In the world of film, choosing the best movie out of all the thousands that have been produced over the years can be an incredibly difficult task. However, many people consider the following movies to be their favorites, based on storyline, acting performances, and other criteria. To help you find your new favorite Tamil movie, here are our picks for the top 10 Tamil movies to watch online of all time.
1) SS Rajamouli
Director SS Rajamouli started his career by working as an assistant director to famous director K.V.Anand. He rose to fame after he made his debut as a director with ‘Sye’. He is best known for directing films like Eega, Magadheera and Baahubali series. His films have always done well at box office and have won National Awards and Filmfare Awards as well. When you think about top Tamil movies, Rajamouli’s work comes first in your mind automatically. These are some of his memorable movies
2) Shankar
Shankar is one of India’s most iconic movie directors. His films often explore complex social issues through riveting drama, paired with technical brilliance that have made him a household name in India. His films will leave you feeling like you’ve lived an entire lifetime; his movies are considered to be some of the best. Whether your taste runs towards action-packed thrillers or nuanced love stories, Shankar has directed films that are sure to delight fans across many genres. With gems like Gentleman and Anniyan on his resume, it’s easy to see why he’s a legend in Tamil film-making. If you’re looking for must-see flicks, look no further than Shankar’s top picks for best Tamil movies!
3) A.R. Murugadoss
Tamil cinema doesn’t get more prolific than Mani Ratnam. As his 50th film, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam shows, he knows a thing or two about making hits. He also has an impressive back catalog filled with numerous classics and critical successes. Despite his acclaimed storytelling skills, Ratnam remains well known for pairing top actors and actresses from South Indian cinema in roles that accentuate their beauty. After all, who can resist watching Kajol take on Rani Mukerji? His best Tamil movies show that he isn’t one to be messed with—but you won’t want to either!
4) Mani Ratnam
The best-known director in all of Indian cinema, Mani Ratnam is a prolific and groundbreaking filmmaker who has been behind some of his country’s greatest classics. If you ask anyone from India to name their favorite movie, chances are they’ll say something directed by Mani Ratnam. His movies are famous for addressing hard topics, like love and identity, in an understated way that makes them accessible to audiences everywhere. He’s brought themes like casteism (Roja), politics (Bombay), terrorism (Kandukondain Kandukondain) and many more to life through film. He’s won a number of accolades for his work on films both big and small, including four National Awards for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
5) Bala
Bala is a 2004 Tamil action film directed by Prabhu Deva. The film stars Vijay and Trisha Krishnan in lead roles, with Suman Setty, Rajan P. Dev, YG Mahendra and Riyaz Khan playing supporting roles. A remake of Telugu blockbuster Sri Ramadasu (2003), Bala won positive reviews upon release and performed well at box office. The film was dubbed into Hindi as Police Force, in which Vijay’s voice was dubbed by Vishal Karwal.[3]
6) Dhanush
Director Gautham Menon made a stunning debut with Mani Ratnam’s Alaipayuthey, followed by Kaakha Kaakha. Then he made another film starring Madhavan, called Minnale and also had an assistant director named Shankar in it. He turned full-fledged director with Dhool, which starred Dhanush and won him accolades for his brilliant writing skills. The movie went on to win a National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and introduced Dhanush as one of our best actors. It has since been remade into Hindi as Kismat Konnection, English as Footpath and Telugu as Giri starring Mahesh Babu among others.
7) Bharathiraja
Bharathiraja has come up with more than 100 movies in his career spanning over three decades. He is also a songwriter, singer and script writer. His movies are considered to be classics in Tamil cinema and he has worked with some of the top actors in South Indian cinema like Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Revathi, Madhavi and Radha. His first film was Pani Rani (1976) which went on to win awards for Best Feature Film on National Integration at 37th National Film Awards, India (1984). The 1982 movie Agni Natchathiram was very well received both critically and commercially winning several accolades including Special Prize from Bangkok International Film Festival.
8) Vetrimaaran
The director is known for his offbeat theme and style. His films have focused on themes of family, identity, caste in India, human rights abuses and environmental activism. He made his first feature film Aadukalam (2011) which won four National Film Awards, including Best Debut Film of a Director and Best Supporting Actor for Dinesh. The film also won three awards at South Indian International Movie Awards besides winning five awards at Indie Fest USA including Best Feature Film. Vasan Visual Ventures has bought remake rights for Tamil Nadu distribution.
9) Ameer Sultan
Ameer is an actor and director in South Indian Cinema. He made his debut in 1976 with a film directed by K Balachander and continued to play supporting roles until he acted as lead character, with successes in such films as ‘Thevar Magan’ (1992), ‘Mudhalvan’ (1999) and ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain’ (2000). His first film as director was Ghilli which was released in 2004. He became one of South India’s most popular heroes through movies like Githurai 39, Chathikkatha Chanthu, Jodha Akbar etc. From 2005 he started directing and performing more often than before.