The year 2022 has been the year when Indian cinema became more multi-polar than ever before. While the year was a tough year for Bollywood, the Hindi film industry, several films from across the pan India took the audience by surprise and went on to win big at the box office. From amazing content to compelling storytelling, many attributes have been attributed to the rise of non-Hindi films at the box office. As we bring the curtains down on 2022, let’s take a look at 5 pan India films that have captured the hearts of people across the country.
major
The multilingual film was based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It starred ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ actor Adivi Shesh in the lead role and attracted audiences across India. Adivasi Shesh left no stone unturned so that the story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan reaches every household. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi. Both the versions were well received and did well at the box office.
Kantara
This Kannada language film directed by Rishabh Shetty turned out to be a surprise blockbuster across India, owing to its production design, cinematography and impeccable portrayal of the local ‘Bhoot Kola’ culture of Karnataka. A success in its home state, the film also struck a chord with Hindi-speaking audiences, becoming a much bigger box office success than expected as none of the film’s actors were previously known in northern India.
Ponniyin Selvan: I
This Tamil language film, directed by the legendary Mani Ratnam, was a huge hit in the home state of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora around the world. It was based on a fictional novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy, who himself was based on the life of Rajaraja I, the famous emperor of the Chola Empire. The film also performed well in its Hindi, Telugu and Kannada dubbed versions across India.
KGF: Chapter 2
Starring actor Yash in the lead role, the much-awaited sequel to the 2018 Kannada language film ‘KGF: Chapter 1’ has taken the nation by storm. The Prashanth Neel-helmed period action film was praised for its cinematography, background music and its infamous ‘Hinsa! violence! violence!’ The dialogue which was on everyone’s lips for a long time. It was a huge success across India, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year by the end of its run.
RRR
This high-octane action film helmed by SS Rajamouli was highly anticipated ever since his last blockbuster hit ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’ hit the theaters in 2017. Its star-studded cast included actors Ram Charan, Jr. NTR, Ajay Devgn and actors. Alia Bhatt, The film was not only a resounding success in India, but also achieved international success in overseas markets such as Japan, where it became the highest-grossing Indian film.