Bollywood is frequently mistaken for Indian cinema by moviegoers around the world. Hindi films, regional films, and art films are all included under the general heading of the Indian film industry. India, the largest country in the world for film production, makes over 1,500 films annually in various languages.

Tamil Cinema, affectionately known as Kollywood, is based in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, and has a wide following both domestically and among the Tamil diaspora around the world. With a vast selection of Tamil films across all genres, Netflix can satisfy the tastes of any viewer.

35. Kadhalikka Neramillai (2025)

Starring Ravi Mohan and Nithya Menen, ‘Kadhalikka Neramillai’ follows Shriya and Karan, two young people who cross paths by mere happenstance but get unknowingly connected by their bodily fluids, so to speak. Shriya and Sid both face relationship issues and make decisions that eventually bind them. How they meet and how such deep connection leads to a heartwarming romance is what we get to see in this sensitive film on contemporary relationships that also acts as a commentary upon social taboos. Directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, ‘Kadhalikka Neramillai’ is loosely adapted from the romantic comedy ‘The Switch,’ which starred Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. You can watch it here.

34. Thug Life (2025)

Directed by Mani Ratnam, ‘Thug Life’ goes deep into the gangster theme with a fraternal bond as the central axis. The film revolves around Sakthivel, a gangster, and Amaran, a boy the former picked up as a child, vowing to find the latter’s missing sister. Learning the ins and outs of the crime trade, Amar acquires Sakthivel’s brother Manikyam’s ire. And if this was not enough, there is also Sadanand, a gangster rival, who has been planning Sakthivel’s downfall for a long time. Politics, gang war, romance, and family problems, ‘Thug Life’ has them all and gives the viewers an epic drama driven by a top cast. This comprises Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Ali Fazal. You can watch it here.

33. DeAr (2024).

How poorly can one’s marriage be harmed if her husband snores heavily while he is a light sleeper? ‘DeAr’ is one comic interpretation of this. Arjun and Deepika share a lovely wedding (arranged), but their companionship is hampered on account of the conditions mentioned earlier. To bear it out, they have to compromise and accept one another for all their shortcomings. After all, isn’t that the very foundation of any bond? How Arjun and Deepika handle it is what we have next in this Anand Ravichandran directorial. The movie features GV Prakash as Arjun and Aishwarya Rajesh as Deepika. You may watch it here.

32. Good Bad Ugly (2025)

Adhik Ravichandran directs ‘Good Bad Ugly,’ an action comedy revolving around crime lord AK, who retires from his profession after being voluntarily imprisoned on account of his son being convicted on false charges. Determined to protect his son and wife, AK embarks on a perilous adventure to remind the new players that he is still in charge. His enemies, however, are numerous, and he has to rush if he is to get to the perpetrator who framed his son before the latter lands in jail. Starring Ajith Kumar as AK, Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Das, Jackie Shroff, Prabhu, and Sunil, ‘Good Bad Ugly’ has a simple plot but is loaded with stylized action sequences powered by Ajith’s trademark swag. You can watch it here.

31. Thangalaan (2024)

Released in the mid-19th century, Pa. Ranjith’s ‘Thangalaan’ traces tribal chief Thangalaan, who clashes with a sorceress as he and his villagers assist a British officer in retrieving the gold the latter is searching for. Thangalaan is unaware that he has ties with the sorceress in more than one way, and only when he finds his true calling will he be able to vanquish her. Starring Vikram, Malavika Mohanan, Daniel Caltagirone, and Parvathy Thiruvothu, ‘Thangalaan’ is a mix of folklore and fantasy that brings us an engaging and intense drama with a serving of action. You can watch it here.

30. Indian (1996) & Indian 2 (2024)

Directed by S. Shankar, ‘Indian’ and ‘Indian 2’ are sweeping vigilante action dramas featuring Kamal Haasan as Senapathy, a old vigilante who warred during India’s fight for independence. After having understood that liberty was the start of another battle against corruption, he went into arms, fighting criminals and upholding justice. In the first movie, he battles his corrupt son whereas in the second movie, he helps a guy who is attempting to unveil corrupt politicians. Famous for the manner in which they weave patriotism, topical issues, anti-establishment clichés, and action, the ‘Indian’ films are among India’s most popular and audience-attracting films ever. The two films may be viewed here.

