Top 10 Tamil Psychological Thriller Movies- Part II

Manmadhan is a Tamil psychological thriller starring Silambarasan TR (Simbu) and Jyothika. In his directorial debut, A.J. Murugan crafted a gripping tale of a deranged serial killer targeting young women. The protagonist, Madhan Kumar (Simbu), an auditor, meets Mythili, a naive girl, at a music class. Their connection deepens until Mythili suspects that Madhan Kumar could be the culprit behind the serial killings. However, the plot unveils an unbelievable twist that will leave you guessing till the very end. 

The performances by the lead actors received praise, along with music director Yuvan Shankar Raja, for the soulful music perfectly complimenting the film’s plot. Though the movie is rated ‘A (adults only)’ for the portrayal of some mature themes, it grabs a spot on our must-watch psychological thriller Tamil serial killer movies list.

Anniyan became one of the 10 best psychological thriller Tamil movies of all time  and gained huge popularity across the globe. Directed by S. Shankar, best known for his science fiction movie ‘Robot’, Anniyan showcases actor Vikram’s one of the best performances of his career. The movie was among the first in media culture to portray dissociative identity disorder (then known as multiple personality disorder). Ambi (played by Vikram) is an honest, law-abiding consumer protection advocate. But the shocking twist arrives when he is revealed to have two alter egos: Remo, a flamboyant fashion model, and Anniyan, a ruthless vigilante. While his personality as Remo tries to woo his childhood sweetheart Nandhini (Sada), the personality of Anniyan uses the Hindu scripture ‘Garuda Purana’ to justify his violent takedown of social wrongdoers.

The climax displays an unparalleled performance by Vikram, where he seamlessly switches between Ambi and Anniyan in split seconds, contributing to the movie’s ascent to the list of  top Tamil psycho thriller movies. He also won the Filmfare Award for best actor for this stunning portrayal. The film was dubbed into several languages, including Telugu, Hindi, and French, owing to its worldwide popularity.

This is a Tamil-language neo-noir thriller starring Vidharth, Pooja Devariya, and Aishwarya Rajesh in the lead roles. M. Manikandan is the director of the movie that narrates the story of Ravichandran, who suffers from tunnel vision and is desperately struggling to raise money for an eye transplant. Fate throws him into a moral dilemma when he witnesses the murder of his neighbor Shwetha, but he decides to exploit the situation for his own gain. How Ravi struggles with his inner conscience while seeking a way out forms the rest of the plot. However, the climax of the movie reveals unpredictable suspense, leaving the audience baffled.

Kuttrame Thandanai is a cinematic adaptation of the novel “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky and gives the message that having to suffer guilt itself is the harshest punishment a person can endure. Kuttrame Thandanai is undoubtedly one of the top 10 psycho movies in Tamil.

As the name suggests, Puriyatha Puthir is a mind-boggling puzzle, next in line among our picks of Tamil top 10 crime thriller movies, with Vijay Sethupathi and Gayathrie Shankar playing the protagonists. A young man named Kathir’s life is turned upside down when he starts receiving objectionable photos and videos of his girlfriend from an unknown number. In a futile attempt to find the anonymous sender, he is blackmailed to complete humiliating tasks such as standing naked on a crowded bridge. As he desperately searches for the truth, a shocking revelation emerges, teaching both Kathir and the audience a valuable truth: silence in the face of a crime is just as harmful as the crime itself.

This psychological thriller directed by Ranjith Jeyakodi explores the less-spoken themes of cyber security and privacy in today’s technology-driven age. 

Ratsasan is one of the Tamil top 10 suspense thriller movies that grabbed attention for its brilliant, engaging script and hauntingly good performance by Saravanan, who plays the antagonist. Directed by Ram Kumar, the movie follows Arun Kumar (Vishnu Vishal), an aspiring filmmaker who dreams of creating a serial killer movie but hesitatingly joins the police department, forced by constant rejections and family pressure. However, his dream turns into a horrifying reality when a killer is let loose in the city and murders and mutilates innocent teenage girls. In an unfortunate turn of events, his own niece falls prey to the serial killer, and Arun vows to unmask the killer before he strikes again.

The movie has an unconventional antagonist with a tragic past that evokes a sense of sympathy among the audience despite his wrongdoings. The movie does not rely on bloody, gory scenes. Instead, it masterfully uses spooky background music by Ghibran and crisp editing, making Raatsasan a truly impactful thriller.

