Best mind-bending Telugu movies in India

By the KyaDekhu team · Updated 23 October 2026 · Availability for India from JustWatch, ratings from IMDb

236 movies in India match this list, with an average IMDb rating of 6.2. Newest addition: Mahendragiri Vaaraahi, added to Prime Video on 2 Oct. Ranked by vote-weighted IMDb rating and popularity; showing the top 30.

1. Sita Ramam (2022)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 38m · U · History, Romance · IMDb 8.5 (86.3K votes)

TwistyVisually stunningHeartwarmingFamily-friendly

Afreen, a rebellious Pakistani student sets ablaze the car of an Indian in London. Angered Afreen returns to Pakistan to ask for money from her grandfather that she has to pay in a month's time as damages. However, she gets to know that he is no more and the only thing he has left for her is a letter-delivering task, w

JioHotstar MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video
2. Jersey (2019)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 40m · U · Drama · IMDb 8.5 (30.8K votes)

Family-friendlyHeartwarmingTwistyLow-stakes

After his career fails to take off, a gifted cricketer in his mid-thirties decides that he’s not ready to give up quite yet.

JioHotstar ZEE5 · free with ads
3. Bāhubali 2: The Conclusion (2017)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 47m · UA · Action, Adventure · IMDb 8.2 (1.4L votes)

Visually stunningTwistyEdge-of-seatFast-paced

When Mahendra, the son of Bāhubali, learns about his heritage, he begins to look for answers. His story is juxtaposed with past events that unfolded in the Mahishmati Kingdom.

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4. Hi Nanna (2023)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 35m · U · Drama, Family · IMDb 8.3 (27.8K votes)

TwistyFamily-friendlyHeartwarming

Six-year-old Mahi, a spirited child with cystic fibrosis, shares a deep yet complex bond with her father, Viraj, a dedicated single parent and successful fashion photographer. Her curiosity about her absent mother leads to a journey of discovery when she runs away with her loyal dog, Pluto. A chance encounter with a ki

Netflix
5. Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya (2019)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 24m · UA · Crime, Comedy · IMDb 8.3 (22.6K votes)

TwistyFunny

Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya is a brilliant, underrated detective from Nellore who runs an agency called FBI which sees no business. He gets more than what he asked for when a case happens to fall right into his lap out of nowhere.

MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video
6. Mahanati (2018)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 56m · U · Drama, History · IMDb 8.4 (16.9K votes)

TwistyFamily-friendlyHeartwarmingVisually stunning

Mahanati depicts the life and career of one of Telugu cinema's greatest and most iconic starlets, the first Indian female super star, Savitri.

Prime Video
7. Lucky Baskhar (2024)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 31m · UA · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 8.0 (44.2K votes)

TwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detached

A middle-class bank clerk who longs to trade stability for adventure gets more than he bargained for when he unexpectedly becomes a wealthy man.

Netflix
8. Athadu (2005)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 55m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 8.2 (16.7K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatVisually stunningDark & gritty

A hitman, Nandu, is hired to stage the assassination of a politician. However, when the politician is actually killed and Nandu is framed for the murder, he assumes a dead man's identity to evade the law.

MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video
9. Karthikeya 2 (2022)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 25m · U/A 7+ · Mystery, Adventure · IMDb 7.8 (65.4K votes)

Visually stunningTwistyEdge-of-seatFast-paced

Before the Kalyug begins, Lord Krishna hands over an anklet that holds the answer to all of world’s miseries. Years later a doctor finds himself in the thick of things when the pursuit for the anklet carries on. A doctor with a curious mind, Karthikeya, aka Karthik, believes in pursuing the truth. The quest leads Karth

Prime Video ZEE5
10. Manam (2014)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 43m · U · Comedy, Drama · IMDb 8.0 (13.5K votes)

TwistyHeartwarming

A married couple die in an accident, leaving behind a son. As he grows up and becomes successful, he comes across reincarnations of his father and mother as youngsters, and vows to bring them back together.

JioHotstar ZEE5 · free with ads
11. Evaru (2019)

Movie · Telugu · 1h 58m · UA · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 8.1 (10.3K votes)

TwistyCold & detachedMatureDark & gritty

When a high-ranking police officer is killed by his alleged rape victim, Sub-inspector Vikram Vasudev is entrusted with investigating what seems like an open-and-shut case. However, as he delves deeper, Vikram finds the case spiralling into a dark tale filled with unexpected surprises.

Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video
12. Rao Bahadur (2026)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 49m · U/A 16+ · Fantasy, Drama · IMDb 8.3 (7.4K votes)

TwistySlow-burnCold & detachedDark & gritty

Plagued by guilt and fear, an eccentric aristocrat retreats into his ancestral manor, creating an alternate world that deeply blurs reality and imagination.

Netflix
13. Geetha Govindam (2018)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 28m · UA · Romance · IMDb 7.7 (18.1K votes)

TwistyHeartwarmingLow-stakesLight-hearted

Vijay Govind, a young college lecturer who dreams of marriage falls for Geetha, a level-headed woman who's wary of strangers and isn't easy to convince. While things seem to go smoothly, Vijay makes a terrible mistake which not only derails any hope for his love story, but also potential repercussions with his family.

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14. Goodachari (2018)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 27m · UA · Thriller, Action · IMDb 7.8 (13.1K votes)

Fast-pacedTwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty

Gopi, is the son of an ex-RAW agent Raghuveer. Brought up by his uncle Sathya, he wants to be an agent just like his father and uncle. But Satya wants him to lead a normal life and not be killed like his father was. What happens in Gopi’s life that turns everything upside down?

