PremiumAavesham and beyond! Unravel the complexities of morality with good-hearted gangsters in films
Embark on a journey into the minds of benevolent outlaws sparked by Aavesham on Prime Video.
Last Updated: 09.03 PM, May 12, 2024
Enter the realm of captivating anti-heroes, where the underworld's charm coexists with good intentions. Set the scene with Fahadh Faasil's mesmerising performance in Aavesham, and then go on an exciting adventure through a hand-picked assortment of films available on different OTT services right now. Characters who straddle the boundary between good and evil are multifaceted, as seen in Jigarthanda with Bobby Simha's cunning schemes and Lage Raho Munna Bhai with Sanjay Dutt's unconventional romance. In films like Maari and Teja Bhai & Family, starring Dhanush and Prithviraj Sukumaran, respectively, you may immerse yourself in a world of mystery and comedy.
Go on an unforgettable journey with these mysterious heroes as they make their mark on film history.
Good-hearted gangster films to watch on OTT
Aavesham - Prime Video
Jithu Madhavan directed the action-comedy film Aavesham, which debuted in Malayalam in 2024. The film's production credits go to Anwar Rasheed and Nazriya Nazim, whose respective banners are Anwar Rasheed Entertainments and Fahadh Faasil and Friends. Midhutty and Mansoor Ali Khan are supporting characters, with Fahadh Faasil, Hipzster, Mithun Jai Shankar, Roshan Shanavas, and Sajin Gopu rounding out the cast. Sameer Thahir and Vivek Harshan were in charge of cinematography and editing, while Sushin Shyam was in charge of music.
Three teenagers got into an altercation with elders as they arrived in Bengaluru to pursue engineering degrees. In their quest for vengeance, the local mobster Ranga discovers an ally. Following their meeting, a chain reaction of events takes place that neither of them could have predicted.
Jigarthanda - Disney+ Hotstar
S. Kathiresan's Group produced the 2014 Tamil criminal comedy Jigarthanda, while Karthik Subbaraj wrote and directed it. The film featured Siddharth, Bobby Simha, Lakshmi Menon, Karunakaran, and Guru Somasundaram among its stars. Gavemic U. Ary, who was making his first appearance in Tamil cinema, was the cinematographer, and Vivek Harshan was the editor. Santhosh Narayanan was the man behind the music and lyrics.
A producer agrees to finance Karthik's (Siddharth) film, but only on the condition that it be a violent gangster movie. Karthik is an aspiring filmmaker. This leads Karthik to decide that a real-life mobster will serve as his role model. Karthik and his companion, Ooruni (Karunakaran), travel to the holy town of Madurai so that Karthik can learn more about criminals. They find out about the terrifying Assault Sethu (Bobby Simha), a vicious criminal, and the fear he inspires in that region. Karthik recruits Kayal's (Lakshmi Menon's) mom (Ambika) to help him feed Sethu and his goons. Additionally, he acts as though he has feelings for the girl. What follows is a commercial concoction of excitement, humour, and action as he begins his mission. How Karthik manages to free himself from this complex web is the subject of the remaining chapters.
Jigarthanda DoubleX - Netflix
Under the aegis of Stone Bench Films, Five Star Creations, and Invenio Origin, Karthik Subbaraj, Kaarthekeyen Santhanam, S. Kathiresan, and Alankar Pandian produced the 2023 Tamil action drama film Jigarthanda DoubleX, featuring Raghava Lawrence, S. J. Suryah, and Nimisha Sajayan. The film serves as both a precursor and a spiritual successor to Jigarthanda (2014).
The plot is about a police cadet in the 1970s who, while posing as a filmmaker (SJ Suryah), plots the assassination of a gangster (Raghava Lawrence). His decision to become a filmmaker takes an unexpected turn, inspiring a notorious gangster to become a cinematic hero. Unfortunately, their project takes an unexpected turn, too.
Lage Raho Munna Bhai - Prime Video
Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a 2006 Hindi satirical comedy-drama film that Rajkumar Hirani wrote, edited, and directed. Vidhu Vinod Chopra produced it under the Vinod Chopra Films brand. Abhijat Joshi co-wrote the screenplay. This film serves as the continuation of the Munna Bhai series, following on the success of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003). Sanjay Dutt was back as Munna Bhai, while Arshad Warsi was Circuit. Cast members Dia Mirza, Vidya Balan, and Dilip Prabhavalkar were fresh arrivals, while Jimmy Sheirgill and Boman Irani, two original cast members, came back in new roles.
A radio host (Vidya Balan) falls hopelessly for a don (Sanjay Dutt), who deceives her into thinking he is a genuine Gandhian. He changes and starts helping people honestly, but he also hurts her in the end.
Maari 2 - Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar
Balaji Mohan wrote and directed Maari 2, a Tamil action comedy film, in 2018. Maari, his 2015 film, serves as a prequel to this. In continuation of his role from the last film, Dhanush not only produces the film for Wunderbar Films, but he also stars as the title character. The film also features Tovino Thomas, Sai Pallavi, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar alongside Krishna.
After saving Aanandi's sister from a brutal rape, she (Sai Pallavi) falls deeply in love with gangster Maari (Dhanush). Tovino Thomas plays Beeja, who plans to exact revenge on Maari for killing his brother, Vincent Asokan, by breaking out of prison.
