Year Ender 2023: 10 best films to show how Telugu cinema explored diversity in craft this year

Prabhas in a still from Prashanth Neel's Telugu film Salaar: Part 1 — Cease Fire.

Last year’s runaway blockbuster RRR by SS Rajamouli became India’s pride this year, bringing the country its first Golden Globes award and an Oscars award.

In 2023, the Telugu film industry saw a mix of big-budget productions, small wonders, and emerging directors making qualitative films. Close to 300 films released this year, until December 22, with 230 direct Telugu releases and 70 dubbed films. Among all these films, only a few movies like Salaar, Hi Nanna, MAD, Balagam, Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty, Baby, among others, managed to make an impact at the box office and on the audiences as well. While there were notable successes, the summer of 2023 was described as lukewarm, except for pandemic-hit years.

An overview of the year

Pan-India trend

The blurring of language boundaries, initiated by films like Baahubali, continued with productions like KGF, Pushpa, Kantara, and RRR, contributing to a pan-India trend. However, not every ambitious Telugu film found success at the national box office.

How it started

The year began with Sankranti hits featuring Balakrishna and Chiranjeevi, followed by smaller surprises from first-time directors. Some noteworthy films included Balagam, Dasara, Virupaksha, Mangalavaaram, and Bhagavanth Kesari.

While Chiranjeevi's Bhola Shankar struggled as an outdated remake, Balakrishna's Bhagavanth Kesari addressed women empowerment, earning appreciation for the star's 'woke' turn.

Films that made an impact:

Balagam by Venu Yeldandi

An indie-style drama rooted in rural Telangana, exploring fractured family ties and human behaviour. The film provides a unique take on death and family politics in Telugu cinema. The film won the hearts of many for being close to the heart and as many could relate to it. The film is doing well at international film festivals.

Dasara by Srikanth Odela

Set in the coal mines of Godavarikhani, Telangana, this story of friendship, romance, and revenge explores class and caste politics with rugged performances from Nani and Keerthy Suresh. The craft of the film is something the audiences were awestruck with.

Virupaksha by Karthik Varma Dandu

A thriller set in the 1990s, this film avoids typical horror tropes and explores mysterious happenings in a jungle village named Rudravanam. Sai Dharam Tej and Samyukta Menon star in this atmospheric thriller. This film released in April and is one of the biggest blockbusters of the year for its story and the making.

Samajavaragamana by Ram Abbaraju

A comedy family drama that cleverly turns the tables on the father-son equation, offering laughter and a fresh perspective on family dynamics.

Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty by P Mahesh Babu

A film tackling unconventional themes like sperm donation and single motherhood, with Naveen Polishetty delivering a strong performance alongside Anushka Shetty.

MAD by Kalyan Shankar

A madcap entertainer set in an engineering campus, where an egg puff becomes the focal point of a war between two campuses. The film is a humorous take on campus life.

Month of Madhu by Srikanth Nagothi

Using a non-linear narrative structure, this film explores love, introspection, and letting go of a loved one. Swathi Reddy and Naveen Chandra deliver moving performances.

Keedaa Cola by Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam

A wacky crime comedy with philosophical undertones, revolving around a cockroach in a cola bottle. Tharun Bhascker brings his signature style to this film.

Hi Nanna by Shouryuv

A comforting and reassuring tale of love overcoming challenges, with familiar tropes and a throwback to old-world romance. Nani, Mrunal Thakur, and Kiara Khanna deliver standout performances.

Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire by Prashanth Neel

An action drama serving as fan service to Prabhas, marking his return to form. Director Prashanth Neel builds a dystopian world in Khansaar, setting the stage for an epic story in part two.

The Telugu film industry showcased diversity in storytelling, with emerging directors making their mark and established stars experimenting with different genres. The success of films like Salaar and the emergence of fresh talent indicate a dynamic and evolving landscape for Telugu cinema.