This year, Indian cinema experienced a mix of successes and failures. Amidst the multitude of releases, several standout films emerged from various languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam. We present a ranking of the finest Indian films of 2024, categorized by genre, language, and platform, arranged in chronological order.

Laapataa Ladies

Kiran Rao's poignant and subtly subversive narrative about two women in search of their identities has been chosen as India's submission for the Best International Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. Although it did not advance to the shortlist, Laapataa Ladies garnered a warm reception, attributed to Biplab Goswami's compelling story, Sneha Desai's adept screenplay, and the impressive performances of emerging talents Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Shrivastava. The film is currently available for streaming on Netflix India.

Crew

A distinct women-led film from an entirely different genre and scale has achieved over ₹90 crore at the domestic box office. Directed by Rajesh Krishnan, this heist comedy featured performances by Tabu, Kareena Kapoor, and Kriti Sanon, with notable support from Diljit Dosanjh and Kapil Sharma. The film provided continuous entertainment and revitalized a faltering box office. It is currently available for streaming on Netflix India.

Amar Singh Chamkila

Following the lacklustre performances of Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017) and Love Aaj Kal (2020), Imtiaz Ali made a notable comeback with a biographical film centred on the celebrated and contentious late Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila, portrayed with authenticity by Diljit. Although the film premiered exclusively on Netflix India, it resonated deeply with audiences across the country, aided by AR Rahman's vibrant musical score and Parineeti Chopra's subtle performance.

Kill

Nikhil Nagesh Bhat introduced an unparalleled level of violence to Hindi cinema with this intensely graphic film, featuring debutant Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, and Tanya Maniktala. Co-produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment, the film received the grand scale and unrestricted approach that such a project necessitates. Kill was not only acquired by Lionsgate Films for distribution in the United States but also chosen for a Hollywood adaptation overseen by John Wick director Chad Stahelski. It is currently available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

The Buckingham Murders

Hansal Mehta's investigative thriller featuring Kareena Kapoor was produced with 80% of its content in English and 20% in Hindi. Kareena portrayed a culturally adapted version of Kate Winslet's iconic character from the HBO series Mare of Easttown, while also infusing her unique interpretation into the role. The film, which also includes Ranveer Brar, is available for streaming on Netflix India.

All We Imagine As Light

Payal Kapadia's radiant narrative featuring three women, situated in Mumbai and a coastal village in Maharashtra, may well be the most celebrated Indian film in recent times. It received the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and has garnered nominations for two Golden Globe Awards. The film stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam, and is presented in both Hindi and Malayalam. Its premiere is scheduled for January 3, 2025, on Disney+ Hotstar.

Manjummel Boys

In the realm of Malayalam cinema, the year 2024 marked a significant milestone for the industry. The journey commenced with Chidambram's gripping survival thriller, Manjummel Boys. Featuring a talented cast that includes Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi S. Poduval, Lal Jr., Deepak Parambol, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Arun Kurian, Khalid Rahman, and Shebin Benson, it the film is based on it the it true events surrounding the Guna Caves rescue operation of 2006. Manjummel Boys achieved the remarkable distinction of becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film to date and is currently available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Aavesham

Jithu Madhavan has transformed the Malayalam action comedy genre with this film featuring Fahadh Faasil. Before his role as the antagonist Shekhawat in Sukumar's Telugu hit Pushpa 2: The Rule, Fahadh captivated audiences with his dynamic performance as the local gangster Ranjith "Ranga" Gangadharan, showcasing both his martial skills and wit. This film has now achieved the status of the fourth highest-grossing Malayalam film in history and is available for streaming on Prime Video India.

Bramayugam

Rahul Sadasivan presented veteran Malayalam actor Mammootty with a fresh perspective through this period folk horror film. Incorporating the sacred mysteries, myths, and folklore of Kerala, Bramayugam was launched in black and white. It emerged as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year and was subsequently dubbed and released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. The film is currently available for streaming on SonyLIV.

Meiyazhagan

C Prem Kumar has drawn upon the theme of childhood friendship in a film that centres on two adult men, portrayed by Aravind Swamy and Karthi. Produced by Suriya and Jothika's 2D Entertainment, this film, while significantly smaller in scale compared to Suriya's period action thriller Kanguva, possesses a profound emotional depth that renders it more memorable than Siva's directorial effort. It is currently available for streaming on Netflix India.

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