As theatres are unlikely to reopen anytime soon due to the coronavirus outbreak, most movie-goers are confined at home, watching material on OTT platforms. Why not take advantage of the possibility to watch Kannada movies online as well?

Sandalwood, as the Kannada movie industry is popularly known as, has a slew of jewels that should be on everyone’s watch list. From mythological plays to larger-than-life masala films, Kannada cinema has come a very long way.

There are several new age, well-directed Kannada films with interesting plots available to watch online. These movies will appeal to individuals from all walks of life and deserve to be seen by a far larger audience.

Here are some of our favourite best Kannada movies that we think you should see:

1. Thithi

Director: Raam Reddy

Cast:

• Thammegowda S.
• Channegowda
• Abhishek H. N.
• Pooja S.M.

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Streaming On: Netflix

Thithi is a highly praised film that has garnered several honours, including worldwide recognition and the National Film Award for Best Kannada Feature Film. The film is set in a village in Mandya and stars actors from the area. It tells the tale of how three generations of men deal with the death of their clan’s eldest member. The film will keep you interested throughout since it is entertaining as well as hilarious and sarcastic.

The film is a slice-of-life narrative about the turmoil surrounding post-funeral ceremonies, the battle to get land paperwork, and a young couple’s love story. Thammegowda and Channegowda, none of whom are professional performers, appear in Raam Reddy’s award-winning first film. The picture was well-received by critics and viewers alike. This is a must-see.

2. Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu

Director: Hemanth M Rao

Cast:

• Anant Nag
• Rakshit Shetty
• Vasishta N. Simha
• Sruthi Hariharan

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Streaming On: Disney + Hotstar

The film, the title of which in Kannada translates to “wheatish complexion, average build,” is about a conventional 21st-century corporate professional (Rakshit Shetty) who learns the not-so-ordinary history of his missing father, while regaining himself on the search for the latter.

Debutant Hemanth M Rao directed the super hit film, which earned veteran actor Ananth Nag praise for his excellent portrayal as a father suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

It was also probably the finest music album of 2016, thanks to music director Charan Raj’s amazing compositions, making it arguably one of the best Kannada movies of all times.

3. Humble Politician Nograj

Director: Saad Khan

Cast:

• Danish Sait
• Vijay Chendoor
• Sumukhi Suresh
• Roger Narayan
• Sruthi Hariharan

IMDb Rating: 7/10

Streaming On: Prime Video

Humble Politician Nograj is a powerful political satire that is both hilarious and heartbreakingly genuine. It’s a video that enlightens viewers on a topic that’s already imprinted in their subconscious minds. We are all aware that politicians are dishonest.

Gradually, the film introduces us to the film’s anti-hero, who is both ridiculous and endearing. He’s a complete crook with a wicked sense of humour. There’s no way you can truly despise him.

With this, the film pokes fun at the current condition of Indian politics. Memes, rather than arguments, are the primary fuel for social media politics. Rather than logical assertions or arguments, election discussions appear to be more comparable to parody songs.

Humble Politician Nograj attempts to make all of this nonsense visible. It implies that we have come to accept such behaviour as the standard. Instead of criticizing politicians, the video mocks the audience for remaining mute or laughing at their antics.

4. Shuddhi

Director: Adarsh Eshwarappa

Cast:

• Lauren Spartano
• Nivedhitha
• Amrutha Karagada

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Streaming On: Netflix

Shuddhi is a natural at portraying a powerful female lead. It rips through all of the social justice genre’s standard vapid marketing ploys. The film moves through India’s rape-infested underbelly, establishing itself as a hard fight between both the underdogs and the establishment that is attempting to subjugate them.

It lives up to its namesake by attempting to purify the world of its sins through a dramatic but gritty reality depiction of the same. The film brilliantly depicts a journey that is both material and spiritual in nature. It turns the town crimson with its unconventional narrative and flashy manner, which contrasts sharply with the barren and dreary cinematography.

5. Devaki

Director: H.Lohith

Cast:

• Priyanka Upendra
• Kishore
• Aishwarya Upendra

IMDb Rating: 5.6/10

Streaming On: Prime Video

Devaki is a moving film about a single mother in Kolkata whose daughter goes missing one day, leading her to embark on a search for her while learning about the harsh realities of the city. The female-centric picture is notable for its magnificent features, which are high in emotionality. The city comes to life and plays a part throughout the film, thanks to HC Venugopal’s excellent cinematography. The film, which stars Priyanka Upendra in the lead role, also largely relies on its supporting cast, all of whom deliver on their promises.