Prime Video
15. Mathu Vadalara (2019)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 10m · UA · Crime, Comedy · IMDb 8.2 (6.1K votes)

Fast-pacedEdge-of-seatCold & detachedFunny

Babu is a delivery boy living with his friends Yesu and Abhi. Due to his meagre salary, he decides to quit, but then Yesu gives him an idea. The idea, however, soon spirals out of control and Babu finds himself deep in trouble. Will he survive the circumstances of his own actions?

Prime Video
16. Shyam Singha Roy (2021)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 37m · UA · Romance, Thriller · IMDb 7.6 (17.3K votes)

Twisty

A young filmmaker is in a soup right when he’s about to find his footing in the film industry. When he sets out to find an answer, turns out it’s in the past.

Netflix
17. 30 Rojullo Preminchadam Ela? (2021)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 23m · UA · Romance, Fantasy · IMDb 8.1 (4.9K votes)

TwistyHeartwarming

Two college students, Arjun and Akshara, get off on the wrong foot and develop an instant hatred for each other. However, they land in a pickle and realise their connection from a past life.

Prime Video ZEE5
18. Brochevarevarura (2019)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 2m · U · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 8.0 (5.4K votes)

TwistyFast-pacedEdge-of-seatDark & gritty

Three underachieving students befriend Mitra from another class. They devise a plan to help her but it leads to various problems.

Prime Video
19. Dhruva (2016)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 45m · UA · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 7.7 (9.1K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatFast-pacedDark & gritty

A committed police officer is on a very dangerous mission to destroy the most corrupt person in the country, Siddharth Abhimanyu.

JioHotstar
20. HIT: The First Case (2020)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 6m · UA · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 7.6 (11.0K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatCold & detached

Vikram Rudraraju is a 30-year-old cop working for the Telangana State Police. While Vikram is battling with his own traumatic past, the stakes get high when a girl called Preethi mysteriously disappears in Hyderabad and Vikram has to solve the case at any cost.

MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video
21. Bachhala Malli (2024)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 15m · U/A 16+ · Action, Drama · IMDb 8.1 (4.1K votes)

Twisty

The story is set in the 1990s and follows the emotional and action-filled journey of Bachhala Malli, a rural hero. The narrative combines intense drama with romance, focusing on the protagonist’s challenges and personal growth in a rustic backdrop.

Prime Video
22. Mahendragiri Vaaraahi (2026)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 34m · U/A 16+ · Fantasy, Thriller · IMDb 7.9 (4.4K votes)

Cold & detachedTwistyVisually stunningEdge-of-seat

Siddharth, an atheist and skeptic, is drawn into a mysterious journey surrounding the ancient Varahi temple at Mahendragiri. As he uncovers secrets connected to the sacred site, he is forced to confront forces beyond his understanding, challenging his beliefs and changing his perception of faith, destiny, and the super

Prime Video
23. Aarya 2 (2009)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 35m · UA · Romance, Comedy · IMDb 7.5 (8.8K votes)

Dark & grittyMatureTwistyFast-paced

Two young boys staying together at an orphanage become friends. One of them is adopted by a wealthy family and grows up to become the owner of a software company. He provides employment for his friend, but when they both fall in love with the same young woman, conflict emerges.

MX Player · free with ads
24. Vikramarkudu (2006)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 41m · A · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.7 (5.6K votes)

Edge-of-seatTwistyMatureVisually stunning

A thief's life changes after he discovers a little girl who claims he is her father, and what follows is violence after a gang hunting for his lookalike closes in on him.

JioHotstar Prime Video
25. Bāhubali: The Epic (2025)

Movie · Telugu · 3h 44m · U/A 16+ · Action, Drama · IMDb 8.2 (2.6K votes)

Visually stunningTwistyEdge-of-seatFast-paced

When a mysterious child is found by a tribal couple near a roaring waterfall, they raise him as their own. As he grows, Sivudu is drawn to the world beyond the cliffs, where he discovers the ancient kingdom of Mahishmati, ruled by a cruel tyrant, haunted by rebellion, and bound to his past. What begins as a quest for l

Netflix
26. Nani's Gang Leader (2019)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 35m · UA · Comedy, Crime · IMDb 7.6 (5.6K votes)

TwistyFast-pacedEdge-of-seatFunny

A crime novelist is approached by a group of bereaved women to help them plot revenge against those responsible for the loss of their loved ones.

JioHotstar Prime Video
27. Jathi Ratnalu (2021)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 28m · Comedy, Crime · IMDb 7.4 (9.0K votes)

FunnyTwistyFast-paced

Three young men leave their village to find decent jobs in the city. However, they find themselves in a pickle when a minister blackmails them for a lost mobile phone.

MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video
28. Tagore (2003)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 55m · Drama, Action · IMDb 7.9 (3.4K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatTwistyVisually stunning

Tagore (Chiranjeevi) creates his own vigilante military network called the Anti-Corruption Force (ACF) that eliminates the most corrupt individuals, from all walks of life, in a systematic manner. As pressure builds on Police and Government to track down the Man who masterminds these killings, Balbir Singh (Puneet Issa

Prime Video ZEE5
29. Mirchi (2013)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 34m · UA · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.4 (7.5K votes)

TwistyVisually stunningHeartwarming

A man returns to his country in order, ostensibly, to reform his girlfriend's violent family, but he seems to have a strange connection and a rather dark past.

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30. Kalki 2898-AD (2024)

Movie · Telugu · 2h 56m · UA · Drama, Action · IMDb 7.0 (78.1K votes)

Visually stunningEdge-of-seatFast-pacedDark & gritty

In the year 2898 AD, around 6000 years after Kurukshetra war, Ashwatthama gears up for his final battle of redemption at the sign of hope in a dystopian world and Bhairava, a wisecracking and self-interested bounty hunter, tired of the perilous life becomes the hurdle in the process.

Netflix Prime Video