In recent times, South Indian movies have gained immense popularity both in theaters and on television channels. This surge in popularity can be attributed to their exceptional production quality, substantial budgets, and thrilling action sequences, even if they seem implausible. Moreover, the storylines of South Indian films are carefully crafted and often deviate from conventional narratives, adding to their uniqueness. Films made in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam are renowned for their stunning cinematography and impressive sound effects, making them a treat for the audience.
1. Rajnikanth
Rajnikanth has won the hearts of fans of all ages through his versatile performances and diverse film choices. His popularity is further amplified by the fact that Tamil Nadu has been home to some truly remarkable movies. Born on December 12, 1950, Rajnikanth made his debut in the 1975 Tamil drama “Apoorva Raagangal.” He is affectionately known as the ‘God of Tamil Cinema’ due to his iconic status in the industry.
Some of Rajnikanth’s best movies include:
- The action movie “Phool Bane Angaray” in 1990.
- The action movie “Insaniyat Ke Devta” in 1993.
- The action movie “Bulandi” in 2000.
- The sci-fi movie “Robot” in 2010.
- The action movie “Lingaa,” released on December 12, 2014.
2. Yash
While Bollywood Hindi Action Movies have their appeal, it’s the South Indian film industry that truly excels in this genre. One particular film that achieved immense success and shattered all records was “K.G.F.,” catapulting Yash’s fame to new heights. Yash is widely regarded as the present face of Kannada cinema, and his contributions to the industry have been significant. He was born on January 8, 1986, and made his debut in the 2007 film “Jambada Hudugi,” where he played a supporting role. Yash is affectionately known as “Yash” and “Rocky.”
Some of Yash’s best movies include:
- The romantic comedy movie “Kirataka” in 2011.
- The romantic comedy movie “Googly” in 2013.
- The romantic drama movie “Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari” in 2014.
- The action movie “K.G.F: Chapter 1” in 2018.
- The action movie “K.G.F: Chapter 2” in 2022.
3. Prabhas
The immense popularity of the film made Prabhas, who played the lead role, incredibly famous. His once-in-a-lifetime performance left the audience in awe. Prabhas, whose full name is Uppalapati Venkata Suryanarayana Prabhas Raju, was born on October 23, 1979. He made his debut in the action movie “Eeswar” directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee in 2002.
Some of Prabhas’s best movies include:
- The romantic comedy movie “Varsham” in 2004.
- The romantic comedy movie “Darling” in 2010.
- The action movie “Rebel” in 2012.
- The epic action movie “Baahubali: The Beginning” in 2015.
- The epic action movie “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” in 2017.
- The romantic drama “Radhe Shyam” in 2022.
4. Mohanlal
Throughout his long career, Mohanlal has given outstanding performances in serious roles and has worked with some of the top southern actresses. He is a skilled performer and excels in comedy roles and characters with a cheerful personality. His ability to quickly personalize any script makes him a favorite among producers and directors. Mohanlal, also known as Lalettan and Ettan, was born on May 21, 1960.
He made his debut in the movie “Thiranottam” in 1978.
Some of Mohanlal’s best movies include:
- The mystery-thriller movie “Shikkar” in 2010.
- The action-thriller movie “Karmayodha” in 2012.
- The crime thriller movie “Drishyam” in 2013.
- The action thriller movie “Pulimurugan” in 2016.
- The epic action movie “Drishyam 2” in 2021.
- The action thriller drama “12th Man” in 2022.
5. Dhanush
Dhanush, one of the top 10 south heroes, has produced several successes during his acting career. Apart from acting, he possesses numerous abilities such as playback singing, composing, and even lyric writing. Dhanush’s date of birth is July 28, 1983. He made his debut in the movie “Thulluvadho Ilamai” in 2002. His full name is Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja.
Some of Dhanush’s best movies include:
- The romantic movie “Pudhukottaiyilirundhu Saravanan” in 2004.
- The romantic movie “Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam” in 2006.
- The romantic movie “Yaaradi Nee Mohini” in 2008.
- The action movie “Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram” in 2007.
- The Bollywood movie “Raanjhanaa” in 2013.
- The Bollywood movie “Shamitabh” in 2022.
6. Mahesh Babu
Mahesh Babu’s eye expressions have a captivating effect on every type of audience, especially females. He is not just a hero on screen but also known for his participation in many charitable activities. Mahesh Babu’s date of birth is August 9, 1975. He made his debut in the movie “Raja Kumarudu” in 1999. His full name is Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu.
Some of Mahesh Babu’s best movies include:
- The romantic movie “Okkadu” in 2003.
- The Science fiction movie “Naani” in 2004.
- The action thriller “Pokiri” in 2006.
- The action-comedy movie “Dookudu” in 2011.
- The action crime movie “Businessman” in 2013.
- The action movie “Maharshi” in 2019.
7. Allu Arjun
Allu Arjun, despite coming from a family with strong roots in the South Indian film industry, has created a space for himself and become one of the most well-known individuals. His date of birth is April 8, 1982. He made his debut in the movie “Gangotri” in 2003. Allu Arjun is known by various names, including Bunny, Dancing Dynamite, Mallu Arjun, Stylish Star, and Icon Staar.
Some of Allu Arjun’s best movies include:
- The romantic movie “Desamuduru” in 2007.
- The romantic movie “Badrinath” in 2011.
- The romantic movie “Iddarammayilatho” in 2013.
- The action movie “Sarrainodu” in 2016.
- The action movie “Pushpa: The Rise” in 2021.
8. Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan has made appearances in romantic comedy films from Bollywood while continuing to contribute significantly to South Indian cinema with extraordinary enthusiasm. His date of birth is November 7, 1954. Kamal Haasan made his debut in the movie “Kannum Karalum” in 1962.
Some of Kamal Haasan’s best movies include:
- The romantic movie “Manmadha Leelai” in 1976.
- The romantic movie “Ek Duuje Ke Liye” in 1981.
- The comedy movie “Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu” in 1986.
- The comedy movie “Avvai Shanmughi” in 1996.
- The action-thriller movie “Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu” in 2006.
9. Vijay
Vijay is not only well-known and adored for his acting skills but also for his humble and down-to-earth nature. Despite being a celebrity, he dislikes extravagant birthday expenditures and prefers to use the occasion for social work, especially with children. His date of birth is June 22, 1974. Vijay made his debut as a child actor in the movie “Vetri” in 1984. He is known as Thalapathy Vijay in the film industry.
Some of Vijay’s best movies include:
- The movie “Thamizhan” in 2002.
- The romantic movie “Ghilli” in 2004.
- The romantic thriller movie “Azhagiya Tamil Magan” in 2007.
- The action movie “Vettaikaaran” in 2009.
- The political action movie “Sarkar” in 2018.
- The action movie “Master” in 2021.
10. Suriya
Suriya made his film debut in the action thriller movie “Nerukku Ner” in 1997. He has played the lead role in blockbuster films like “Singam,” “Ghajini,” and “Kaakha Kaakha.” Suriya, whose full name is Saravanan Sivakumar, was born on July 23, 1975. Apart from acting, he is also involved in 2D Entertainment, a production company.
Some of Suriya’s best movies include:
- The action thriller movie “Kaakha Kaakha” in 2003.
- The semi-auto-biographical movie “Vaaranam Aayiram” in 2008.
- The action movie “Ayan” in 2009.
- The sci-fi movie “7aum Arivu” in 2009.
- The movie “Soorarai Pottru” in 2020.
- The action movie “Jai Bhim” in 2021.
Suriya has also received numerous awards for his exceptional performances.