Best Telugu Movies of 2016 - MovieCrow Annual Rankings

2016 has been a very interesting year for Tollywood, in which the industry saw a majority of movie releases stepping away from the usual formulae and catching up on content-driven cinema. On one hand, mainstream actors were seen taking risks in their choices and on the other hand, new faces were stepping their foot into the movie business. All in all, it has been a good year and we bring to you our best picks of movies from the memory lane. 

1. Pelli Choopulu

Despite being a romantic comedy, Pelli Choopulu is not merely about opposites falling in love. This distinctive love tale is a rare film that allows you to know the two people you are investing in. Director Tharun Bhascker's maiden venture is something to watch out for and it has largely to do with the freshness of the on-screen lead pair.

2. Kshanam

A well made thriller with lesser known actors, Kshanam is too good for a debut directorial (Ravikanth Perupu). With re-union of long last relationships as its core, this mystery thriller arouses curiosity at every point and is not a film to be missed from the list of releases this year. 

3. Oopiri

Oopiri was yet another remake of an original this year that managed to create postive waves among the audience. This telugu version of The Intouchables spoke about the male-bonding between a paraplegic millionaire and an ex-convict turned caretaker. The movie turned out to be rather breezy for its concept and became a favourite of the viewers. A must watch emotional roller-coaster.

4. Dhruva

Though Dhruva is a remake of a Tamil crime-thriller, the movie managed to re-create the aura of a top ranking cop and a criminal scientist pitted against each other. This Surender Reddy directorial gains its spot on the best movies' list for Aravind Swamy's characterization, Ram Charan's make-over and the popularity this film garnered post its release. 

5. Nannaku Prematho

For a title as touching as Nannaku Prematho, the movie comes across as a heist film which is meticulously craved around the parent-offspring bond. With an incredibly composed performance by NTR, the movie went on to gain laurels for its screenplay and the scale on which it was made.

 6. Premam

Another remake of an original this year, Premam is that classic film that will make you want to watch it no matter how many times it's remade. The movie focusses on the love interests of a boy through various stages of his life. It was highly praised for the performances of actors Naga Chaitanya and Shuthi Haasan, despite the initial apprehension of the casting choice.

7. Nenu Sailaja

Nenu Sailaja is a simple love story with a feel-good factor to it. The movie is about a young man who finfd himself sorting out the frictions in his love interest's family in order to woo her. With Ram and Keerthy Suresh in lead, the movie sums out to be a beautiful film to watch out for.

8. Soggade Chinni Nayana

Director Kalyan Krishna's Soggade Chinni Nayana is a supernatural drama. The movie is about a dead landlord, whose soul is sent back to earth  to reconcile with his family. The movie earned postive feedback for its consistent tempo and simple narration.

9. A..aa

The movie needs to be watched just for the name Trivikram Srinivas. But some of the other reasons are the movie being a beautiful film on family ties and some wonderful performance by the entire cast. One of the most pleasing movies to watch from the list of releases this year.

10. Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada

Banking on the horror genre, director Vi Anand's Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada made it to be a people's choice movie mainly for its engaging narrative. This thriller film tells the story of a young man who is forced to encounter spirits and the supernaturals, while looking to solve unanswered questions in his life. The movie is assured to keep you hooked. 

11. Manamantha

Mollywood actor Mohanlal's Manamantha surprisingly soared to popularity among the Telugu audience. Written and directed by Chandra Shekar Yeleti, this bilungual is all about how the lives of four normal people gets interwined in a common situation. The movie was highly praised for slice-of-life characterizations and stellar performances.

12. Gentleman

Gentleman was director Mohan Krishna Indraganti's most atypical action drama and was hailed as Nani's best performance till date. The movie turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of Tollywood and deserves to be placed amongst the best releases this year. 

13. Jyo Achyutananda

An unconventional romantic comedy with the concept of conventional love triangle, Jyo Achyuntananda is about two brothers who fall for the same girl. However director Srinivas Avasarala's treatment of the subject is what makes the movie worth watching. A light-hearted film with a lot of rib-tickling moments, the movie stands out in its genre for its fresh casting and screenplay.