2022 was truly a year when movies were celebrated in theatres. Apart from the good stories and background scores, we were able to experience pure entertainment in all aspects. From Telugu to Kannada, from Marathi to Tamil, regional films have shown their true might in 2022. Without a further ado, let’s check out the top 10 movies according to our opinions.
Table of Contents
10. KGF – Chapter 2
The sequel of Kannada film industry’s all time blockbuster did not disappoint the fans. Instead, it was 4 times more successful than the first part. Despite being low case on story, KGF 2 won hearts by the unique Kannada style of storytelling. The background score by Ravi Basrur was solely responsible for audience being stuck to the seats in the theatre. Yash’s portrayal as Rockey was evolved. Raveena Tondon stole the show by portraying the antagonist Rimika Sen.
09. Sher Shivraj – Swari Afzal Khan
Released alongside KGF Chapter 2, this masterpiece of a movie was not as successful as its predecessor Pawankhind but still it managed to gather crowd for two weeks. The historic event of Afzhal Khan Vadh by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was brilliantly portrayed by Director Digpal Lanjekar in his fourth instalment of “Shivraj Ashtak” universe. This story was shown in series and dramas for many times before but this was THE PERFECT!. Minute details such as Afzal Khan’s signature statement written on his seal being played in the background, the diplomatic warfare between the lawyers of both Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan, the smallest detail of Shivaji Maharaj’s multi dimensional strategy was so on point and subtle that only true history lovers would understand it. The best part was obviously the assassination scene but it was made best because of the “Ugra Veeram” background score by Devdutt Baji and Shantanu Pande. Chinmay Mandlekar’s portrayal of Shivaji Maharaj and Mukesh Rishi as Afzhal Khan were undoubtedly best castings I ever saw.
08. Pawankhind
The real heart wrenching thriller of legendary Battle of Pawankhind where 300 Maratha Soldiers fought bravely against 10000 Adilshahi Soldiers and died. They died to protect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj under the leadership of Maharaja’s one of the most valiant Military General Narveer Bajiprabhu Deshpande. Director Digpal Lanjekar filmed this story in a very limited budget but still in the best possible manner. Ajay Purkar’s portrayal of Bajiprabhu Deshpande was so realistic that it felt as if Bajiprabhu himself has shown up on screen. Chinmay Mandlekar’s role as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was absolutely flawless. The music by Devdutt Baji was good too. Overall, this film justified the legendary history of those 300 brave warriors and made a place in the heart of Maharashtrians.
07. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
I’m not much of a Marvel fan but I was direly waiting for this movie since 2017. Dr. Strange is surely one of the most unique superheroes out there. After the death of Iron Man, Dr. Strange is the supreme avenger. Right from the grand visuals of multiverse to the chartbuster background score, Dr. Strange was indeed a treat to eyes. Benedict Cumberbatch’s versatility was proved once again. Elizabeth Olsen took Wanda’s character to supremely next level effortlessly.
06. Ponniyan Selvan – Part 01
The combination of Maniratnam and A R Rahman is always hit material without a second thought. Mani Ratnam deserves a big salute to bring the story of one of the mightiest empires of Indian history on big screen. PS-01 is special because it makes North Indians aware of the great Chola Kingdom. PS-01 is unique in all aspects. Differing from Telugu way of storytelling, PS-01 shows realistic war sequences. It makes us believe that we are literally time traveling to the Cholan era. There is no second thought that the background score and music were splendid. In fact the music of movie is 50% of all the good it has. Aishwarya Roy’s portrayal of Nandini and Trisha Krishnan’s role as Kundavai were the best. The scene where these two characters face off on the palace staircase is enough to conclude this movie as an excellent masterpiece. There are debates whether the character of Aditha Karikalan was justified by Vikram’s portrayal of him as a devastated lover while in reality he was a ruthless warrior. We’ll leave it to the director to develop it more in PS-02. The post credit scene is such a cliffhanger and a hook for PS-02 and it provides the literal meaning of the movie as well. In my opinion, despite the movie being very good, PS-01 could have been India’s answer to Game of Thrones if it were a TV or OTT Series.
05. Karthikeya 2
This yet another masterpiece from Telugu film industry was one of the biggest surprises of 2022. The mystery thriller with a mixed theme of Spirituality, Mythology, History and Science was so adventurous, entertaining and eye-opening at the same time that I ended up loving this movie. Director Chandu Mondetti was successful in carrying the responsibility of a divine topic with purity, research and conviction. Nikhil Siddharth as protagonist Karthikeya is now a defined mystery thriller hero. Anupama Parameswaram did a fantastic job too. Anupam Kher in a cameo was a sixth gear propellant. Background score and music by Kal Bhairava couldn’t be better. The last song “Krishna Trance” made a very special impact.
04. Rocketry – The Nambi Effect
It’s our utter misfortune and shame that a veteran rocket scientist like Nambi Narayanan sacrificed a high paying NASA job for our country, risked his life amidst the Soviet Union’s fall to get the cryogenic engines and did many such great things which were considered simply impossible. ISRO is a renowned space organization today but the foundations stones of this organization were put by people like Nambi Narayanan against extremely negative odds. Still, the fruit he got for his extraordinary work was a sedition case, a false allegation of espionage, 3rd degree torture, destruction of social image and family and a false honey trap case. He kept fighting for his justice. The Govt. Of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan award in 2019. Even after this, we did not know about him. Kudos to R Madhavan for bringing up his story on big screen and portraying it without any artistic liberty. On the other hand, the film was very sound on technical and other aspects too. The cinematography was outstanding for the short budget of ₹ 25 Crores. R Madhavan’s portrayal of Prof. Nambi Ji was excellent. The direction of this movie is a genius artpiece. This is a must watch movie for every Indian.
