Having immersed myself in a plethora of South Indian movies, spanning Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu, I must confess that the suspense thriller genre in these regional films stands out as a true gem in the Indian film industry. Far superior to clichéd romances and high-voltage action sequences, these movies showcase exceptional storytelling and captivating narratives.
While Bollywood and Hollywood boast their share of gripping suspense thrillers, it’s essential not to overlook the wealth of remarkable offerings from the South Indian cinema. The best part is that these films are readily available online, providing easy access for audiences to enjoy them at their convenience. Whether you choose to stream them or download South Indian movies dubbed in Hindi from top-notch websites, the options are aplenty.
Driven by my passion for cinema and acknowledging the potential of these South Indian suspense movies to captivate any true movie lover, I have taken it upon myself to curate a compelling list. This compilation consists of the finest South Indian suspense movies, now available in Hindi, making it a must-watch for all enthusiasts seeking enthralling and immersive cinematic experiences.
List of Best Hindi dubbed South Indian Suspense Thriller Movies –
Table of Contents
1) RAATCHASAN (2018)
IMDb Rating – 8.7/10
Originally In – Tamil
Cast – Vishnu Vishal, Amala Paul, Sangili Murugan
Available on – Disney+ Hotstar
Directed by Ram Kumar, Raatchasan is a crime thriller that would keep you engrossed in the movie with its numerous plot twists. Arun (Vishnu Vishal), an aspiring director has to give up his dreams of making a movie when his father passes away suddenly, forcing him to join the police force. Things take a turn when a few schoolgirls go missing one after the other and are later found murdered in a grotesque state. A dejected and angry Arun decides to investigate the case himself, and with a few of his trusted colleagues sets out in pursuit of the psychopath who is behind the brutal murder sprees.
‘Who the serial killer could be?’, is a huge question to Arun as well as the audience. With a gripping narrative and a wonderful BGM score, Raatchasan is one thrilling ride. This is surely the best south movie of 2018 which doesn’t deserve a miss.
Watch the Trailer of movie Raatchasan:
2) DRISHYAM (2013)
IMDb Rating – 8.4/10
Originally In – Malayalam
Cast – Mohanlal, Meena, Asha Sharath
Available On – Disney+ Hotstar
Drishyam is a story of a happy family, Georgekutty (Mohanlal) living in peace with his wife and two daughters, until one day an unwanted, uninvited guest visits their lives. In order to protect themselves, the family commits an accidental crime. Things go haywire when the guest is found to be the son of IG Geeta Prabhakar. A cat and mouse chase begin between the family and the police, while Georgekutty goes to extreme lengths in order to protect his family.
Leading to an unanticipated yet satisfying climax, Drishyam has been a crafty and edgy feature by Jeethu Joseph, which would leave one sympathized and awe-struck at the same time, witnessing the perils of the family as well the upset IG. Drishyam is one of the best south Indian movies dubbed in Hindi for a wider reach.
Watch the Trailer of movie Drishyam:
3) KAVALUDAARI (2019)
IMDb Rating – 8/10
Originally In – Kannada
Cast – Roshini Prakash, Rishi, Suman Ranganathan, Anant Nag
Available On – Amazon Prime
When a murder case crops up for the Karnataka police with the discovery of three skulls near a metro construction site, Shyam (Rishi), a simple traffic policeman finds an opportunity for some excitement in his otherwise dull life. While the crime department fails to find anything conclusive regarding the case, Shyam decides to pursue the case off record and approaches a retired police officer who seems to have leads regarding the case. Soon they realize the case is linked to a very old murder case which the latter had given up midway.
The investigation leads them to a fearful truth and certain shocking revelations, one of them being that the destiny of the 6 crore people of Karnataka could be gruesome. What forms the rest of the story is how they digest the discoveries while preventing any further murders as well as unmasking the heinous crime. Directed by Hemant Rao, this slow-paced, intriguing thriller is quite a cocktail of suspense and deception.
Watch the Trailer of movie Kavaludaari:
4) JOSEPH (2018)
IMDb Rating – 8.1/10
Originally In – Malayalam
Cast – Joju George, Madhuri Braganza, Athmiya, Suddhi Koppa
Available On – YouTube
Directed by M Padmakumar, Joseph is the story of an ex-policeman Joseph Parikattil (Joju George), who had a turbulent emotional past, but a decorated career. The story develops through and involves the lives of four retired police officers, including Joseph, when a double crime takes place, and the aid of these four police officers is required.
Being a medical suspense thriller, the core theme of the movie is supposedly similar to the novel ‘Sareerasaasthram’ by Benyamin. With a tone of investigation thriller, Joseph is a well-made detective movie that would keep one engrossed till the end.
