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Top 10 South Indian Period Dramas on OTT: Ram Charan, Jr. NTR’s RRR to Rishab Shetty’s Kantara
Period dramas open up a variety of possibilities for the filmmakers and are one of the most enjoyed genres for the audience. Check out the top 10 South Indian period drama films.
Period dramas, or films set in a historical time period or background, have always been a crowd favorite. Not only do audiences find them incredibly enjoyable, but filmmakers also relish in the creative freedom they offer. The possibilities are endless, allowing them to explore a vast array of storytelling options.
The South Indian film industries have produced a diverse range of period films over the years. These films span across various genres such as drama, romance, fantasy, and more. Regardless of the genre, one thing remains constant - they never fail to entertain the audience. Here, in descending order of release, are the top 10 period drama films from the South Indian film industries.
Top 10 South Indian period drama films
1. Kantara (2022)
- Writer-Director: Rishab Shetty
- Runtime: 2 hours 28 minutes
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
- Cast: Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, Kishore, Achyuth Kumar, Pramod Shetty
- Genre: Period-action-drama
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Kantara is undoubtedly one of the most popular Kannada films to come out in the last few years. The film is set in three timelines, 1847, 1970, and 1990, and has a deep-rooted connection to the ancient art form of Bhoota Kola, as well as the sport of Kambala. The film beautifully connects the audience to the world that is created and seamlessly weaves the three time periods together.
2. Ponniyin Selvan I and II (2022, 2023)
- Writer-Director: Mani Ratnam
- Runtime: 2 hours 47 minutes and 2 hours 35 minutes
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10 and 7.3/10
- Cast: Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Chiyaan Vikram, Sobhitha Dhulipala, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
- Genre: Historical-fiction
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Ponniyin Selvan is arguably Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus. The director successfully brought to life Kalki Krishnamurthi’s 1955 novel by the same name, something that several filmmakers have attempted to do in the past. The film delves into the Chola empire, which was at its peak between 985 and 1014 AD. At the time of release the film was highly praised for its portrayal of the time period, as well as for its making. The music by AR Rahman and Ravi Varman’s cinematography were integral parts of the film, bringing in a different layer to the film.
3. RRR (2022)
- Writer-Director: SS Rajamouli
- Runtime: 3 hours 02 minutes
- IMDb rating: 7.8/10
- Cast: Jr. NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran
- Genre: Period-action-drama
- Where to watch: Netflix
RRR took Indian cinema to a global audience. The film delves into topics like freedom, friendship, and revolution. The film tells the tale of two historical figures, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, their friendship, and how they fought against the British Raj. The movie is set in the 1920s, and the makers have managed to accurately recreate the time period.
4. Mahanati (2018)
- Writer-Director: Nag Ashwin
- Runtime: 2 hours 49 minutes
- IMDb rating: 8.4/10
- Cast: Keerthy Suresh, Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Vijay Deverakonda, Naga Chaitanya
- Genre: Period-drama-biography
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Mahanati takes place from 1942 to the late 1970s and tells the story of Savitri, a renowned and well-compensated actress during that era. Nag Ashwin's second directorial venture received immense acclaim for its accurate portrayal of the timeline. Additionally, the film boasts a talented ensemble cast, each playing pivotal roles in the movie.
5. Rangasthalam (2018)
- Writer-Director: Sukumar
- Runtime: 2 hours 54 minutes
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
- Cast: Ram Charan, Jagapathi Babu, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Anasuya Bharadwaj
- Genre: Period-action-drama
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Set in the 1980s, the Ram Charan starrer Rangasthalam is one of the most popular Telugu films to come out in the previous decade. The film is set in the 1980s and follows the tale of two brothers who oppose the village’s local government and the corrupt co-operative society led by its president. Although the film received minor criticisms owing to its runtime, it was highly praised by fans and critics alike at the time of release.
6. Iyyobinte Pusthakam (2014)
- Director: Amal Neerad
- Writer: Gopan Chithambaram
- Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Lal, Jayasurya, Chemban Vinod Jose, Vijayakan, TG Ravi
- Genre: Period-thriller
- Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
Iyyobinte Pusthakam is arguably the best work of Amal Neerad so far. The film is set in Munnar in the mid-20th century and follows the life of Iyob and the rivalry between his sons Aloshy, Ivan and Dimitri. The film follows a rather complicated storyline including jealousy, heirloom, and more, which has been beautifully presented by Amal Neerad. Over time, the film has gained a cult status among cinephiles, as well.
7. Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (2012)
- Writer-Director: Naganna
- Co-writer: Keshavaditya
- Runtime: 3 hours
- IMDb rating: 8/10
- Cast: Darshan, Jayapradha, Divya Parameshwaran, Srinivasa Murthy
- Genre: Period-war
- Where to watch: SonyLIV
Set in the 1800s, Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna tells the tale of the eponymous character, who was a prominent freedom fighter from Karnataka. He waged war against the British East India Company in the 1800s, until he was captured and executed in 1830. The film was highly praised for its powerful dialogues and camera work.
8. Urumi (2011)
- Director: Santhosh Sivan
- Writer: Shankar Ramakrishnan
- Runtime: 2 hours 52 minutes
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
- Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Prabhu Deva, Genelia D’Souza, Nithya Menen, Vidya Balan
- Genre: Period-drama
- Where to watch: Zee5
Santhosh Sivan’s Urumi is undeniably one of the best period films to come out in the last decade. The film told the story of Murikkancheri Kelu, played by Prithviraj, who wishes to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of the Portuguese. The film also showed historical characters like Estevao da Gama and Vasco da Gama. Urumi became highly popular at the time of release and is considered to be one of the defining films in the Malayalam New Wave.
9. Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2009)
- Director: Hariharan
- Writer: MT Vasudevan Nair
- Runtime: 3 hours 20 minutes
- IMDb rating: 7.7/10
- Cast: Mammooty, Manoj K Jayan, Sarathkumar, Jagathy Sreekumar, Suresh Krishna
- Genre: Period-drama
- Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
During a period when Malayalam cinema was experiencing a slight decline, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja emerged. This movie takes place in 1796 and centers around the courageous king of Pazhassi Palace, Kerala Varma. He fearlessly led his troops in a battle against the British East India Company. The film also beautifully portrays the infamous guerilla warfare tactics employed by Kerala Varma's forces against the British.
10. Hey Ram (2000)
- Writer-Director: Kamal Haasan
- Runtime: 3 hours 30 minutes
- IMDb rating: 7.9/10
- Cast: Kamal Haasan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hema Malini, Rani Mukherjee, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri
- Genre: Period-drama
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Hey Ram was India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in the year 2000. The film is told as a narration, set in the 1940s, and follows the tale of Saketh Ram, who turns to extremism when his wife is murdered. His journey, and how he gets rid of his extremism forms the crux of the story. The film was highly praised at the time of release especially for the music by Ilaiyaraaja.
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