03. Kantara
Kannada industry’s yet another gem surprised us all with its unique story proudly carrying the cultural background of Kannada Tribes. The uniqueness in storytelling, the religious aspects of the Demigod concept were so beautifully crafted that you can easily relate with them. What makes this movie an absolute gem is its climax. If you have even smallest of the spiritual understanding, tears will roll down as you see the ending of movie. Rest assured, the movie managed to get splendid camera angles, excellent cinematography and of course, as this year will be remembered for, wonderful music and background score. You’re not human if “Varaha Roopam” song does not give you goosebumps.
02. The Kashmir Files
Around 5 lakh people were forced to leave their homes overnight, many were killed, many women were brutally gangraped and murdered. Their homes were encroached by their own neighbours. Their neighbours stayed silent and many participated in this heinous genocide. Forget about making a movie, this fact was suppressed for 30 years. Those Kashmiri Pandits were never given an opportunity even to express their grief, let alone be their justice. Besides, the so called intellectuals of this nation never cared for these people, nor did the politicians neither the journalists. Plus, speaking of this incidence will automatically make one an Islamophobe. Allegations will raise that you want to create communal divide. In such a scenario, Director Vivek Agnihotri decided to make this movie and this decision itself is commendable. Speaking of the movie, it was a befitting reply to all the propaganda that has been peddled to our throats all these years. Using their own tactics and brutally exposing the leftist propaganda, the movie progresses to be the most valiant warrior of truth. Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Chinmay Mandlekar, Puneet Issar all were very good in their respective roles. The storytelling was non linear and nail biting. Overall, the movie made a revolution and this impact is enough to be called the second best movie of the year.
01.RRR – Rise, Roar, Revolt!
Writer K V Vijayendra Prasad, Director S S Rajamouli, The two leads N T Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan Teja and supporting actors Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Olivia Morris and many more, Music Director M M Keeravani and Visual Effects Supervisor V Srinivas Mohan deserve a grand salute for their collective effort which made RRR an unimaginable, Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati kind of masterpiece.
As of now, nominated for Oscar for the best song “Naatu Naatu”, RRR has won millions of hearts before any award. RRR is very, very special and there are multiple reasons for that. Let’s dive deeper.
1.1 The Technical Aspects
Story, visuals, background score, music direction, VFX, camera angles, costume, art direction, screenplay, dialogues, casting, acting….you name it and everything is flawless in the movie. It’s literally the best, the world class material for almost every factor. Especially the background music and visuals of this movie are so marvelous that you never realise how magically it connects you with the movie and every character in the movie. Speaking of dialogues, director S S Rajamouli deserves a special Oscar to replace dialogues with non verbal communication between the protagonists in many cases. Their eyes speak louder than any dialogue and that’s exactly where the purpose of movie gets delivered. The emotions need no languages and anyone from any part of the world can relate with that. This defines the success of technical strength RRR has.
Music of this movie is on another level. The timings of the songs “Naatu Naatu” and “Komuram Bheemudo” were so apt that they uplift both the story and entertainment factor of this movie. The background score “Raamam Raghavam” is the best background score I have ever heard.
1.2 The Historic, Dharmik and Cultural Aspects
The story is a fiction designed on real freedom fighters Alluri Sitaram Raju and Komuram Bheem. For decades, the left leaning ecosystem of movie industry has used it as a tool to peddle the propaganda. Their “oppressor vs. oppressed” kind of storytelling is an age old audience grabbing tact and a validation standard. S S Rajamouli uses exactly this tool to counter their propaganda with a very indigenous thought process. It’s a true Indian story, in an Indian language and manner, presented to the world with best regards from India. Indian filmmakers have been blatantly copying western style and they failed to get their attention whereas Rajamouli brought entire US and Europe into theatres for his Indian movie.
The movie portrays the “Vande Mataram” flag earlier designed by the Indian freedom fighters. The movie salutes all the freedom heroes at the end of the movie one by one through the song Etthera Jenda.
Many so called intellectuals have taken offence at the flag, or at the fact that British were demonized in the movie. Well, this is the Indian story what we want to tell, not what they want to hear.
The characters from Ramayan and Mahabharat such as Hanuman, Lord Shriram, Bheem were shadowed on the characters very beautifully. The story runs inverse to the Ramayan story during climax and it was entertaining to see that.
The cultures of Hindus, Indian Muslims, Gond Tribe and the 20th century Delhi were also effectively shown in the movie.
1.3 The Entertainment Aspect
The fight sequences and stunts shown in the movie are simply not practical but do you realise this, or even care for it while watching the movie? No. That’s the success of an excellent direction. The animal mayhem, public riots, emotions, one-on-one fight scenes, twists and turns and of course, blood ravaging background score and music, everything gives you pure entertainment for 3 hours. You stick to the chair and dare not to get up from it. Not once do you feel bored or stretched. You dance at “Naatu Naatu”, you laugh at comedy, you feel the vibes of Bheem at “Komuram Bheemudo” and you cheer the hell out at climax. That’s the entertainment value of the movie. It grabbed attention of audience not only from all across the India but in US, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Russia too. It is the first time when a truly Indian movie is getting appreciated and celebrated globally. That’s the might of RRR.
These are the endless reasons why RRR tops this list. RRR is probably the best Indian movie ever made.
These are the Top 10 movies of 2022. Let us know your Top 10 in the comments below.
Warm Regards,
Dnyanesh Make “The DPM”
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