Best Tamil movies to watch
As a movie buff I have watched movies from various industries mainly Hollywood and Indian cinema and created my own list of best Tamil movies. Usually, I would classify movies under their genres as it would be inappropriate to compare a love story with grittier ones. But I am purposefully making this list to guide for those who would like to see Tamil movies for what it is and for its intriguing plot.
*In editing: order, desc is under edit*
*In editing: order, desc is under edit*
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- DirectorPa. RanjithStarsAryaPasupathyJohn KokkenWhen Sarpatta Parambarai is challenged to a do-or-die match, will Kabilan, a young labourer, put on the gloves himself and lead his clan to victory, or be dissuaded by his disapproving mother and dangerous politics?It is a character driven movie, you will see the world of boxing in Madras during . No character feels out of place. Each and every character as a pay-off which is really interesting to see them grow.
*Spoiler*But in later part of movie I found little hard to connect with protagonist as he becomes a drunkard but still story unravels fine. - DirectorMani RatnamStarsKamal HaasanSaranya PonvannanDelhi GaneshA common man's struggles against a corrupt police force put him on the wrong side of the law. He becomes a don, who is loved and respected by many, but his growing power and influence exact a heavy toll.
- DirectorSudha KongaraStarsSuriyaAparna BalamuraliParesh RawalNedumaaran Rajangam "Maara" sets out to make the common man fly and in the process takes on the world's most capital intensive industry and several enemies who stand in his way.One of the best movies in the recent years. A movie emotionally similar to social network since both are inspired by real life characters. It focuses on struggles faced by the Protagonist Nedumaran Rajangam who wishes to start up a airplane. It is emotionally stirring and inspiring 3 hour long journey.
- DirectorT.J. GnanavelStarsSuriyaLijo Mol JoseManikandan K.When a tribal man is arrested for a case of alleged theft, his wife turns to a human-rights lawyer to help bring justice.A hard-hitting, emotionally stirring movie. It showcases the life of adhi dhravidas(Tribes) ill-treated by police and people.
Even when you don't like hard hitting movies, the movie transcends those boundaries. It being a investigation-crime thriller - the story had many plot twists and great acting showcased by everyone on screen, from tribal to policemen - DirectorP.C. SreeramStarsKamal HaasanArjun SarjaNassarSuave and scintillating, this fast-paced action thriller follows the adventures and investigations of a group of honest police officers, who go undercover to bring down a terror network.
- DirectorThiagarajan KumararajaStarsVijay SethupathiFahadh FaasilSamantha Ruth PrabhuAn unfaithful newly-wed wife, an estranged father, a priest and an angry son suddenly find themselves in the most unexpected predicaments, each poised to experience their destiny, all on one fateful day.A non-linear and excellently shot movie. It deals with people in various awkward places. The director ensures to provide viewers a meaningful message but you would never feel instead you would be invested in the characters. This is not a movie for everyone as it involves matter of subjects that one may find difficult to speak or think about, but still I would strongly recommend to watch.
- DirectorK. SelvaraghavanStarsDhanushSnehaSonia AgarwalAfter running away from his home, Kumar falls in with a gang and slowly rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld.
- DirectorBharathanStarsKamal HaasanShivaji GanesanNassarThe urbane son of a village chieftain struggles between his personal aspirations and those of his family.
- DirectorThiagarajan KumararajaStarsSampath RajJackie ShroffRavi KrishnaA mob boss must deal with a disgruntled mistress and a vanishing bag of cocaine.
- DirectorVetrimaaranStarsDhanushAmeer SultanRadha RaviA young carrom player in north Chennai becomes a reluctant participant in a war between two warring gangsters.It features non-linear gangster story with impelling characters that feels real if you knew the local people of North of Madras. It is a journey of hero, giving the locality. Every scene as details and plot points that would be addressed or some how connected to the scenes later in the film.
- DirectorVetrimaaranStarsDineshSamuthirakaniAnandhiFour labourers are tortured by the police to confess to a theft they have not committed.
- DirectorC. Prem KumarStarsVijay SethupathiTrisha KrishnanAdithya BhaskarTwo high school sweethearts meet at a reunion after 22 years and reminisce about their past.A love story. How could a list not include a love story. A heartfelt movie features the emotions of characters that meet after years. It is nostalgic if you had loved someone and if not never worry it is definitely a worth watch.