Imaikka Nodigal is a Tamil action-thriller film written and directed by R. Ajay Gnanamuthu, starring Lady Superstar Nayanthara and Atharvaa Murali in prominent roles. The movie also marks the acting debut of Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap as the antagonist, ACP Martin Roy. Anjali IPS (Nayanthara), a CBI officer, is appointed to reopen the notorious case of serial killer ‘Rudra’, who was presumed to be dead 5 years ago. However, a string of new murders, eerily similar to Rudra’s past crimes, throws the city into chaos. The case takes a chilling turn when Rudra abducts the girlfriend of Anjali’s brother Arjun (Atharvaa) and frames him as Rudra. The audience is taken on a rollercoaster journey from here, and several unpredictable twists later, they learn the real identity of Rudra, which shockingly connects back to Anjali’s past.

Imaikka Nodigal is more than just a cat-and-mouse chase; it is a complex web of romance, action, suspense, and emotions, justifying its position among the top must-watch psychological thriller Tamil films. Vijay Sethupathi also appears in the movie in an extended cameo.

Vellai Pookkal marks the directorial debut of Indian IT professional Vivek Elangovan, who lives in Seattle. This suspense thriller is inspired by a real-life incident and tackles the sensitive issue of child abuse. The actor Vivekh (known for his comedic roles) portrays Rudhran,  a police officer who reaches Seattle to reconcile with his estranged son Ajay. However, his visit takes an unexpected turn with a series of mysterious kidnappings in the neighborhood, and Rudhran sets out on his own investigation to nab the culprit. But the plot thickens when Rudhran uncovers a disturbing connection between the killer and his son, Ajay. Vellai Pookkal explores the nuances of the father-son relationship while shedding light on the devastating effects of child abuse. 

The movie also features noteworthy performances by Charles, as Rudhran’s accomplice Bharathi, and foreign actors who played Ajay’s wife and her younger self, making it one of the best Tamil psycho-crime thriller movies.

Velvet Nagaram is Manojkumar Natarajan’s directorial debut and discusses the brutal injustice faced by the hill tribes of Kodaikanal in the garb of a psychological thriller. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar takes center stage as Usha, a journalist who investigates the murder of Gowri (Kasthuri Shankar), an actor and social activist, silenced by corporate greed.  The film initially unfolds as a social commentary, but a shocking twist takes the narrative into a dark and violent home invasion survival saga.

The audience might find the initial half of the movie slow and lagging, but the plot picks up pace in the second half and cements its place on the top 10 Tamil Thriller movies list with a suspenseful psychological element, despite receiving mixed reviews from the critics.

Craving a dark, eerie psychological thriller? Then look no further than Psycho, one of the best psychological Tamil movies directed by Mysskin. Udayanidhi Stalin appears in the lead role as Gautham, a blind young man whose world crumbles when a psychopath serial killer known for targeting young women abducts his girlfriend, Daagini (Aditi Rao Hydari). Gautham joins forces with his friends to track down the sadistic psycho and save Daagini before it’s too late.

Rajkumar Pitchumani (who plays Psycho) manages to terrify the audience with his brilliant acting and, at the same time, makes you feel sympathetic for his tragic backstory. The movie has several graphic, gory scenes justifying the A rating and is strictly off-limits for young audiences. However, the movie is Mysskin’s signature thriller, a dark and suspenseful ride perfect for fans of the genre.

Fresh off its release last year, Por Thozhil Tamil has become a strong contender among the top psychological thriller Tamil films. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including the veteran Sarathkumar, who shares screen space with Ashok Selvan and Nikhila Vimal. Ashok portrays DSP K. Prakash, a young rookie cop who reluctantly joins forces with a hostile senior police officer, SP Loganathan (Sarathkumar). Their uneasy partnership is tested when a series of murders rocks the city, where the killer targets young women in an eerily similar modus operandi to the unsolved cases from the 1970s. The duo, along with the newly appointed technical assistant Veena (Nikhila), embark on a journey to track down the killer despite several roadblocks.

What makes Por Thozhil stand out is the captivating dynamic between the seasoned officer and his inexperienced yet quick-witted partner as they learn to work together. Director Vignesh Raja has done a phenomenal job crafting one of the best Tamil psycho thriller films streaming on OTT that will keep you hooked to the screen till the end.