IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities, released a report, titled 25 Years of Indian Cinema (2000-2025), featuring a comprehensive analysis of the Indian film industry’s evolution over the past quarter century. This analysis is based on IMDb data from over 250 million monthly users worldwide.

For the first time in five years (2020-2024), every major Indian language film amongst the top five highest grossing films each year has featured Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. No other country in the world demonstrates this kind of linguistic diversity at the very top of its films and cinema.

Today, India is the only country that has multiple language industries existing and thriving together at the grassroots highest level in film and cinema, creating a multilingual landscape unlike the rest of the world.

Here are the highlights from the IMDb “25 Years of Indian Cinema” report, that focus on South Indian cinema and film personalities:

South Indian Cinema’s Ascent

• • Since Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), South industries (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam) have risen sharply in national popularity.
  • From 2015–2024, 19 South films entered IMDb’s Top 5 dataset, compared to just 5 in the previous decade.

Telugu Cinema’s Lead

• • Telugu films contributed the most to this rise (9 entries since 2015), led by Baahubali, Pushpa, RRR, and Salaar.
  • Telugu blockbusters now travel nationally and globally, setting new benchmarks.

Pan-India Blockbusters

• • By 2022, 4 of the top 5 Indian films were non-Hindi, led by RRR, K.G.F: Chapter 2, Pushpa: The Rise, and Kantara.
  • This marks a durable realignment, not just a temporary shift.

Directors as Architects of Scale

• • S.S. Rajamouli: With Magadheera, Baahubali, and RRR, he redefined global reach for Indian cinema.
  • Prashanth Neel: Turned K.G.F. into a Kannada phenomenon and extended his vision with Salaar.
  • Sukumar: Built the Pushpa franchise into a national brand.
  • Lokesh Kanagaraj: Created the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (Master, Vikram, Leo, Coolie).

Star Archetypes Evolving

• • Traditional stardom is fragmenting.
  • South stars like Allu Arjun, Vijay, Prabhas, Suriya, Fahadh Faasil maintain loyal fanbases with mass appeal.
  • North Indian actors tend to focus on curated projects rather than high-volume releases.

Pan-India Stardom Examples

• • Allu Arjun (Pushpa) resonates far beyond the South, even in Bihar and UP.
  • Prabhas became the first South actor with multiple pan-India hits (Baahubali, Saaho, Adipurush, Salaar).
  • Suriya (Soorarai Pottru, Jai Bhim) built credibility via powerful stories.

South Stars in IMDb Global Rankings

• • IMDb’s 2024 list of “Most Viewed Indian Stars of the Last Decade” included Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Nayanthara, Tamannaah Bhatia, Prabhas, Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi, and Rashmika Mandanna alongside Bollywood names.

Remake Model Declining

• • Earlier, South hits like Alaipayuthey (Saathiya) and Manichitrathazhu (Bhool Bhulaiyaa) worked well in Hindi remakes.
  • But now, originals (Soorarai Pottru, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo) reach Hindi audiences directly via dubbing, making remakes less relevant.

Language as a Genre

• • Audiences now associate Telugu & Kannada films with “spectacle and heroism,” Malayalam cinema with “realism,” and Tamil films with “versatile, ideological stories.”
  • Language is no longer a barrier but a brand identity for storytelling styles.

Global Breakthroughs from the South

• • RRR became a global cultural event, winning an Oscar for “Naatu Naatu” and travelling beyond diaspora-heavy markets.
  • KGF and Pushpa franchises helped consolidate the diaspora while building pan-India appeal.

Malayalam Cinema’s Innovation

• • Though fewer films made IMDb’s “Top 5 dataset,” Malayalam cinema grew in audience engagement — from 11 titles in 2014 to 54 in 2024 crossing IMDb’s 1000+ ratings threshold.
  • Known for frugal, experimental, and story-driven filmmaking, it influences other industries creatively.

Future of South Indian Cinema

• • Collaboration across industries (directors, music composers, technicians) is now the key growth driver.
  • Streaming platforms, dubbing, and pan-India releases ensure Southern cinema is no longer “regional” but central to India’s global film identity.

25 Years of Indian Cinema (IMDb Report Highlights)

Focus on South Indian Films & Stars

1. Rise of the South

• Baahubali (2015) was the turning point.

• 2015–2024: 19 South films in IMDb’s Top 5 dataset vs only 5 in 2005–2014.

• By 2022, 4 of top 5 films were non-Hindi (RRR, KGF 2, Pushpa, Kantara).

2. Star Directors Driving Scale

• S.S. Rajamouli – Baahubali, RRR → India’s global cultural export.

• Prashanth Neel – KGF, Salaar → Kannada → Pan-India saga.

• Sukumar – Pushpa franchise → National brand.

• Lokesh Kanagaraj – Master, Vikram, Leo → Built a “cinematic universe.”

3. Stars & New Stardom

• Prabhas, Allu Arjun, Suriya, Vijay, Fahadh Faasil → Mass appeal + pan-India reach.

• Malayalam stars → Built fandom through realism & story-driven cinema.

• IMDb’s “Most Viewed Stars of the Decade” (2024) included:

  • Samantha, Nayanthara, Tamannaah, Rashmika, Prabhas, Dhanush, Vijay Sethupathi.

• Allu Arjun’s Pushpa became a phenomenon even in Bihar & UP.

4. Global & Future Trends

• RRR: Oscar winner, broke new ground globally.

• KGF & Pushpa: United diaspora + national audiences.

• Remakes declining: Originals (Soorarai Pottru, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo) now directly reach Hindi audiences.

• Language = Genre

  • Telugu/Kannada → Spectacle & heroism.

  • Tamil → Versatility & ideology.

  • Malayalam → Rooted realism.

South Indian cinema is no longer “regional” — it is central to India’s film identity and a major global force