Tamil filmmakers are proficient at making amazing films that tell all kinds of stories. They have lots of different genres that people love to watch. From captivating romances to spine-tingling thrillers and heartwarming narratives, Tamil films have solidified their place in the world of cinema. Particularly notable is the genre of crime thrillers, where Tamil movies excel at delivering riveting narratives and compelling characters. If you really like dark and exciting stories, our team at Top 10s Only has meticulously curated a list of the Top 10 Best Tamil Crime Thriller Movies that’s perfect for you! Embark on a thrilling cinematic journey with our handpicked selection.
Top Ten Mind-Bending Tamil Crime Thrillers
Calling all fans of dark mysteries and pulse-pounding suspense! Tamil cinema is a treasure trove of gripping crime thrillers. Here is our top 10 best Tamil crime thriller movies list that will fuel your next movie marathon. Buckle up for a weekend of unforgettable encounters with cunning criminals, relentless investigators, and ingenious storytelling, all delivered with the unique flair of Tamil filmmaking.
1. Andha Naal (1954)
Among the list of old Tamil crime thriller movies, Andha Naal, directed by S. Balachander, set the stage for future movies like it. This detective story happened during World War II, when Madras (now Chennai) was scared by Japanese bombings. Famous actors like Sivaji Ganesan and Javar Seetharaman have starred in this movie.
The story begins with the murder of Rajan, a radio engineer. A detective named Sivanandam investigates the case. He questions five people close to Rajan, all with reasons to dislike him, except for Rajan’s wife. Sivanandam uses fingerprints and clever thinking to find the killer, keeping the audience guessing until the very end.
Andha Naal was special because it told the story in a new way. It showed the same events from different people’s points of view, making it confusing for both the detective and the audience. This special way of storytelling has never been seen in Tamil cinema. The movie also had no songs or dances, which was very unusual at that time.
2. Sigappu Rojakkal (1978)
In the world of Tamil cinema, director Bharathirajaa is known for movies set in villages. But his movie, Sigappu Rojakkal, is different. It’s a dark and suspenseful thriller, one of the old crime thriller movies in Tamil. It stars the famous actors Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, along with music by the legendary Ilaiyaraaja.
The story is about Dileep (Kamal Haasan), a man with a troubled past who ends up hurting women. He meets Sarada (Sridevi), and they fall for each other. But when Sarada finds out Dileep’s dark secret, things turn dangerous. Dileep is sent to jail, but his mind gets even more troubled. Sarada, however, stays by his side, hoping he can get better.
Sigappu Rojakkal was inspired by real-life serial killers, and even has a beautiful song called Ninaivo Oru Paravai.
3. Kalaignan (1993)
Kalaignan is a classic Tamil crime thriller directed by G. B. Vijay. The film stars the one and only Kamal Haasan alongside Farheen. Get ready for twists and turns as they solve a mysterious crime. The movie also features Sivaranjani and Sindhuja. The music by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Vaali will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Indrajith ( Kamal Hassan), a famous pop singer, is surrounded by mystery when Sandhya, a dancer in his group, is murdered. The finger points at Indrajith, but there’s no proof. Sandhya’s sister, Divya (Farheen), arrives to investigate. She pretends to be a fan to get close to Indrajith, but soon danger follows. As more women connected to Indrajith are killed, Divya sets a trap to prove his innocence. They soon discover the real killer is someone much closer to Indrajith, and a final showdown reveals a shocking motive.
This crime thriller Tamil movie was originally called Indrajit but later changed to Kalaignan. All the songs became chart-toppers, and both critics and audiences loved the film.
4. Moodu Pani (1980)
Did you know the melody Yen Iniya Pon Nilavae is from one of the most popular crime thriller movies called Moodu Pani? Made in the 1980s, this movie was written, directed, and filmed all by one person, Balu Mahendra. The lead actors were Shoba and Pratap, with music by the famous Ilaiyaraaja.
The story centres on Chandru, played by Pratap. Chandru has a dark past that makes him hate certain women. He falls for Rekha (Shoba) and believes getting married will solve his problems. It turns out that a bad experience with a woman in his childhood fuels his anger. This trauma leads him down a dangerous path.
Filmed mostly in Ooty and Bangalore, Moodu Pani was praised for its acting, music, and suspense. It was a major success, running in theatres for over 200 days and bringing back the popularity of thrillers in Tamil cinema.
5. Snegithiye (2000)
Snegithiye, a suspense crime thriller movie in Tamil, hit the screens in 2000. It is a story filled with twists and turns, and the lead roles are played entirely by women. Actresses Jyothika, Sharbani Mukherjee, Tabu, and Lakshmi bring the characters to life with music by Vidyasagar.
The story follows Vasu (Jyothika) and Radhika (Sharbani Mukherjee). To avoid an arranged marriage, Radhika pretends to be in love with a man named Ramesh, who they just made up. But things get complicated when a real person named Ramesh shows up. To make matters worse, this real Ramesh is killed, making Vasu and Radhika look suspicious. A mysterious woman named Geetha, who keeps changing her identity and another unknown person, adds to the confusion. With the police and the real killer after them, Vasu and Radhika must find a way out of this thrilling mess.
With its twists and turns, this movie was a hit with critics, who praised its exciting story.
