If you’re searching for some fantastic Tamil films to watch, we’ve got you covered. This list will highlight the ten best Tamil films ever made. So, without further ado, let’s commence!

Anbe Sivam 

The comedy-drama Anbe Sivam follows the story of Anbarasu, a commercial director, who encounters Nallasivam, a fellow passenger waiting for a flight to Chennai. They develop a friendship and learn that they are destined to be together. This film is essential for viewing due to its wit, thought-provoking wordplay, and Madhavan and Kamal Haasan’s outstanding performances.

Genre: Comedy and Drama

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Cast: Madhavan, Kamal Haasan, Kiran Rathod

Sundar C. directs the film.

Anbe Sivam is available on Prime Video.

Jai Bhim 

Jai Bhim is a legal drama that has received worldwide recognition and critical acclaim. It tells the story of Rajakannu and Sengeni, a married couple from a persecuted tribe, whose existence is turned upside down when Rajakannu is arrested for theft. The film is a must-see due to its direction, plot, acting performances, and social message, which emphasise the significance of human rights.

Genre: Legal drama

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

Cast: Lijomol Jose, Suriya, and Manikandan

T. J. Gnanavel’s direction

Jai Bhim is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Raatchasan 

Raatchasan is a psychological crime thriller revolving around a police officer’s attempts to apprehend a murderer who targets and mercilessly murders teenage schoolgirls. This film was a box office success and garnered positive reviews from audiences and critics upon its debut. It garnered a number of awards, including Best Director at Filmfare Awards South 2019 and Best Actor and Best Villain at the Norway Tamil Film Festival 2019.

Genre: psychological suspense

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Cast: Saravanan, Amala Paul, Vishnu Vishal

Ram Kumar is the director

Raatchasan can be viewed on Amazon Prime and Hulu

Nayakan

Sakthivel witnesses the brutal murder of his father, executes a corrupt police officer and flees to Mumbai in the classic gangster film Nayakan. Hussain, a smuggler who resides in a shantytown, raises him there. Sakthivel eventually becomes a don, but his growing authority exacts a high price. This film was successful at the box office and received praise for its direction and acting. It was also named to TIME’s “All-Time 100 Best Films” and News18’s “100 Greatest Indian Films of All Time” lists.

Genre: Gangster drama

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Cast: Saranya, Kamal Haasan, Karthika

Mani Ratnam is the director

Watch Nayakan on Amazon Prime

Thalapathi

Thalapathi, starring Rajinikanth and Mammootty, is one of the finest Tamil films ever produced. It recounts the tale of Surya, an orphan who grows up in a slum and becomes employed by a gangster named Devaraj. However, when honest district collector enters their lives, everything changes. Thalapathi was a critical and commercial success, garnering a number of accolades, including two Filmfare accolades South for Best Director – Tamil (Mani Ratnam) and Best Music Director – Tamil (Ilaiyaraaja). Rajinikanth also won Best Actor – Tamil at the 1991 Cinema Express Awards, while Srividya took home the award for Best Character Actress. In 2003, the film was remade in Kannada as Annavru and categorised as a crime drama.

Genre: Drama-action

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Cast: Rajinikanth and Mammootty

Mani Ratnam is the director.

Thalapathi is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru is a neo-noir crime thriller that tells the tale of Deepak, a retired police officer who relives his past while recounting a perplexing case to his friend’s son. The plot, narration, direction, and acting in the film are all outstanding. The film is regarded as one of the best Tamil crime films ever produced. A Kannada remake of the film, titled Aa Drushya, was released in 2019, and a Hindi remake will be released shortly.

Genre: Mystery and Thriller

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Cast: Prakash Vijayaraghavan, Rahman, Sharath Kumar, Ashwin Kumar

Karthick Naren is the director

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Anniyan

The psychological thriller Anniyan was ahead of its time. Ramanujam “Ambi” Iyengar is the protagonist of the film. He has a psychological disorder and works as a vigilante at night, despising those who break the law. The plot raises questions such as how long his scheme will be effective and whether the police will catch him. The film’s themes, plot, action sequences, direction, visual effects, social message, and performances received high praise. Anniyan received numerous accolades, including eight Filmfare Awards, six State Film Awards, and a National Award in the category of Special Effects. Columbia Tristar dubbed the film into Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi in addition to French for release in French-speaking countries.

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Cast: Vikram, Sadha

S. Shankar is the director.

Anniyan is available on Amazon Prime Video.

The film is about high school sweethearts Ram and Janaki who reunite 22 years later at a reunion. As they reminisce about their past, viewers are left wondering if they will eventually confess their affection for one another and become a couple. You’ll have to view 96 for yourself if you want to know! This film is a must-see for all lovers of romance and drama. It has won numerous awards and is regarded as one of the greatest Tamil films ever produced. There are alternate variants of 96 available in Kannada (99) and Telugu (Jaanu) for those who prefer other Indian languages. Behindwoods lists the film as one of the “All Time 150 Cult Indian Films” in 2020.

Genre: Romantic, Drama

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Trisha Krishnan, Devadarshini Chetan, Adithya Bhaskar

C. Premkumar is the director

96 is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Vikram Vedha

The film tells the tale of Vikram, a ruthless police officer tasked with apprehending the notorious gangster Vedha. Vikram begins to doubt his own morals and values as he pursues Vedha. Will he be able to apprehend Vedha, or will the criminal outwit him? See Vikram Veda for the answer! This film is the ideal combination of action, suspense, and drama. It has garnered numerous awards and is regarded as one of the best Tamil films ever made.

Genre: Crime, Thriller

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Cast: R. Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, Shraddha Srinath, Kathir

Gayathri Pushkar is the director

Vikram Vedha is available on Amazon Prime Video and Hotstar

Roja

The story focuses on Roja, a woman who marries the cryptologist Rishi. When Rishi is kidnapped by terrorists, Roja must take extreme measures to save him. Will she be able to save her spouse, or will the terrorists’ evil plot succeed? You’ll need to watch Roja to discover! This film is an Indian cinematic masterpiece that has garnered numerous awards and accolades. Time magazine ranks it among the “100 Best Films in World Cinema.”

Genre: Romance, Drama

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Cast: Arvind Swami, Madhoo, Pankaj Kapoor, Nassar

Mani Ratnam is the director

Roja is available on Amazon Prime Video.

These movies represent the best of Tamil cinema and have received critical acclaim for their storytelling, performances, and technical aspects. Whether you’re a fan of action, drama, or comedy, there’s something for everyone on this list. So grab some popcorn and settle in for a fantastic cinematic experience.