- DirectorMani RatnamStarsMohanlalAishwarya Rai BachchanPrakash RajA struggling actor and a writer-politician become friends as young men and rise to great heights in cinema and politics respectively. But when both become contenders for the top political post in the state, a rift develops between them.
- DirectorLokesh KanagarajStarsKarthiNarainArjun DasDilli, an ex-convict, endeavours to meet his daughter for the first time after leaving prison. However, his attempts are interrupted due to a drug raid planned by Inspector Bejoy.A commercial action-drama movie. Though commercial movies generally have unwanted scenes. I would say the movie is very genuine and on point. Yet with few over top action scenes it is fun to watch there are really good characters other than Protagonist to be invested in.
- DirectorMani RatnamStarsKeerthana ParthiepanSimranMadhavanA little girl is told by her parents that she is adopted. Determined to find her real mother, she begs to be taken to Sri Lanka, where her mother works with a militant group of activists.
- DirectorK. BalachanderStarsKamal HaasanSrideviPrathap PothenPoetical forces play in the life of an unemployed yet well educated young man.He finds the depth and the beauty of his principles yet fate leaves him in destitutionA hard hitting story. Definitely a must watch.
The movie feels surreal. The characters really want to survive in all odds, but they barely could. It is not a movie for everyone as it is darker shows the true nature of society and life.
The emotional connectivity with the characters and the truth of the plot holds a hats-off. - DirectorArun Prabhu PurushothamanStarsAditi BalanPadmashri Mohammad AliPradeep AnthonyA gentle girl born and brought up amidst the ever growing eco-social-consumeristic environment finds it difficult to fit in the society. She decides to take it hard on the people. What she does is the rest of the story.
- DirectorRam KumarStarsVishnu VishalAmala PaulRadha RaviA sub-inspector sets out in pursuit of a mysterious serial killer who targets teen school girls and murders them brutally.A psycho thriller. Clearly a movie that unravels with time so the pacing in the first half feels out of place but after a point on the movie the movie really brings us to the edge of the seats.
Mostly Psycho thrillers would not connect with people but the emotional connectivity, and fear for antagonist is astounding. - DirectorSundar C.StarsKamal HaasanMadhavanKiran RathodTwo men, one young and arrogant, the other damaged - physically but not spiritually - by life, are thrown together by circumstances, and find that they are in some ways bound together by fate.
- DirectorMari SelvarajStarsKathirAnandhiYogi BabuA law student from a lower caste begins a friendship with his classmate, a girl who belongs to a higher caste, and the men in her family start giving him trouble over this.
- DirectorBalaji MohanStarsDulquer SalmaanNazriya NazimMadhooThe people of the Panimalai hill station are in trouble as the government has put a ban on speaking to control the spread of the "dumb-flu," which spreads only through talking.Why a 6 pointer in the list? Have you re-watched the movie after Corona. Yes second half is slow as it becomes a silent movie. It feels very unreal that this movie came in 2014 but not in 2022. Since what was a fiction then become true incidents.
The story deals with a sudden pandemic affecting a village in mountains. The village is quarantined and the protagonists find it hard to survive but needs to face some obstacles in life along with the pandemic.
The politics surrounding the movie is hilarious to watch given after corona we know how it would be politically hard to control a pandemic.
The news channel definitely be seen mockery of Polimer news channel but which was non existent at that time. - DirectorMadonne AshwinStarsYogi BabuSheela RajkumarSangili MuruganA local barber's fate turns overnight when he becomes the single deciding vote in the village elections.A political satire drama. Even when it jokes about politics the movie never fails to surprise the audience and it reflects a harsh nature of elections in India even though the case of Mandela can never happen, it still gets the audience.
- DirectorMohan RajaStarsJayam RaviArvind SwamyNayantharaSiddharth Abimanyu, an influential scientist, is involved in various illegal medical practices. Mithran, an efficient IPS officer, decides to expose him.A crime drama with interesting character dynamics especially between and Protagonist and Antagonist. It involves various plot twists. The most noticeable thing is that antagonist is very strong that he had a depth of featuring in a spin-off movie. He had a defined motive and is a very good written grey character. Maybe like Thanos in character sense.
- DirectorGayatriPushkarGowtham SelvarajStarsMadhavanVijay SethupathiShraddha SrinathVikram, a no-nonsense police officer, accompanied by Simon, his partner, is on the hunt to capture Vedha, a smuggler and a murderer. Vedha tries to change Vikram's life, which leads to a conflict.