Do you love watching suspenseful movies that keep you guessing? Tamil cinema has lots of them made by famous directors like K. Balachander, Balu Mahendra, and Bharathiraja. These movies are full of twists and turns, and they’re sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Our team at Top 10s Only looked into the best psychological thriller movies from Kollywood. Here are the Top 10 Tamil Psychological Thriller Movies that explore the dark and mysterious corners of the human mind.
Twists And Turns: Ten Tamil Psychological Thrillers
Tamil psychological thriller movies focus on real characters and surprising stories instead of just scaring people or giving them excitement. They mix feelings, suspense, and sometimes even jokes into the story. We’ve picked out the top 10 Tamil psychological thriller movies for you. In these movies, characters struggle with their own inner problems, hard choices, and secrets. Get ready for a movie night that will challenge you and stay with you long after the credits roll!
1. Yaar Nee (1966)
Yaar Nee is a classic Tamil psycho thriller with famous actors Jaishankar, often dubbed the South Indian James Bond, and Jayalalitha. This exciting movie is full of mystery and will keep you guessing until the very end. It’s based on the Hindi movie Woh Kaun Thi.
In the movie, strange things start happening to Dr Anand (Jaishankar). He thinks a ghost is haunting him to kill him. But the truth is different. He’s set to inherit a lot of money, but his cousin wants to make him seem mentally unstable so they can take it. The mystery is solved, and the police arrest the bad guys. Yaar Nee was a box office success and Jayalalithaa won the Madras Filmfans Association Award for Best Actress.
2. Athey Kangal (1967)
Even after fifty years, Athey Kangal remains one of the best Tamil psychological thriller movies. Directed by Tirulokchandar, this classic stars Ravichandran and Kanchana in the lead roles. It was also made in Telugu as Ave Kallu.
In the movie Athey Kangal, a dangerous killer stalks Suseela (Kanchana) and her family. Her boyfriend Baskar (Ravichandran) sees the attacker’s eyes and tries to solve the mystery! The movie is full of suspense and thrills that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Nagesh’s timing comedy makes this film entertaining. The unique storytelling style of this movie makes it just as exciting to watch today as it was when it first came out. That’s why it’s one of the most loved Tamil thrillers!
3. Nootrukku Nooru (1971)
Adding to our list of top psychological movies in Tamil is Nootrukku Nooru. Directed and written by K. Balachander, it stars Jaishankar and Lakshmi, with Jayakumari, Vijaya Lalitha, and Srividya in important roles. Gemini Ganesan also makes a guest appearance in this suspenseful thriller.
Nootrukku Nooru is about Prakash (Jaishankar), a college professor accused of sexual harassment by three girls who are lured by Prakash and marry him. His fiancée, Lakshmi, doesn’t believe the accusations and starts looking into it. How she finds out the truth and the reason behind the blame becomes the main focus of the story. Jaishankar won the Best Actor Award from the Film Fans’ Association, while K. Balachander received awards for Best Director and Best Story from the Chennai Film Fans’ Association. It’s a simple story with big emotions that captivate the audience.
4. Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)
Sigappu Rojakkal, directed by Bharathirajaa, stands apart from his usual rural-themed movies. It is one of the old psychological thriller movies in Tamil. Starring Kamal Hassan with Sridevi, Goundamani, and Vadivukkarasi, it’s a unique venture. The music is by Ilaiyaraaja. In this film, Kamal portrays an anti-hero character, adding an intriguing twist to the story.
The psychological thriller follows Dileep (Kamal Haasan), a disturbed man who harms women due to past trauma. He meets Sarada (Sridevi), and falls in love, but tries to harm her when she learns his secret. Dileep is jailed but loses his sanity. Sarada remains loyal, believing in his redemption. Sigappu Rojakkal drew inspiration from real-life serial killers like Raman Raghav and another from Tirunelveli living in Bombay. It also features the timeless hit song Ninaivo Oru Paravai.
5. Moodu Pani (1980)
Have you ever listened to Illayaraja’s song Yen Iniya Pon Nilavae? It’s from one of the most popular psychological suspense movies, Moodu Pani, written, directed, and filmed by Balu Mahendra. Starring Shoba and Pratap, with N. Viswanathan, Gandhimathi, Mohan, and Bhanu Chander in supporting roles, the movie is based on two novels.
The movie follows Chandru (Pratap), who deeply dislikes prostitutes and would harm any he meets. He falls in love with Rekha (Shoba) and hopes marriage will end his distress. Chandru’s hatred begins when a prostitute causes trouble to his family. This childhood trauma leads him to kill sex workers. Moodu Pani was mainly filmed in Ooty and Bangalore. Critics praised Pratap, Shoba, and Ilaiyaraaja’s music. It was a hit, running over 200 days in theatres and reviving the thriller genre in Tamil cinema.
6. Naan Ungal Rasigan (1985)
Naan Ungal Rasigan is yet another addition to the list of old Tamil psychological thriller movies starring Mohan, Radhika, Rajeev and Nalini, with Senthamarai and Vennira Aadai Moorthy in supporting roles. It was directed and co-written by Manobala.
