Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (2021)

Two childhood friends rule Mangalore's underworld, until they don't. Raw and violent, and the background score is unforgettable. Turn on subtitles even if you know Kannada; the Mangalore dialect is thick.

Lucia (2013)

A crowdfunded Kannada film about an usher who buys pills to live his dreams. Mind-bending and very Bangalore. Pay attention to the colour and the black and white. It all matters by the end.

Kantara (2022)

The last twenty minutes, with the Bhoota Kola, gave me goosebumps in the theatre. Nothing else has done that. Watch on the biggest screen and loudest speakers you can find. The sound is half the film.

Manjummel Boys (2024)

A friend falls into a cave in Kodaikanal and the rest refuse to leave. I was holding my breath for an hour. Watch in a theatre-style setup, lights off, sound up.

Shōgun (2024)

Feudal Japan, politics and betrayal, and every frame looks like a painting. Ten episodes I couldn't stop watching. Watch with subtitles, not dubbed. Give it two episodes to hook you.

Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

Four messy brothers in a half-built house by the backwaters, slowly learning to be a family. The glowing water scene! Watch it on a slow evening. It takes its time, and that's the point.

Laapataa Ladies (2024)

Two brides get swapped on a train and it turns into the warmest, funniest film I've seen in years. Perfect for watching with parents. Everyone in my family loved it.

Sapta Saagaradaache Ello: Side A (2023)

A love story told in quiet looks and long silences. The music hasn't left my head since. Watch Side A and Side B back to back on the same weekend.

Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014)

One murder in Malpe, told by five people who each saw a different piece. The coastal setting is gorgeous. Watch it twice. The second time, all the little details click.

Aavesham (2024)

Three college boys in Bangalore befriend a local gangster named Ranga. Fahadh Faasil is unhinged and I loved every minute. Watch with friends who've lived in Bangalore. The city jokes land even harder.