The Rise of South Indian Cinema: How Southern Films Are Redefining the Indian Film Industry

Mega Power Star Ram Charan has left for America, reportedly to attend the Oscars ceremony in the US. He is not alone, as NTR and director S.S. Rajamouli are also said to be boarding the same flight. Their film “RRR” has been nominated for the Best Original Score Oscar for the song “Natu Natu”. Many Indian fans are hopeful that the award will come home, and Rajamouli is being credited with taking Telugu cinema to new heights.

The landscape of Indian cinema has been changing over the years. Hindi films, or Bollywood, have long dominated the country, with Southern films often not receiving the recognition they deserve. However, with the release of “Baahubali”, Tollywood became a global phenomenon, breaking records across India and even beyond. The sequel, “Baahubali 2”, cemented Tollywood’s position as a major player in the Indian film industry.

After the success of the “Baahubali” films, Bollywood began to take notice of the South Indian film industry. In particular, the Kannada film “KGF” was a major hit in all languages, putting the spotlight on the Kannada industry as well as Tollywood. More and more films made in Southern languages began to appeal to audiences across India, and “Pushpa” in 2021 was a prime example of this. Other films such as “Sitaramam” and “Karthikeya 2” also received critical acclaim and appreciation from Bollywood audiences.

One of the biggest names in Telugu cinema is S.S. Rajamouli, who directed the “Baahubali” films as well as “RRR”. The latter film, in particular, has won hearts all over the world and was even nominated for the Golden Globe Awards, increasing its popularity even more. Legendary directors such as Spielberg and James Cameron have praised Rajamouli’s work and expressed their desire to work with him. This just goes to show that Indian cinema is not just about Bollywood and that there are many talented individuals working in Southern cinema as well.

The range of films being made in India is also expanding, with Tollywood, Kollywood, Mollywood, and Sandalwood all producing films that are appreciated by audiences across the country. Even films that are not expected to do well can become hits, such as the Kannada film “Kantara”. With more and more films crossing regional boundaries to become pan-India successes, Bollywood is beginning to take notice. Southern stars are being approached for roles in Hindi films, and Bollywood celebrities are keen to work with Southern technicians.

One example of this is the upcoming film “Jawan”, which stars Bollywood’s Shahrukh Khan and is directed by Tamil director Atlee. Anirudh Ravichander, a Tamil music director, is also providing music for the film. Icon star Allu Arjun is rumored to have a role in the film as well. This trend of Southern celebrities playing major roles in Hindi films is sure to bring success to the Southern film industry.

Directors and technicians from different languages are also pairing up with heroes from other languages, raising the standards of films across India. Examples include “Adipurush”, directed by Om Raut and starring Prabhas, as well as the recently released “Varasudu” and “Sir”. More films with these kinds of combinations are in the works, including “RC15” with Ramcharan and Shankar, “Salaar” with Prabhas and Kannada director Prashant Neel, and “Custody” with Naga Chaitanya and Venkat Prabhu.

The emergence of OTT platforms has led to increased exposure of South Indian cinema to audiences who appreciate quality films in other languages. Consequently, South Indian actors have garnered widespread popularity across the country. This has prompted filmmakers to produce movies on a pan-India level that meet the elevated standards of South Indian cinema. This trend is evidence of the widespread acceptance of the quality and standards of South Indian films, which have diminished the dominance of Bollywood in the Indian film industry.