Buckle Up, Tollywood Warriors! A Thrill Ride Through the Top 10 Telugu Action Films of 2023

Hold onto your hats, fellow cinephiles, because we’re about to embark on a high-octane journey through the heart of Tollywood action! 2023 has been a year ablaze with adrenaline-pumping fight sequences, gravity-defying stunts, and heroes who take “kickass” to a whole new level. With so many stellar action flicks vying for our attention, we’ve carefully curated a list of the top 10 Telugu action films that left us speechless.

So, whether you’re a seasoned Tollywood enthusiast or a newbie seeking your first adrenaline rush, get ready to be blown away by the sheer audacity and brilliance of these cinematic marvels. We’ll introduce you to the valiant heroes, the cunning villains, and the awe-inspiring stunts that make these films the undisputed champions of Tollywood action in 2023.

Here are the Top Telugu Action Movies 2023

1. Kota Bommali PS

Director: Teja Marni

Starring: Shiva Rajashekar, Rahul Vijay, Srikanth

A police officer finds himself on the run after being framed for a crime by a politician. Kota Bommali PS serves as a scathing critique of a corrupt system, encompassing politicians, police, and the divisive influence of casteism, even implicating the common man. A Telugu adaptation of the Malayalam film Nayattu, though not quite reaching the heights of its predecessor, it holds its own, especially for those unfamiliar with the original.

2. Leo

Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Starring: Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Trisha Krishnan

Things start to take an awry turn for a mild-mannered cafe owner, who gets caught in the crosshairs of a drug cartel. The soundtrack is composed by Anirudh Ravichander, in his fourth collaboration with Vijay after Kaththi (2014), Master (2021), and Beast (2022); and third collaboration with Lokesh after Master and Vikram.[31] The music rights were purchased by Sony Music India for ₹16 crore. The audio launch was to be held on 30 September 2023 at the Nehru Stadium but was later cancelled on 27 September 2023 due to incessant requests for passes in addition to safety constraints. The album was released on the same day as the film’s release Naa Ready emerged as Spotify’s most-streamed Tamil track of 2023, as per Spotify Wrapped 2023.

3. Asalu

Director: Uday and Suresh

Starring: Shamna Kasim, Satya Krishnan

A professor is murdered while he is taking class to his students on a zoom call. Officer Ranjith is assigned to this case, who reveals that the situation is much more complicated than it appears with 4 suspects and strong motives.

4. Jailer

Director: Nelson Dilipkumar

Starring: Rajnikanth, Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar

Muthuvel Pandian, a stern yet compassionate jailer, sets out to stop a gang when they try to flee their leader from prison. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander in his third collaboration with Rajinikanth, after Petta (2019) and Darbar (2020) and fourth collaboration with Nelson after Kolamaavu Kokila (2018), Doctor (2021), and Beast (2022). The first single titled “Kaavaalaa” was released on 6 July 2023.The second single titled “Hukum – Thalaivar Alappara” was released on 17 July 2023.The third single titled “Jujubee” was released on 26 July 2023. The album featuring 8 tracks was released on 28 July 2023.

5. Tiger Nageshwar Rao

Director: Vamasi Krishna Naidu, Vamsee

Starring: Ravi Teja, Nupur Sanon, Renu Desai

During the 1970s, thief Tiger Nageswara Rao masterminds a series of daring heists and becomes a legend for his ingenious methods of outwitting the police. The music of the film is composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. The first single titled “Ek Dum Ek Dum” was released on 5 September 2023. The second single titled “Veedu” was released on 21 September 2023.

6. Thunivu

Director: H. Vinoth

Starring: Ajith Kumar, Manju Warrier, Pavani Reddy

A group of gangster’s plots to steal money from a bank. However, when they execute their plan, they discover that a mysterious man already hijacked the bank. The music of the film is composed by Ghibran, in his 50th film as a composer and marking his second collaboration with Ajith Kumar and Boney Kapoor after scoring Valimai (2022). The first single titled “Chilla Chilla” was released on 9 December 2022, and the second single “Kasethan Kadavulada” on 18 December. Manju Warrier provided vocals only for the video version of the song. The third single “Gangstaa” was released on 25 December.

7. The Road

Director: Arun Vaseegaran

Starring: Shabeer Kallarakal, Trish Krishnan, Miya George

A national highway becomes a primary conflict in the lives of journalist Meera and college professor Maya, turning their lives upside down. The music for the film was composed by Sam C. S.

8. Christopher

Director: B. Unnikrishnan

Starring: Mammothy, Vinay Rai, Sneha

Christopher Antony is an IPS officer who carries out justice when the system fails to. Later, when he kills a group of criminals, ACP Sulekha sets off to stop him.

9. Amigos

Director: Rajendra Reddy

Starring: Ashika Ranganath, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Rajeev Pillai

Three identical men befriend each other through a doppelganger-finding application and things go well until the criminal past of one amongst them emerges. The film score and soundtrack is composed by Ghibran. The first single titled “Enno Ratrulosthayi” was released on 31 January 2023. Original composition for the song was done by Ilaiyaraaja. Another single titled “Yeka Yeka” was released on 19 January 2023.

10. Ravansura

Director: Sudheer Varma

Starring: Ravi Teja, Daksha Nagarkar, Faria Abdullah

Ravindra, an inept junior lawyer at a law firm, agrees to help a business magnate clear her father’s name of murder. However, when bodies start piling up, Ravindra begins to show his true colours. The music of the film is composed by Harshavardhan Rameswar and Bheems Ceciroleo. The first single titled “Ravanasura Anthem” was released on 6 February 2023. The second single titled “Pyaar Lona Paagal” was released on 18 February 2023. The third single titled “Veyyinokka” was released on 15 March 2023. The fourth single titled “Dikka Dishum” was released on 22 March 2023.

And there you have it, cinephiles, a whirlwind tour of the 10 Telugu action films that set 2023 ablaze! From bone-crunching brawls to gravity-defying stunts, these cinematic gems have redefined the genre, leaving us breathless, exhilarated, and maybe a little bit sore from all the edge-of-our-seat moments.

But beyond the adrenaline rush, these films have also showcased the heart and soul of Tollywood action. They’ve transported us to vibrant worlds, introduced us to unforgettable heroes, and challenged us to question, to cheer, and to lose ourselves in the sheer spectacle of it all.