9 South Indian drama films to watch on OTT: Love Mocktail 3, Kenatha Kanom to Hi Nanna, Vaazha

The weekend is upon us, and it’s the best time to catch up on all the drama films that the South Indian film industry has to offer. But if you’re wondering what to add to your binge-watch list, then fret not. Here’s a curated line-up of drama movies that will keep you entertained for days!

1. The Goat Life (2024)

• Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Amala Paul, Jimmy Jean-Louis, K.R. Gokul
• Director: Blessy
• Where to Watch: Netflix
• Language: Malayalam

The Goat Life is a survival drama film based on the true survival story of a young man named Najeeb Muhammed. The movie follows his journey from Kerala to the Middle East in hopes of earning a better living for his family. Instead of the promised job, he is kidnapped and enslaved as a goat herder in the middle of a vast desert.

2. Hi Nanna (2023)

• Cast: Nani, Mrunal Thakur, Baby Kiara Khanna, Jayaram
• Director: Shouryuv
• Where to Watch: Netflix
• Language: Telugu

Hi Nanna is a romantic drama film in which a dedicated single father and celebrity photographer suffers from a chronic illness. His young daughter, Mahi, longs to know about her mother, but Viraj refuses to discuss his past. When a warm and free-spirited woman named Yashna steps into their lives, a series of secrets regarding Viraj's tragic past love story begins to unravel.

3. Kaathal – The Core (2023)

• Cast: Mammootty, Jyothika, Sudhi Kozhikode, Muthumani
• Director: Jeethu Joseph
• Where to Watch: JioHotstar
• Language: Malayalam

A courtroom drama film, Kaathal: The Core, tells the tale of Mathew Devassy, a respected retired bank manager who decides to step back into local politics to contest an upcoming election. However, his life takes a drastic turn when his wife of several decades files for a divorce.

4. Chithha (2023)

• Cast: Siddharth, Nimisha Sajayan, Sahasra Shree
• Director: S.U. Arun Kumar
• Where to Watch: JioHotstar
• Language: Tamil

Chithha, a crime drama film, narrates the life of Eeswaran, who raises his young niece with immense care and affection after the tragic demise of his brother. Their simple, joyous life is shattered when someone abducts the girl. He then races against time to rescue her.

5. Sapta Sagaradaache Ello – Side A (2023)

• Cast: Rakshit Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Chaithra J. Achar
• Director: Hemanth M. Rao
• Where to Watch: Prime Video
• Language: Kannada

Sapta Saagaradaache Ello: Side A is a romantic action-drama film showcasing the intense romance of Manu, a driver for a wealthy businessman, and Priya, a college student who loves to sing. Desperate to quickly fulfil their dream of owning a home by the sea, Manu takes the blame for a hit-and-run accident committed by his boss's son in exchange for a massive payout.

6. Thandel (2025)

• Cast: Naga Chaitanya, Sai Pallavi
• Director: Chandoo Mondeti
• Where to Watch: Netflix
• Language: Telugu

Inspired by real-life events, Thandel is an emotional and high-stakes drama that follows a fisherman who accidentally drifts across the maritime international border while working at sea. Captured by the Pakistan Coast Guard, he fights for survival in a foreign prison while his girlfriend back home fights relentlessly for his return.

7. Vaazha: Biopic of a Billion Boys (2024)

• Cast: Jeemon Joseph, Joemon Jyothir, Hashir, Alan Antony
• Director: Anand Menoki
• Where to Watch: JioHotstar
• Language: Malayalam

Vaazha: Biopic of a Billion Boys is a coming-of-age drama that follows five inseparable childhood friends who are continuously labeled good-for-nothing by their parents and teachers. As they move past engineering college and face adulthood, they struggle due to their middle-class academic and career expectations.

8. Love Mocktail 3 (2026)

• Cast: Darling Krishna, Milana Nagaraj
• Director: Darling Krishna
• Where to Watch: Zee5
• Language: Kannada

Darling Krishna’s Love Mocktail 3 catches up with the emotional journey of Adi as he navigates the complex phases of love, heartbreak, and maturity. The movie delivers relatable humor and sweet nostalgia.

9. Kenatha Kanom (2026)

• Cast: Yogi Babu, Lovelyn Chandrasekhar, Raichal Rabecca Philip
• Director: Suresh Sangaiah
• Where to Watch: JioHotstar
• Language: Tamil

Set in a drought-stricken village, Kenatha Kanom follows the chaotic desperation of residents trying to solve their acute water scarcity. As a last resort, they dig a well in front of a local temple priest's house, only to find a prehistoric dinosaur fossil. The village is quickly taken over by the archaeological department, pushing the villagers to fight for their basic resources.

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