Watch the Trailer of the movie Joseph:
5) EVARU (2019)
IMDb Rating – 8.2/10
Originally In – Telugu
Cast – Adivi Sesh, Regina Cassandra, Navin Chandra
Available On – Amazon Prime
Another investigation thriller, Evaru revolves around a corrupt cop Vikram Vasudev (Adivi Sesh), and his prospect of either providing justice to a rape victim and saving her, or giving up on her to investigate the truth behind a senior officer’s death, both linked together.
What seems like an open and shut case for all is actually a dark tale with unanticipated surprises, and shocks Vikram as he delves further into the case. Despite some flaws in the narration, Evaru, directed by Venkat Ramji, is gripping and holds the interest of viewers till the end. It is considered one of the best South movies in 2019 according to the film critics.
Watch the Trailer of the movie Evaru:
6) VIKRAM VEDHA (2017)
IMDb Rating – 8.7/10
Originally In – Tamil
Cast – Vijay Sethupathi, R Madhavan, Sraddha Srinath
Available On – Disney+ Hotstar
It is undoubtedly one of the best South Indian action movies dubbed in Hindi. A masterpiece by Gayathri and Pushkar, Vikram Vedha is the story of a badass cop, Vikram (R Madhavan), and a kickass criminal, Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi). What may seem like the old lore of a cat and mouse chase between the police and thugs, Vikram Vedha is actually a psychic thriller. Vedha surrenders himself when Vikram kills his trusted aides but does not give up easily. He plays mind games with Vikram, telling him three stories, which change the latter’s perception of good and evil.
Leaving Vikram shocked and off-guard, Vedha escapes from the scene. What were these revelations, what were the plots, who were the pawns in this huge game, leaves Vikram perturbed.
Vikram Vedha is truly a brilliantly written crime drama, with intense suspense and action, and wonderful plot twists, which should not be missed.
Watch the Trailer of the movie Vikram Vedha:
7) ANJAAM PATHIRAA (2020)
IMDb Rating – 8/10
Originally In – Malayalam
Cast – Kunchako Boban, Unnimaya Prasad, Jinu Joseph, Sharaf U Dheen
Available On – Various download sites; Online streaming awaited
Considered a hit Malayalam suspense thriller by Midhun Manuel Thomas, Anjaam Pathiraa revolves around the chase to catch a serial killer within a certain time, probably as the title suggests, before the fifth midnight. Assisted by a criminologist Anwar Hussain (Boban), a squad of police sleuths investigate various deaths to unveil the identity of a faceless killer who brutally slays his victims. Although the police are on the trail of the criminal, the victims are mostly fellow officers, which raises doubt in the viewers whether the case can be solved in the given time, and the killer is caught.
As a string of killings takes place in quick succession, the police and Boban must now race against time to identify the killer. With sensational performances and a gripping script, Anjaam Pathiraa is a riveting psycho suspense and murder thriller.
Watch the trailer of the movie Anjaam Pathiraa:
8) KSHANAM (2016)
IMDb Rating – 8.3/10
Originally In – Telugu
Cast – Adivi Sesh, Adah Sharma, Anasuya Bhardwaj
Available On – MX Player
When Rishi (Adivi Sesh), an NRI, comes to India to help her ex-lover Shweta (Adah Sharma) find her daughter Ria, he is posed with numerous threats and confrontations, including a doubt regarding Shweta’s mental condition. When Shweta suddenly commits suicide, and Rishi notices uncooperating behavior by the police too, he is intrigued and delves deeper into the matter on unofficial accounts. As the mystery thickens with no evidence to support Shweta’s version of events of the kidnapping, and the denial of having a child even by her husband Kartik, Rishi finds the necessity to solve the case for his love and more for a lost child in the city.
What leaves him in shock are certain revelations about his past linked to the case. A direction by Ravikant Perepu, Kshanam is an intricately crafted suspense drama with beautiful narration.
Watch the Trailer of the movie Kshanam:
9) TRAFFIC (2011)
IMDb Rating – 8.1/10
Originally In – Malayalam
Cast – Sandhya, Namitha Pramod, Asif Ali, Kunchako Boban
Available On – Disney+ Hotstar
Directed by Rajesh Pillai, Traffic is a road-thriller film, narrated in a hyperlink format. It is inspired by an actual event in Chennai and is a multi-narrative thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one specific incident.
When a girl is in urgent need of a heart transplant, the lives of some different people get intertwined with one another, with the only heart donor being many traffic miles away. Does the transplant take place, do the people realize the link, does it end on a happy note, can only be answered once you watch it. A real-life story adapted into a spellbound, engrossing movie; Traffic is another mystery to be solved.
Watch Trailer:
10) RANGI TARANGA (2015)
IMDb Rating – 8.3/10
Originally In – Kannada
Cast – Avantika Shetty, Nirup Bhandari, Radhika Narayan
Available On – MX Player
Set in Kamarottu, a fictional village in Karnataka, Rangi Taranga is a mystery thriller film revolving around the lives of Indu (Radhika) and Gautam (Nirup Bhandari). Gautam is a reclusive novelist whose last book was titled Rangi Taranga, which seems to hold a key to his past, while Indu his wife, suddenly goes missing. Things take a turn when unforeseen circumstances present before him with Gautam uncovering mysterious events of the crime and discovering the criminal, while all the time being watched.