6. Aalavandhan (2001)
Want a Tamil movie with both action and thrillers? Check out Aalavandhan. This exciting Tamil crime thriller by director Suresh Krissna stars Kamal Haasan in two different roles. Raveena Tandon, Manisha Koirala, and Sarath Babu also star in this thriller. The movie is based on a book called Dhayam, which was written by Kamal Haasan himself in 1984.
This action thriller follows Major Vijay Kumar ( Kamal Hassan) and his troubled past. Vijay is about to marry his girlfriend Tejaswini (Raveena Tandon), but things get complicated when his schizophrenic twin brother Nandu escapes from a mental asylum. Nandu sees Tejaswini as his evil stepmother and becomes obsessed with killing her. Vijay must protect Tejaswini and stop Nandu’s rampage before it’s too late.
The movie Aalavandhan was also filmed in Hindi under the title Abhay. Even though it wasn’t a big hit at first, people started to love it more and more over time. Today, it’s considered a cult classic, and some critics even say it was way ahead of its time. The movie even won a National Award for its special effects.
7. Whistle (2003)
Next on our list is Whistle, one of the best Tamil crime thriller movies directed by J. D. Jerry. It’s a remake of the popular movie Urban Legend. Vikramaditya, Gayathri Raguram, and Sherin star in this crime thriller, along with music by D. Imman.
A group of friends at college are haunted by a series of murders. The killings seem connected to a legend of a vengeful spirit called Naga. Anjali (Gayathri Raguram), one of the friends in the group, becomes convinced the murders are real and her friends are in danger. As more people die, Anjali and her friends try to uncover the truth behind the legend and stop the killer.
Whistle is one of the very few Tamil movies ever made about a college filled with suspense. The movie has funny moments thanks to Vivek’s hilarious performance, and the song Azhagiya Asura became a big hit. Critics loved how suspenseful the movie stays throughout, with a super short flashback and a surprising ending that keeps you guessing until the very last minute.
8. Manmadhan (2004)
In the list of top crime thriller movies in Tamil, Manmadan is one such movie that will keep you guessing until the very end. Featuring Simbu and Jyothika and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, this movie marks the directorial debut of A.J. Murugan. The story revolves around a serial killer targeting young women.
Simbu plays Madhan Kumar, an auditor whose life collides with Mythili, played by Jyothika. As they get to know each other, Mythili starts to suspect Madhan might be the one behind the killings. But the movie has a shocking twist that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Though the movie is rated adults only for some mature content, it’s a must-watch for fans of Tamil thrillers. The acting by Simbu and Jyothika is fantastic, and the music by Yuvan Shankar Raja creates a perfect mood for the suspenseful story.
9. Anniyan (2005)
Anniyan is one of the top Tamil crime thriller movies ever and was loved by people all around the world. Directed by S. Shankar, the movie features Vikram in one of his most impressive roles. Anniyan was one of the first movies to explore a mental condition called dissociative identity disorder, where someone has multiple personalities.
Vikram plays Ambi, a kind lawyer who fights for consumer rights. But there’s a surprising twist! Ambi has two other personalities: Remo, a stylish fashion model, and Anniyan, a violent vigilante. Remo tries to win the heart of Nandhini (Sada), Ambi’s childhood crush. Anniyan, on the other hand, uses an ancient scripture to punish people who break the law.
The ending of Anniyan is incredible. Vikram flawlessly switches between all three personalities in seconds, which is a big reason why the movie is so loved. He even won a Best Actor award for his performance! The movie’s popularity went global, and it was remade in several languages.
10. Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006)
Last but not least on our list is the action crime thriller movie Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu. It is a popular Tamil crime thriller streaming online. Directed and written by Gautham Vasudev Menon, this film stars Kamal Haasan, Jyothika, and Kamalinee Mukherjee in prominent roles, while Prakash Raj and Daniel Balaji in supporting roles.
A police officer, DCP Raghavan (Kamal Hassan), is investigating a brutal murder. The victim’s father, a retired cop, asks Raghavan for help. The case takes Raghavan to New York, where he discovers a connection to another unsolved murder. With the help of a local detective, Raghavan gets on the trail of two Indian medical students who may be responsible for a series of killings.
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu was the most successful Tamil movie of 2006. Kamal Hassan received the Best Actor award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for his performance in the film.
Exploring Ten Memorable Tamil Crime Thrillers
Dive into the dark and thrilling world of Tamil crime cinema! Our curated list of the top 10 best Tamil crime thriller movies offers something for everyone. Packed with suspenseful twists and unforgettable characters, these films will have you glued to the screen. No matter if you’re a Tamil movie veteran or a curious newcomer, this list is the perfect entry point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Top 10 Tamil Crime Thriller Movies
1. What are the top 10 crime thriller movies in Tamil?
The top 10 crime thriller movies on our list are Andha Naal (1954), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Kalaignan (1993), Moodu Pani (1980), Snegithiye (2000), Aalavandhan (2001), Whistle (2003), Manmadan (2004), Anniyan (2005), and Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (2006).
2. What are some old Tamil crime thriller movies that need to be watched?
Some old crime thriller movies in Tamil are Andha Naal (1954), Sigappu Rojakkal (1978), Kalaignan (1993), Moodu Pani (1980), etc.
3. Which is the first movie in South India in the crime thriller genre?
Andha Naal, directed by S. Balachander, is considered to be the first movie in South India in the crime thriller genre.
4. Which Tamil crime thriller movie has the lead roles played entirely by women?
In Snegithiye (2000), all the main roles are portrayed by women.