As it focuses on the relationship shared between both mother as well as a daughter, the narrative has universal themes. The video depicts the dirty alleyways of Calcutta, which are host to human trafficking and exploitation prostitution, revealing the darker side of the pleasant and beautiful.

6. Aa Karaala Ratri

Director: Dayal Padmanabhan

Cast:

• Karthik Jayaram
• Anupama Gowda
• Rangayana Raghu
• Veena Sundar

IMDb Rating: 8/10

Streaming On: Disney + Hotstar

This mystery thriller is inspired by Mohan Habbu’s Kannada drama, which was adapted from Rupert Brooke’s dramatic English play Lithuania. It is located in a village in the 1980s and chronicles the events that occur in the life of a family when a fortune teller informs them that something wonderful awaits them. The plot flows through the film smoothly, making for fascinating viewing, with all elements in place and presented wonderfully.

A three-person family – mom, dad, and daughter – plots to assassinate a wealthy man who visits their home for the night. The members of the family aren’t hardened criminals. They are folks who have been living on the edge of poverty and have stumbled across an opportunity to become wealthy.

How much further will they go to get something that isn’t theirs for money? Although the film does not explicitly answer these concerns, it is a gripping watch. So, if you’re looking for one of the best Kannada thriller movies, you should consider giving this a watch!

7. U-turn

Director: Pawan Kumar

Cast:

• Samantha Akkineni
• Aadhi Pinisetty
• Rahul Ravindran
• Bhumika Chawla

IMDb Rating: 7/10

Streaming On: Netflix

U-Turn, a crowd-funded production directed by Pawan Kumar (of Lucia fame), may not have been as gripping as Lucia, but it is still one of Kannada’s best thrillers. The film, which has been remade in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, depicts a journalism intern attempting to discover the cause of certain unusual fatalities connected to a flyover in Bangalore.

The film will astound you with its quick writing, which defies several unwritten norms of Indian cinema, such as song scenes. It is likely to delight suspense movie fans, with mystical and mystery aspects thrown in.

8. Mungaru Male

Director: Yograj Bhat

Cast:

• Ganesh
• Pooja Gandhi

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Streaming On: Disney + Hotstar

If you’re wondering what makes Mungaru Male’s lovely storyline so good, it’s the stunning photography, sharp editing, and superbly crafted dialogues. They add to the plot, which centres on Preetham, a mercurial young man (played by Ganesh) who is navigating his love life. He plays with the possibilities of the fleeting and the permanent on that voyage, and the film follows him into that battle.

This film had a huge influence on Kannada cinema fans, and it single-handedly revolutionized the way people think about romantic films. The film played to sold-out audiences for more than 2 years, a decade prior to when Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, and other streaming services arrived in India. It was released during a period when going to the movies to see a romantic picture meant nursing broken hearts in the dark.

9. Katheyondu Shuruvagide

Director: Senna Hegde

Cast:

• Diganth
• Pooja Devariya

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Streaming On: Prime Video

Katheyondu Shuruvagide is a masterfully designed experience that delights us on all levels: visual, aural, and emotional. The movie invites you to sit back and relax while watching a poignant, genuine, and emotionally charged narrative about two damaged individuals. It takes you on a journey with the two characters, gradually immersing you in their lives. You quickly begin to cheer for them as well as wish that they would unite in order to complete one another.

If you want high-octane action, you may not even enjoy this one as much. This film will not provide you with a rush of adrenaline. It also won’t hit you over the head with a sprinkling of emotional sequences. It actually enacts a great glass of wine that gently but steadily satisfies the soul, and leaves you smiling (while craving for more) by the end of it.

10. Kahi

Director: Arvind Sastry

Cast:

• Hari Sharva
• Krishi Thapanda
• Matangi Prasan
• Suraj Gowda
• Mahesh Bung
• Aravind Iyer

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Streaming On: Netflix

The dark drama follows the lives of four young people — a dancer, a writer, a drug dealer, and a psychopath — and the circumstances that eventually bind them all together.

The ending is left open for the audience, who are already gasping for air, to consider and interpret.

Kahi is one of the greatest Kannada movies available online right now, and it was directed by a novice filmmaker (Aravind Sastry). Despite receiving critical praise, it was unable to maintain its box office success, as other unusual films of 2016 did.

Conclusion

So, here’s our list of some of the greatest Kannada movies. If you’re looking for the best websites to download Kannada movies in HD or stream the movies with subtitles, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar are ideal for you.