The best Kannada movies of all time
The top 3 according to 123 votes from people: Upendra (1999) · Kasturi Nivasa (1971) · Lucia (2013). (Updated Apr 25, 2024.)
From Rajkumar classics like Kasturi Nivasa and Bangaarada Manushya to Upendra's mind games, Lucia, Mungaru Male and the KGF and Kantara phenomenon: a Letterboxd top 100 of Kannada cinema.
Top 15
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1
Upendra (1999)
Upendra directs and stars as an egotist caught between three women.
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2
Kasturi Nivasa (1971)
Dorai–Bhagavan. Rajkumar as a generous industrialist who loses everything.
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3
Lucia (2013)
Pawan Kumar. A cinema usher who takes a pill to live his dreams. Crowdfunded.
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4
K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022)
Prashanth Neel. Yash as Rocky, ruler of the Kolar gold fields.
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5
K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018)
Prashanth Neel. Rocky's rise from the Bombay streets to the gold mines.
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6
Mata (2006)
Guruprasad. Satirical comedy with Jaggesh.
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7
Om (1995)
Upendra. Shiva Rajkumar as a gangster from a Brahmin family.
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8
Ugramm (2014)
Prashanth Neel's debut, a gangster drama with Sriimurali.
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9
A (1998)
Upendra. A film director's twisted love story, told out of order.
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10
Kantara (2022)
Rishab Shetty. A village, its forest and the Bhoota Kola ritual.
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11
Bangaarada Manushya (1972)
Siddalingaiah. Rajkumar as a man who turns barren land into farmland.
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12
RangiTaranga (2015)
Anup Bhandari. A writer and a mystery in a coastal village.
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13
Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014)
Rakshit Shetty. A crime in a coastal town told from several points of view.
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14
Navagraha (2008)
Dinakar Thoogudeep. Nine villains' sons plan a heist at the Mysore Dasara.
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15
Mungaru Male (2006)
Yogaraj Bhat. A monsoon romance with Ganesh; a huge box-office hit.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (1)
Happy to see Kasturi Nivasa at the top and not just KGF. Annavru classics deserve more love outside Karnataka.