Out
of
the
400-odd
films
released
in
four
southern
languages
-
Tamil,
Telugu,
Kannada
and
Malayalam,
the
following
films
may
not
have
earned
a
robust
box-office
number
but
still
managed
to
elicit
positive
response
from
the
audience
and
critics
alike.
IANS
lists
10
best
southern
films
of
2013:
Onayum
Aatukuttiyum:
It's
the
most
underrated
Tamil
film
of
the
year
from
filmmaker
Mysskin,
who
also
featured
in
it
with
a
bevy
of
newcomers.
Fittingly
titled
Onayum
Aatukuttiyum,
which
translates
to
The
Wolf
And
The
Lamb,
it
is
a
touching
story
about
the
redemption
of
an
ex-assassin
(wolf)
on
a
mission
to
amend
his
past
with
the
help
of
a
medical
student
(lamb).
Maestro
Ilayaraja's
background
score
breathed
life
into
the
masterpiece.
Lucia:
The
film
changed
the
way
how
others
looked
at
the
Kannada
film
industry,
usually
popular
for
producing
loud
commercial
films,
mostly
remakes
of
its
southern
counterparts.
Not
only
did
Lucia
earn
critical
as
well
as
commercial
acclaim
but
also
introduced
the
concept
of
crowd-funding
and
paved
the
way
for
aspiring
filmmakers.
A
story
set
against
the
backdrop
of
lucid
dreaming,
the
film
is
already
being
remade
in
Telugu,
Tamil
and
Hindi.
Mumbai
Police:
Contrary
to
how
cop
flicks
are
made
in
Indian
cinema,
this
Malayalam
crime
thriller
is
a
cut
above
several
films
in
the
same
genre
across
industries.
Mumbai
Police
is
a
well-narrated
and
well-performed
realistic
picture
backed
by
the
support
of
an
apt
cast,
to
which
you
don't
mind
rooting
for.
Soodhu
Kavvum:
Dark
Tamil
comedy
shows
it
means
to
make
a
film
is
just
to
make
audiences
laugh.
Unarguably
the
funniest
film
of
the
year,
Soodhu
Kavvum
is
powered
by
the
presence
of
poster
boy
Vijay
Sethupathy.
A
box-office
blockbuster,
it
revolves
around
four
misfit
kidnappers
who
try
something
way
out
of
their
league.
Imran
Khan
will
feature
in
the
Hindi
remake
of
the
film,
which
will
be
produced
by
Rohit
Shetty.
Anthaku
Mundu
Aa
Tharavatha:
A
rare
Telugu
film
that
proves
it
is
possible
to
make
a
modern-day
romantic
tale
sans
sex
and
vulgarity.
With
Indraganti
Mohan
Krishna
at
the
helm
of
it,
Anthaku
Mundu
Aa
Tharavatha
doesn't
dare
to
experiment,
but
questions
the
spate
of
romantic
films
that
reek
of
cheesy
one-liners
and
respects
the
intelligence
of
a
viewer.
And
what
a
comeback
film
for
Roja
fame
Madhoo!
Neram:
A
story
that
revolves
around
the
events
that
take
place
in
a
single
day
in
the
life
of
the
protagonist,
the
Tamil
thriller-comedy
focusses
on
the
importance
of
time
in
one's
life
and
its
subsequent
repercussions.
Neram
was
one
of
the
few
films
in
the
language
that
pleasantly
surprised
everybody
who
watched
it.
Alphonse
Putharen,
who
directed
the
film,
will
soon
remake
it
in
Hindi.
North
24
Kaatham:
An
endearing
story
about
the
meeting
of
three
strangers
on
a
hartal
day
and
their
journey.
Debutant
director
Anil
Radhakrishna
Menon's
Malayalam
drama
North
24
Kaatham
is
about
life's
randomness
and
hope.
Packed
with
intermittent
humour,
this
is
one
of
the
best
films
of
actor
Fahadh
Faasil,
who
had
10
more
releases
this
year.
Swamy
Ra
Ra:
A
simple
story
about
fate,
the
Telugu
crime-comedy
revolves
around
three
friends
who
rob
for
a
living.
Laced
with
humour
and
occasional
thrills,
"Swamy
Ra
Ra
is
a
welcome
change
for
the
industry
plagued
by
mindless
commercial
outings.
The
film's
music
was
one
of
the
best
soundtracks
of
the
year.
Neelakasham
Pachakadal
Chuvanna
Bhoomi:
A
Malayalam
road
movie
that
more
or
less
could
be
termed
as
a
coming-of-age
story
of
two
friends,
who
hit
the
road
and
along
the
journey
learn
about
politics,
friendship,
family
and
religion.
It's
a
whiff
of
fresh
air
for
moviegoers.
Strong
performances
by
an
ensemble
cast
and
apt
music
make
it
nothing
short
of
spectacular.
Mallela
Theeram
Lo
Sirimalle
Puvvu:
A
clean
and
dignified
Telugu
film
about
a
woman's
search
for
love,
liberation
and
self-respect,
Mallela
Theeram
Lo
Sirimalle
Puvvu
is
one
of
the
finest
works
in
the
family
genre
albeit
melodrama
and
emotional
outbursts.
It's
a
shame
that
such
a
beautiful
film
had
to
release
only
in
fewer
cinemas.