The story is about a man named Subramani (Mohan) who lives in a village. He really admires an actress named Ranjani (Radhika) and follows her around a lot. Eventually, he gets a job as her driver. But one day, while Ranjani is waiting for her sister to visit, someone kills her. Subramani is shocked and decides to hide her body. The movie goes through many surprising events until the end, where Subramani ends up dying next to Ranjani’s body. It’s a tale full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.
7. Oomai Vizhigal (1986)
Our next pick for top Tamil psychological thriller movies is Oomai Vizhigal. Directed by R. Aravindraj, this film features Vijayakanth, Arun Pandian, Karthik, Chandrasekhar, and Jaishankar. It also includes Ravichandran and Malaysia Vasudevan in a villainous role. With its unique storyline and captivating script, Oomai Vizhigal promises an unforgettable viewing experience.
In the psychological thriller, we follow P.R.K.(Ravichandran), a troubled man who hurts women because of past heartbreak. Many young women visiting his resort vanish mysteriously. Journalist Raja (Chandrasekhar) arrives to investigate and uncovers clues about the eerie ongoings. He teams up with Chandran (Jaishankar), owner of the magazine Dhinamurasu, and DSP Deenadayalan (Vijayakanth).
The director, Aravindraj, received the Best New Face Director award at the 7th Cinema Express Awards, while Ramesh Kumar won for Best Cameraman. It’s a gripping tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
8. Rendum Rendum Anju (1988)
Rendum Rendum Anju is a Tamil psychological thriller directed and co-written by Jayabharathi. The film features Sarath Babu and Ambika, with Chandrasekhar, Nassar, and Senthil in supporting roles. The story revolves around five best friends: Balu (Sarath Babu), Shanthi (Ambika), Suresh, Raja (Chandrasekhar), and Giri (Nassar). Balu and Shanthi marry and go on a trip with their friends. While intoxicated, the friends harass a boy, leading to his drowning in a lake. As a result, the boy’s father seeks revenge, killing each friend on the anniversary of the boy’s death. Shanthi’s struggle to save Balu from this serial killer becomes the central focus of the film. Through a series of twists and turns, the movie explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of past actions. It’s a gripping tale that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its suspenseful narrative and unexpected plot twists.
9. Snegithiye (2000)
Snegithiye is a suspense psychological thriller movie in Tamil from 2000, directed by Priyadarshan. It is remarkable for its all-female cast, starring Tabu, Jyothika, Sharbani Mukherjee, and Lakshmi. The music was done by Vidyasagar.
Vasu (Jyothika) and Radhika (Sharbani Mukherjee) pretend Radhika loves a made-up man named Ramesh to avoid her arranged marriage. But things get messy when a real Ramesh enters their lives. Complications escalate as the real Ramesh is killed, making Vasu and Radhika suspects. They’re entangled in a web of lies woven by Malati (Lakshmi), Geetha, a mysterious woman who switches identities, and an unknown person. With both the police and the real killer chasing them, Vasu and Radhika face a thrilling journey. The movie received positive reviews from critics for its gripping plot and suspenseful twists.
10. Kaadhal Kondein (2003)
Kaadhal Kondein is a popular Tamil romantic psycho thriller streaming online. Directed and written by Selvaraghavan, it’s his first film. Starring Dhanush and Sonia Agarwal, with Nagesh and Daniel Balaji in supporting roles.
The movie delves into the life of Vinod (Dhanush), a young man who suffered mental and physical abuse during his childhood. Raised by a church priest, he is exceptionally smart but shy. When he attends college, he falls deeply in love with Divya (Sonia Agarwal) and becomes dangerously obsessed with her, willing to harm anyone who interferes. The movie marked a turning point in Dhanush’s career, propelling him to stardom in Tamil cinema. It was remade in Telugu, Bangla, Kannada, and Bengali. Kaadhal Kondein stands out among good Tamil psychological thrillers, admired for its impact and success in the film industry.
Top Ten Edge of Your Seat Riveting Tamil Psychological Thrillers
These are our top picks from the top 10 Tamil psychological thriller movies. We believe these movies will not only entertain you but also make you think deeply. This list honours the excellence of Tamil cinema and its significant impact on psychological thrillers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Top 10 Tamil Psychological Thriller Movies
1. Which are the top 10 Best Tamil Psychological Thriller Movies To Watch?
Yaar Nee (1966), Athey Kangal (1967), Nootrukku Nooru (1971), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978),
Moodu Pani (1980), Naan Ungal Rasigan (1985), Oomai Vizhigal (1986), Rendum Rendum Anju (1988), Snegithiye (2000), and Kaadhal Kondein (2003) are the top 10 best psycho thriller movies in Tamil.
2. Which psychological thriller movie is based on a Tamil novel?
Moodu Pani is based on the novel Idhuvum Oru Viduthalai Thaan (1978) by Rajendra Kumar.
3. Which are some old Tamil psycho thriller movies that need to be watched?
Yaar Nee, Athey Kangal, Nootrukku Nooru, Sigappu Rojakkal, Moodu Pani, Naan Ungal Rasigan, Oomai Vizhigal, and Rendum Rendum Anju are some old psycho thriller movies in Tamil.
4. Which old Tamil psychological thriller movie is a remake?
Yaar Nee is a remake of the Hindi film Woh Kaun Thi? (1964).