Top 20 Best Tamil Movies Till 2024
Here goes the list of most iconic movies in Tamil:
1. Anbe Sivam-2003
Heated by Sundar C, this sentimental movie occurs between an atheist and a god-believer on a journey for love, compassion, and humanity. Kamal Haasan and R. Madhavan display great acting skill.
2. Nayakan-1987
A Mani Ratnam crime drama, the movie traces the rise of a slum boy into an underworld don in Mumbai. Kamal Haasan plays the perfect anti-hero with moral censorship.
Kamal Haasan is the perfect anti-hero with moral censorship.
3. Thalapathi (1991)
Rajinikanth and Mammootty star in Mani Ratnam's contemporary take on Mahabharatha. The movie opens as a saga of commitment, friendship, and treachery. The movie rises above the rest in terms of emotional depth and music.
4. Thevar Magan (1992)
The film was made by Bharathan based on caste politics and family values. Kamal Haasan portrays the character who attempts to introduce development to his native village.
5. Indian (1996)
A vigilante thriller by S Shankar. Kamal Haasan plays a person who fights against corruption. Justice and vendetta stand questioned.
6. Mudhalvan (1999)
It's a political drama by S. Shankar in which Arjun plays the title role of a man who becomes Chief Minister for a day. He launches radical reforms against corrupt politicians.
7. Vikram Vedha (2017)
A neo-noir crime thriller directed by Pushkar-Gayathri, starring Madhavan as a cop and Vijay Sethupathi as a gangster. In this flick, morality and justice progress through their cat-and-mouse game.
8. Kannathil Muthamittal (2002)
Helmed by Mani Ratnam, the movie depicts the story of a young girl trying to trace her biological mother during the civil war of Sri Lanka. The plot of the family drama revolves around family and loss.
9. Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989)
He played dual roles as twins who get reunited to avenge their father's murder. The movie happens to be an action-packed film with doses of emotion and comedy.
10. Baashha (1995)
This Suresh Krissna actioner stars Rajinikanth as a reformed gangster who gets forced back into a life of violence due to his need to protect his family. The movie was the staple of its time for its dialogues and on-screen presence by Rajinikanth himself.
11. Anniyan (2005)
A psychological thriller by director S. Shankar, the film depicts the saga of a man who suffers from multiple personality disorder. Intense performance by Vikram as a vigilante while meting out justice has carved a niche for this flick.
12. Roja (1992)
By Mani Ratnam, this political drama follows a woman who fights to save her husband, kidnapped by terrorists in Kashmir. It is best remembered for its music by A. R. Rahman and how it told love stories out of war zones.
13. Sethu (1999)
This tragic love story by Bala has Vikram as a college rowdy who falls in love, thereby getting into emotional turmoil. It is considered Vikram's breakthrough role.
14. Moondram Pirai (1982)
A sensitive drama by Balu Mahendra, the film has Kamal Haasan and Sridevi; a schoolteacher showers his motherly love and care on a woman suffering from amnesia.
15. Mouna Ragam (1986)
Romance by Mani Ratnam, the film handles the complications of an arranged marriage, with Revathi and Karthik performing with aplomb.
16. Thillu Mullu (1981)
One of Rajinikanth's few comic roles from the genius K. Balachander, he plays a fake identity to get a job. The movie is a laugh riot and still relevant in its comedy.
17. Bombay (1995)
The Romance Saga by Mani Ratnam: A Muslim woman and a Hindu guy fall in love during the Bombay riots. Strong on social issues and relevant, hence, it is a classic.
18. Thuppakki (2012)
A thriller by A. R. Murugadoss in which an Indian Army officer, enacted by Vijay, foils a plot laid down by terrorists. To say the least, for its pace, it is one of the best in this genre.
19. Ghajini (2005)
A psychological thriller by A.R. Murugadoss, the film sees Suriya in a character with amnesia avenging the death of his lover. The movie set a trend in nonlinear narrative storytelling.
20. Anjali (1990)
Helmed by Mani Ratnam, the sensitive drama follows the life of a family living with an autistic child growing up. The movie captures the essence of family bonding and also the perception of society towards disability.
These movies finally came to mark the consummation of story, performance, and cultural relevance for Tamil cinema.