'Jailer' to 'Salaar': 20 best Tamil and Telugu films of 2023 (2024)

Chennai,UPDATED: Dec 25, 2023 15:55 IST

2023 has been a phenomenal year for Tamil and Telugu film industries. Be it the big-budget films, which turned out to be money-spinners or the small-budget gems that captivated audiences with their content, this year has been remarkable. Films like 'Jailer,' 'Leo,' and 'Salaar' have been instrumental in setting the cash registers ringing.

Let us take a look at some of the best films in Tamil and Telugu in no particular order in this year-ender.

BEST TAMIL FILMS

Chiththa

Director SU Arun Kumar's 'Chiththa', starring Siddharth and Sahasra Sree, is an important film that talks about child abuse. The sensitive portrayal and brilliant performances make 'Chiththa' one of the best films of 2023.

Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar.

Jigarthanda Double X

Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah-starrer 'Jigarthanda Double X' is directed by Karthik Subbaraj. It is an ode to filmmaking and nature. And it has also drawn the attention of the legendary Clint Eastwood, who promised to watch the film after the completion of 'Juror 2'.

Streaming: Netflix

Por Thozhil

Sarathkumar and Ashok Selvan's 'Por Thozhil' is an interesting crime thriller helmed by Vignesh Raja. A rookie cop and a veteran investigative officer are on the hunt for a brutal serial killer.

Streaming: SonyLIV

Viduthalai: Part 1

Director Vetri Maaran's 'Viduthalai: Part 1' features Soori and Vijay Sethupathi in lead roles. The film is about a police officer who is torn between duty and morality as the police department is running a campaign against an activist.

Streaming: Zee5

Dada

Director Ganesh K Babu's 'Dada' is a heartwarming family drama starring Kavin and Aparna Das in the lead roles. The film is about a young couple struggling in life as they get accidentally pregnant. They get separated due to different circ*mstances and how they get back together forms the story.

Streaming: Prime Video

Good Night

Written and directed by Vinayak CHandrasekaran, 'Good Night' is a feel-good film, which stars Manikandan, Meetha Raghunath, Ramesh Thilak and Raichal Rabecca in key roles. The film is about a middle-class man who suffers in life due to excessive snoring.

Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar

Maaveeran

Sivakarthikeyan and Mysskin's 'Maaveeran' is directed by Madonne Ashwin. The commercial entertainer is about a cartoonist, who starts hearing voices after an accident.

Streaming: Prime Video

Leo

Thalapathy Vijay's 'Leo' is helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. The big-budget entertainer is one of the highest-grossing Indian films of this year. A cafe owner gets entangled in a life-threatening situation, which questions his identity.

Streaming: Netflix

Jailer

Written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, 'Jailer' features Rajinikanth in the lead role. The mega-budget actioner is about a retired jailer, who goes on a mission to find his son, kidnapped by a gold smuggler.

Streaming: Prime Video

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2

Director Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2' is adapted from Kalki Krishnamoorthy's literary novel of the same name. The film is a continuation to the first part, which ends with a cliffhanger. The period drama is about what happens after the news of Ponniyil Selvan AKA Arulmozhi Varman's presumed death.

Streaming: Prime Video

Thunivu

Director H Vinoth's 'Thunivu' is a heist thriller features Ajith Kumar, Manju Warrier and several others in pivotal roles. Ajith Kumar's Dark Devil hijacks a bank and there's a reason behind their deed.

Streaming: Netflix

BEST TELUGU FILMS

Month of Madhu

Written and directed by Srikanth Nagothi, 'Month of Madhu' features Naveen Chandra and Swathi Reddy in lead roles. NRI Madhumadhi, accustomed to Western culture, lives life on her own terms. She encounters alcoholic Madhusudhan Rao, whose wife, Lekha, is eager for a divorce as she is fed up with him.

Streaming: Aha

Baby

Helmed by Sai Rajesh, 'Baby' brings together Anand Devarakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya and Viraj Chaitanya. The film is about two childhood sweethearts, who face difficult times as the girl is exposed to a world beyond her gully.

Streaming: Aha

Virupaksha

'Virupaksha' is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language supernatural horror mystery film directed by Karthik Varma Dandu. A mysterious person's occult activities cause severe fatalities in a village. As they look for the offender, the issues persist and the entire village is in fear.

Streaming: Netflix

Balagam

One of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2023, 'Balagam' is a family drama written and directed by Venu Yalandi. Set in Telangana, the family drama is about a man who is struggling in life after the death of the family's patriarch.

Streaming: Prime Video

MAD

Written and directed by Kalyan Shankar, 'Mad' is a comedy drama featuring an ensemble cast including Sangeeth Shobhan, Narne Nithin, Ram Nithin, Sri Gouri Priya Reddy, Ananathika Sanilkumar, Gopikaa Udyan and Vishnu Oi. 'Mad' is a campus comedy about a group of students who get a high torturing the hostel warden.

Streaming: Netflix

Samajavaragamana

Sree Vishnu, Reba Monica John and Vijaykrishna Naresh play lead roles in director Ram Abbaraju's film. The story follows a clerk who takes on the role of a tutor for both his father and his tenant. However, when he falls in love, he encounters trouble during an engagement.

Streaming: Aha

Hi Nanna

Debutant director Shouryuv's 'Hi Nanna' features Nani, Mrunal Thakur and Baby Kiara Khanna. The film is about a doting father and an ailing daughter, who longs to meet her mother.

Streaming: Yet to be announced

Salaar

Director Prashanth Neel's 'Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire' features Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles. The film is about two childhood friends who become enemies.

Streaming: Netflix

Dasara

Written and directed by Srikanth Odela, the film features Nani, Keerthy Suresh, Deeksh*th Shetty and Shine Tom Chacko. The film is about three childhood friends, whose lives turn upside down when they are loggerheads with the village head's son.

Streaming: Netflix