Ace Tamil filmmaker Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: 1 has completed 50 days in theatres and collected Rs 500 crore worldwide, actor Vikram, who portrayed the role of Aditha Karikalan, announced on Friday, November 18. The epic historical action drama produced by Lyca Productions in association with Madras Talkies and featuring music by Academy Award-winning composer A. R. Rahman ended on a cliffhanger note, with Jayam Ravi as Arunmozhi Varman aka Ponniyin Selvan, Karthi as Vallavaraiyan Vanthiyathevan, Trisha as Kundavai Devi, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Nandini and Mandakini Devi, set to reprise their roles along with the ensemble supporting roles in the sequel, Ponniyin Selvan: 2, which is being planned for a release in April 2023. With the first installment of Ponniyin Selvan continuing to be the talk of the town, we now look at a list of the South Indian films that have crossed the 500-crore mark in global box office collections.

BAAHUBALI: THE CONCLUSION (2017)

S. S. Rajamouli's masterpiece Baahubali: The Conclusion starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, and Tamannaah as the lead stars, with Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, and Nasser in pivotal roles, was a film for the ages among fans across India and continues to lead the list with more than 1,500 crores in worldwide box office collections. 

K. G. F.: CHAPTER 2 (2022)

'Rocking Star' Yash's KGF: Chapter 2 directed by Prashanth Neel released earlier this year had a huge buzz surrounding its release and minted more than 1,000 crores at the box office. One of the most exciting South Indian films in recent years, it carried a huge hype, unlike any other venture, with all eyes now set on KGF: Chapter 3, which is yet to receive a formal official announcement. 

RRR (2022)
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Filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli once makes it to the list as his RRR starring Jr. NTR and Ram Charan in the lead roles sold tickets like hotcakes everywhere in India and continues to impress fans around the world, with more than 1,000 crores in collections to date. The period action drama set in the pre-Independence era in the 1920s left many in Hollywood taken aback by its story and intense and high-octane sequences, which looked completely new in its treatment, with many showering praises on the cast and crew for coming up with a theatre entertainer that can be enjoyed by audiences without any language barriers. 

2.0 (2018)

'Superstar' Rajinikanth's science fiction action film 2.0 also starring Akshay Kumar as the antagonist under Shankar's direction and featuring music by Academy Award-winning composer A. R. Rahman set the cash registers ringing in 2018 and hit the 500-crore mark at the box office at top speed. The sequel to the 2010 box office blockbuster, Enthiran, was one of the most anticipated films in Tamil cinema history, with Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar delighting audiences with their power-packed performances. 

Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)

S. S. Rajamouli's Baahubali: The Beginning released in 2015 was the first film from South India to enter the prestigious 500-crore club and became the stepping stone and foundation for every other venture to look up to in order to surpass its achievements. The epic action film made Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, and Tamannaah household names around the country, with the cliffhanger ending raising expectations for the sequel, Baahubali: The Conclusion, released in 2017.