Maari - aha (OTTplay Premium), Disney+ Hotstar
Balaji Mohan wrote and directed the 2015 Tamil action comedy Maari, a collaboration between Listin Stephen, Radhika's Magic Frames, and Dhanush's Wunderbar Films. Robo Shankar, Kalloori Vinoth, Kaali Venkat, and Mime Gopi are among the supporting cast members, along with Dhanush, singer Vijay Yesudas, and Kajal Aggarwal. Dhanush plays an infamous local mobster named Maari. This film also marks the debut of Vijay Yesudas in Tamil.
The local thug Maari (Dhanush) forces Sridevi (Kajal Aggarwal) to become his business partner after extorting money from the residents in his neighbourhood. In order to get him to confess to a crime, she acts as if she's falling for him.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. - Prime Video
Vidhu Vinod Chopra produced the 2003 Hindi satire comedy drama Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. under the Vinod Chopra Films banner, while Rajkumar Hirani made his directorial debut. Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Dutt's real-life son, plays the lead role, and the film features the late actor in his last film appearance. Also making appearances are Gracy Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Arshad Warsi, Rohini Hattangadi, and Boman Irani.
The first film in the Munna Bhai series features underworld don Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt) as he tries to appease his father (Sunil Dut) by passing himself off as a doctor. However, as his father's reputation takes a hit due to Asthana's (Boman Irani) exposure of his lies, Munna decides to attend medical school. Anarchy breaks out when Munna, upon learning that Asthana is the college's dean, swears vengeance and develops feelings for a house doctor named Suman (Gracy Singh), who happens to be Asthana's daughter and a childhood friend of Munna's.
Pokkiri Raja - ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)
Vysakh directed and Udaykrishna-Sibi K. Thomas wrote the 2010 Malayalam masala film Pokkiri Raja. In addition to Mammootty, the film also stars Shriya Saran, Siddique, Vijayaraghavan, Salim Kumar, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Riyaz Khan, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. With this film, Shriya Saran makes her acting and directing debut in Malayalam cinema. Vysakh also makes his directorial debut.
After accepting full responsibility for the murder his father (Nedumudi Venu) committed, Raja (Mammootty) goes to prison. His father's rejection upon his release drives him to flee the city. Afterwards, Raja's dad approaches him once more, pleading for his help.
Rajamanikyam - Disney+ Hotstar
T. A. Shahid wrote and Anwar Rasheed directed Rajamanikyam, a 2005 action comedy film from Malayalam. Padmapriya, Salim Kumar, Sai Kumar, Bheeman Raghu, Rahman, Manoj K Jayan, Cochin Haneefa, Ranjith, and Salim Kumar fill the supporting roles. Mammootty plays the businessman's lead role.
An illiterate businessman from Karnataka named Rajamanikyam (Mammootty) tries to mediate a family feud. While Bellary Raja was a kid, his stepfather disowned him. When his stepfather's children start fighting, he asks him to mediate and names him guardian of the family estate.
Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. - Sun NXT (OTTplay Premium)
Jayanth C. Paranjee directed the Telugu film Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. in 2004. Starring Chiranjeevi, Sonali Bendre, Srikanth, Girish Karnad, and Paresh Rawal, the film is a remake of the 2003 Hindi film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. It was critically acclaimed and financially successful, running for 100 days in theatres.
Famous Hyderabadi criminal Don Shankar Prasad (Chiranjeevi), better known as "Shankar Dada," finds out that his father wanted him to go into medicine, so he makes up the Sri Satya Prasad Charitable Hospital. To get even with the man who made fun of his parents' lifestyle choices, Shankar, a neighbourhood goon, intends to study medicine. But because of his shenanigans, the dean of the medical school gets into trouble with him.
Shankar Dada Zindabad - Sun NXT (OTTplay Premium)
Prabhu Deva directed the 2007 Telugu comedy-drama Shankar Dada Zindabad. It is a sequel to Shankar Dada MBBS (2005) and a remake of the 2006 Hindi film Lage Raho Munnabhai, starring Chiranjeevi and Karishma Kotak. Dilip Prabhavalkar reprises his role as Mahatma Gandhi, while Srikanth and Sayaji Shinde appear in supporting roles.
A local goon named Shankar Dada (Chiranjeevi) tries to win over a radio host named Jahnavi (Karishma Kotak) by posing as a professor. But their romance is in jeopardy when Jahnavi finds out Shankar's real identity.
Teja Bhai & Family - Disney+ Hotstar
Prithviraj Sukumaran, Akhila Sasidharan, and Suraj Venjaramoodu played the male leads in Deepu Karunakaran's 2011 Malayalam action-comedy Teja Bhai and Family.
An ordinary woman captures the heart of a Malaysian criminal. In his attempt to fool her, he adopts a false identity and soon finds himself in some really bizarre and entertaining situations.
Vasool Raja M.B.B.S - Sun NXT (OTTplay Premium)
Saran was the man behind the camera for the 2004 Tamil comedy-drama Vasool Raja MBBS. This film is an adaptation of the 2003 Hindi film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Karunas, Prabhu, Sneha, Prakash Raj, Nagesh, Rohini Hattangadi, Jayasurya, Malavika, Crazy Mohan, and Lakshmi Bhaskaran are among the supporting cast members, alongside the top role-holder Kamal Haasan.
In order to follow in his father's footsteps, the gangster Rajaram (Kamal Haasan) enrols in a medical school. He causes trouble for Dr. Vishwanathan (Prakash Raj) by disobeying the college regulations.