A mystery horror suspense thriller, Rangi Taranga keeps viewers hooked with director Anup Bhandari including quite a surprise package.
Watch Trailer:
11) DHURUVANGAL PATHINAARU (2016)
IMDb Rating – 8.4/10
Originally In – Tamil
Cast – Anjana Jayprakash, Rahman, Yashika Anand
Available On – Disney+ Hotstar
Produced and Directed by Kartik Naren, Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru, also known as D-16, is a neo-noir crime thriller. Deepak (Rahman) is a police officer who retires after an accident during a case investigation. When a young man, interested to join the forces asks Deepak about the accident, he is forced to relive the past and his case of a mystery killer, and his lost career along with his lost leg. Thus, he explains the unsolved mystery which was left midway.
Whether Deepak meets the ultimate end, solves the case even after the accident or not, is the thrill that keeps the viewers engrossed. The film is a must-watch with its impressive storyline and screenplay within a limited budget.
Watch Trailer:
12) VISARANAI (2015)
IMDb Rating – 8.5/10
Originally In – Tamil
Cast – Attakathi Dinesh, Anandhi, Ajay Ghosh, Samuthirakani, Kishore
Available On – Netflix
Detained by the local state police, four immigrants are tortured and forced to admit a crime that they did not commit. When there seems to be no hope, a policeman from their hometown speaks on the behalf of the detainees and saves them, but in return asks for a favor to which the immigrants immediately agree. Unaware of the consequences, they bear witness to certain treason which forces the system to silence them at any cost.
While all agree, one of the immigrants does not want to seal his lips and is determined to be heard. What was treason? Can the immigrant tell the truth? What happens ultimately? Watch Visarana, a hard-hitting thriller under the direction of Vetrimaaran, which showcases the harsh fact of abuse of power.
Watch Trailer:
13) VIRUPAKSHA (2023)
IMDb Rating – 7.3/10
Originally In – Telugu
Cast – Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Sunil
Available On – Netflix
Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person’s occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible.
Watch Trailer:
14) THEGIDI (2014)
IMDb Rating – 7.8/10
Originally In – Tamil
Cast – Ashok Selvan, Janani Iyer, Sai Prashant
Available On – Disney+ Hotstar
When Vetri (Ashok Selvan), a keen observationalist and a detective meets Madhu (Janani Iyer), he takes an instant liking towards her but gradually realizes she is in danger. Thus, he starts keeping an eye on his new ‘subject’, a certain number of people, and collects information about them. Hell breaks loose when his subjects under observation begin to die mysteriously one after the other, and Vetri feels the need to reach the ultimatum and identify the danger.
Directed by P Ramesh, Thegidi is an edgy thriller with enough twists and turns to keep one hooked on it.
Watch Trailer:
15) U-TURN (2016)
IMDb Rating – 7.5/10
Originally In – Kannada
Cast – Sraddha Srinath, Radhika Narayan, Dileep Raj, Roger Narayan
Available On – Netflix
This film has brought the Kannada film industry to the limelight. It is considered one of the best Kannada movies dubbed in Hindi. Under the direction of Pawan Kumar, U-Turn revolves around the story of a young reporter Rachana (Sraddha Srinath), who wants to write a story on the number of illegal U-turns present and offenders on the road which cause numerous accidents, particularly on a double road junction. While she tries to uncover the reason behind the deaths of the offenders, she gets involved in a police case dealing with a series of murders.
While trying to free herself, she becomes a part of the investigation process and is intrigued by the mysterious deaths on the road. In pursuit of uncovering the truth, Rachna endangers herself and becomes the prime suspect too. The murder mysteries, the traffic offenders, and the investigation are all connected by a common threat, which Rachna now must find.
Watch Trailer:
These are a few of the best South Indian suspense movies which could be watched in dubbed Hindi, but a small suggestion from my end would be to watch the original ones, with subtitles. The language, the dialects, and the dialogue delivery in all these movies would be keeping you gripped as well as retain the essence of the movie. So next time when you plan to watch any spine-chilling, intriguing, immense suspense thriller, now you know our Indian film industry has provided quite a lot other than Bollywood.
Your turn!
Which is your favorite South Indian suspense thriller movie of all time? Let us know in the comments section!
2 comments
suspense movies are the best thing that ever happened. imagine me getting excited expecting one thing to happen and something else entirely happens yet I am still excited. it makes me handle tension very well. interesting right? If you are looking for an amazing site to get more information, then I have what you need. This link would grant you access to interesting articles that would be very useful and informative to you, and I would appreciate it if you visit my site. Many thanks.
superb today i watched VIKRAM VEDHA (2017)