Kannada films often get compared to Malayalam movies. There are arguments from filmmakers and fans that good Kannada movies don’t get the recognition when compared to Malayalam movies. This essay tries to understand if the comparison is healthy or not, what led to the rise of Malayalam cinema and how Kannada cinema can go to the next level.

Reporting: Vivek MV

Video \& Editing: Ravichandran N

Published - July 22, 2026 11:58 am IST