With Hridayam's glory, here are 12 South Indian films that celebrated college life!

Vineeth Sreenivasan's coming of age drama, Hridayam, has been performing extraordinarily and is very well received by both the audience and the critics. After its theatrical release, the movie is now out on the Disney + Hotstar, made available to those who have not watched it yet. A major portion of the film celebrates the life in college and we cannot help but reminisce the good ol' days. We cannot relive those days but we sure can revisit them through various films that have come out glorifying college life. Here are some movies that will take you back to that phase of your life (in no particular order of importance) :

1) 3 IDIOTS (NANBAN IN TAMIL):

Nanban, a coming of age comedy drama is written by Rajkumar Hirani (for film) and directed by Shankar, loosely based on the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat. The film tells us about 3 friends and the time they spend together in an engineering college. It gives us a fresh outlook on the ups and down, realities and tragedies of college life. The film is heart-warming, hilarious and eye-opening.

2) SACHEIN:

This lighthearted romantic comedy is written and directed by John Mahendran. It revolves around Sachein and Shalini, two college classmates who later become good friends. Sachein eventually falls in love with Shalini and declares his love to her but she rejects it. In response, he confidently tells her that she will fall in love with him in 30 days. She too later falls in love with him but her ego gets in the way and does not allow her to disclose their feelings.

3) PREMAM (MALAYALAM)

Written and directed by Alphonse Puthren, this Malayalam coming of age romance explores the life of George and his romantic affiliations at various stages in his life. His first love turns out to be a let down. But with the arrival of Malar, a lecturer in his college, his love interest reignites with a fiery passion. This journey takes him through several stages, helping him find his purpose. The college portions featuring Nivin Pauly, Sai Pallavi, and the friends was the major highlight, striking a chord with the audiences.

4) KUSHI:

Shiva and Jenny take admission in the same college and when they meet each other at a temple, they realise that they have met before as kids. They become good friends for a while but later get into a heated argument because of misunderstanding and hence part ways. Both come to a realization that they are in love and cannot live without each other but their egos prevent them from expressing their feelings to one another. This romantic comedy is written and directed by S. J. Suryah.

5) HAPPY DAYS (INIDHU INIDHU IN TAMIL)

The film features a group of youngsters from an engineering college who form an unbreakable friendship with one another after going through various shared and personal struggles. The original version was directed by Sekhar Kammula, while the remake was helmed by KV Guhan and bankrolled by Prakash Raj.

6) NAMMAVAR:

This drama is directed by K.S. Sethumadhavan and written by Kamal Haasan who also stars as the lead in the film alongside Gautami Tadimalla. It tells the story of V.C. Selvam who joins as the vice principal of a college riddled with inner conflicts that take place within the campus as he tries to reform the minds of the wayward students.

7) KADHAL DESAM:

This action romance orbits around an orphan, Karthik, and a rich boy, Arjun, who are from two rival college football clubs. They eventually become friends but problems tend to arise after they both fall in love with the same girl. The film is written and directed by Kathir.

8) ULLAM KETKUME:

Written and directed by Jeeva, this romantic drama deals with 3 college students, Shyam, Priya, and Pooja, whose friendship that they have shared since college is affected due to the love triangle they find themselves stuck in. Things take an unexpected turn when Shyam professes his love for Priya, leaving Pooja heart-broken.

9) KIRIK PARTY (KANNADA):

Directed by Rishab Shetty, this Kannada romantic comedy tells us about Karna, a first-year engineering student and leader of a gang mischievous gang, who falls in love with Saanvi who is doing her final year at the same college. However, he decides to mend his ways after a tragic event changes his perception of life.

10) AANANDHAM (MALAYALAM): 

This Malayalam coming of age film is written and directed by Ganesh Raj and it is also his directorial debut. It explores life as a class of second year engineering students set out on a college tour to the exotic lands of Hampi and Goa. Their experiences during their journey help them understand the intricacies of love and friendship.

11) APRIL MADHATHIL:

Written and directed by S. S. Stanley, this romantic drama follows Kathir, a poverty-ridden student who is so desperate for money that he goes to a women's college to collect money for his MCA studies. There he gets acquainted with Shweta, a rich girl. Their friendship is misinterpreted by everybody and soon gossips begin. However, time plays its game and they succumb to their true feelings and fall in love with each other.

12) KALLOORI:

Directed by Balaji Sakthivel, the film revolves around a group of nine childhood friends who join an arts college together in a small town. A new girl, Shobana, joins college and is depressed and dislikes the new place. Things eventually turn out better when she befriends her classmates and becomes a part of their group, joining in the fun and games that happen in college on an everyday basis.