 . Pelli Chesi Choodu(February 29 , 1952)
    U|156 minutes|Drama
    Pelli Chesi Choodu is a 1952 Indian satirical comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their company Vijaya Productions. The film was made simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, the latter titled Kalyanam Panni Paar. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, G. Varalakshmi, Yandamuri Joga Rao and Savitri. S. V. Ranga Rao, Sivarama Krishnayya, Doraswamy, and Suryakantham play supporting roles in the Telugu version while C. V. V. Panthulu replaced Krishnayya in Tamil.
    49 . Little Soldiers(February 02 , 1996)
    U|Comedy,Children's film
    Major Harishchandra Prasad provides shelter to his orphaned grandchildren. The children uncover the person responsible for their parents' death in front of their grandfather.
    50 . Karthavyam(June 29 , 1990)
    U|150 minutes|Action
    Vyjayanthi is an honest police officer who arrests a young man in a sexual harassment case. The man's father vows to kill Vyjayanthi in revenge.
    51 . Balarama Krishnulu(November 07 , 1992)
    U|139 minutes|Drama,Romance
    Balaramayya does not accept his stepmother and her brother and sister as they belong to a different caste. When his daughter falls in love with a man from another caste, the situation changes.
    52 . Pasivadi Pranam(July 23 , 1987)
    U|Action,Crime
    After his wife's death, Madhu becomes an alcoholic. Unexpectedly, a mute boy, Raja, enters his life. Raja's parents were murdered, and the killers are now after him.
    53 . April 1 Vidudala(February 01 , 1991)
    U|146 min|Comedy,Thriller
    Divakaram is a habitual liar who borrows money from everyone to get by. To win over his love, Bhuvaneshwari, he takes up the challenge of not lying to anyone for a month.
    54 . Allari Priyudu(March 05 , 1993)
    U|141 minutes|Drama,Romance
    Lalita and Kavita are childhood friends. Kavita falls in love with Raja, and the two of them fall in love without seeing each other. However, Raja mistakenly believes Lalita to be Kavita and falls in love with her. This twist leads to a turning point in the story.
    55 . Mahakavi Kalidasu(April 02 , 1960)
    U|150 minutes|Drama,History
    Mahakavi Kalidasu is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language biographical film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and written by Pingali. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sriranjani Jr., with music composed by Pendyala. It was produced by K. Nagamani and P. Suri Babu. The film is based on the life of the poet Kalidasa.
    56 . Chanakya Chandragupta(August 25 , 1977)
    U|178 minutes|Drama,History
    Chanakya Chandragupta is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language historical drama film, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. It stars Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, Jayapradha and Manjula, with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The film is based on the 3rd century BC Maurya Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya.
    57 . Mallesham(June 21 , 2019)
    U|Biography,Drama
    "Mallesham" is the life journey of Mallesham, who invents the 'Asu machine' to reduce his mother's labor in weaving and to help the weaving profession.
    58 . Bhakta Potana(January 07 , 1943)
    U|186 minutes|Drama
    This film, based on the life story of the famous Telugu poet Potana, features Chittor Nagaiah in the lead role. The same film was re-released in 1966, with Nagaiah portraying Vedavyasa.
    59 . Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju(February 06 , 2015)
    U|144 minutes|Drama,Romance
    Raja Ram (Sharwanand) aims to win a gold medal in a national-level running competition. At the same time, he falls in love with a Muslim girl named Nazeera (Nithya Menen). Due to an unexpected reason, they get separated. What happened next? Did they reunite?
    60 . Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya(June 21 , 2019)
    UA|143 minutes|Comedy,Thriller
    Agent Sai Sreenivas Athreya runs a private detective agency in Nellore, encountering problems while investigating minor cases. His life turns upside down when he identifies a dead body near a railway track.
    61 . Srimanthudu(August 07 , 2015)
    UA|158 minutes|Action,Drama
    Harsha, the son of a billionaire, adopts a village plagued by poverty and social issues. He faces several challenges while trying to bring change to the village.
    62 . Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya(February 09 , 1996)
    UA|139 minutes|Drama,Fantasy
    A mermaid loses her body and reaches Ravichandra. A witch, seeking a treasure under the sea, troubles the mermaid. What did Ravi do? How did he save the mermaid? This is the story.
    63 . Bala Bharatam(undefined 00 , 1972)
    U|Drama
    Bala Bharatam is a 1972 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film wherein most of the characters are played by children. The child actors include Baby Sridevi and Master Prabhakar.
    64 . Pelli Pustakam(April 01 , 1991)
    U|144 mins|Drama,Romance
    A newly married couple faces financial troubles, but a job opportunity from a company comes their way. However, learning that the opportunity is only for unmarried individuals, they concoct a plan.
    65 . Palasa 1978(March 06 , 2020)
    A|144 minutes|Action,Crime,Drama
    Mohan Rao and Ranga Rao, from a lower caste, face humiliation from the landowner Gurumurthy and his brother. The story follows their decision to fight against the landlords' tyranny.
    66 . Padamati Sandhya Ragam(April 11 , 1987)
    U|142 minutes|Drama,Romance
    An Indian girl falls in love with an American, but her father opposes their relationship. They decide to run away from their families.
    67 . Anjali(July 12 , 1990)
    U|155 minutes|Drama,Musical,Children's film
    Chitra discovers her child is suffering from a life-threatening disease. She faces numerous challenges in her efforts to keep her child alive.
    68 . Jathi Ratnalu(March 11 , 2021)
    U|148 minutes|Comedy,Drama
    Three young men from their village come to Hyderabad in search of good jobs and stay in an apartment. They attend an uninvited party and get caught in a murder attempt case. The story unfolds how they got out of the case.
    69 . Athadu(August 10 , 2005)
    U|172 minutes|Action,Romance
    A professional killer, Nanda Gopal, is hired by a politician to murder another politician. However, when someone else commits the murder, Nanda Gopal is framed. While evading the police, he enters a house as a person named Parthu. What happens next?
    70 . Jeevana Jyothi(October 26 , 1988)
    U|130 mins|Drama
    Sridhar and Kalyani, a couple deeply desiring children, face despair as Kalyani suffers a miscarriage and loses her chance to become a mother. Kalyani then insists Sridhar marry his secretary.
    71 . Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi(June 29 , 2018)
    UA|140 minutes|Comedy,Drama
    Four close friends from childhood drift apart due to unavoidable circumstances. They reunite for one of their weddings and unexpectedly end up on a trip to Goa. What did they do in Goa, and how did the trip change them?
    72 . Majili(April 05 , 2019)
    UA|154 minutes|Drama,Romance
    Poorna, who aspires to be a cricketer, falls in love with Anshu. However, they separate, and Poorna ends up being forcefully married to Sravani.
    73 . Rambantu(September 08 , 1995)
    U|152 mins|Drama,Musical
    Rambantu is an ordinary person with extraordinary abilities. He uses his talent to help people. Girisham, a fraudster, makes life difficult for Rambantu's family. The story reveals how Rambantu took revenge.
    74 . Aradhana(March 27 , 1987)
    U|Musical,Romance
    Puliraju, a habitual drunkard who harasses everyone, changes his ways when Jenny, a teacher, arrives in his village and makes him realize his foolishness, leading to a turning point in his life.

    @2021 KTree