29. The Greatest of All Time (2024)

Starring Vijay, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Prashanth, and Prabhu Deva, ‘The Greatest of All Time’ is an action thriller. It revolves around M. S. Gandhi (Vijay), a Special Anti-Terrorism Squad member. When his family is attacked during one of his missions, he experiences a heartbreak. This compels him to retire from his duty and live a peaceful life. Years later, though, he is called for a dangerous mission, to which he agrees, only to be met with the same tragedy, a face in the past. The Greatest of All Time’ went on to become the fourth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time upon its release. You may watch it here.

28. Beast (2022)

‘Beast’ is a comedic action-thriller directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. The film revolves around Veera Raghavan, an ex-RAW agent who finds himself trapped in a terrorist-occupied shopping mall. When the terrorists resort to taking hostages, Veera has to employ his intellect and abilities to rescue the hostages, including his romantic interest, and cope with his past trauma. The supporting cast includes Thalapathy Vijay, Pooja Hegde, Selvaraghavan, and Yogi Babu. ‘Beast’ can be watched here.

27. Game Over (2019)

A young woman struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a horrific experience in her past starts to lose her grip following reports of a group of assassins beheading and burning women that circulate like wildfire. Starring Taapsee Pannu, ‘Game Over’ is a psychological thriller directed by Ashwin Saravanan. The manner in which the film unfolds, coupled with Pannu’s outstanding performance buttressed by Saravanan’s direction, makes it a worthy watch. You can view the movie here.

26. Sorgavaasal (2024)

Siddharth Vishwanath’s ‘Sorgavaasal’ is a prison drama that brings to light the corruption that obtains in a prison system that, instead of serving as a rehabilitation center for the inmates, plunges them into a bleak abyss from which there does not appear to be any return. We see this through the eyes of an innocent fellow called Parthi (RJ Balaji), who is wrongly blamed for a policeman’s murder and put behind bars. Joining in the drama are the prison warden, Sunil Kumar (Sharafudheen), who maintains order, and the notorious criminal Siga (Selvaraghavan), who “operates” the prison. With a gripping tale that brings to the forefront morality in a system devised for convicts, ‘Sorgavaasal’ is adapted from the Madras Central Prison riots of 1999. You may view it here.

25. Thalaikoothal (2023)

This emotionally poignant drama sheds light on the practice of Thalaikoothal, the age-old practice of senicide or involuntary euthanasia, found rampant in many districts of Tamil Nadu, India. A family might conduct Thalaikoothal on a bedridden, comatose family member after exhausting all other alternatives. In the movie, working-class middle-aged Pazhani (Samuthirakani) is torn between domestic duties (he has a wife, Kalaiselvi, and a daughter, Raji) and love for his comatose father, Muthu (Kalaiselvan), whose nurturing influences their family budget. This storyline progresses parallel to a second one depicting Muthu’s childhood and romance life, the film’s method of keeping things in perspective. Directed by Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan, ‘Thalaikoothal’ has Kathir playing young Muthu, Vasundhara Kashyap as Kalaiselvi, and Katha Nandi as Pechi, Muthu’s childhood sweetheart. You can watch the film here.

24. Meiyazhagan (2024)

C. Prem Kumar’s ‘Meiyazhagan’ delves into the bittersweet nostalgia of returning to memories of childhood. We accompany Arulmozhi Varman (Arvind Swamy) back to his native place after 22 years for a wedding. As he regales with friends of his past, his memory lane stroll assumes the contours of a wistful ride marked by his authentic sense of self. ‘Meiyazhagan’ is a tear-jerking drama that will linger in your mind for a long time. You can view it here.

23. Visaaranai (2015)

How long are you going to absorb beatings without knowing what you have been charged with? ‘Visaaranai’ is a spine-chilling realization of this query. We have four workers who are arrested, tortured nearly to death to make them confess and accept responsibility for an upscale robbery, a case the police must solve as quickly as possible. A police inspector assists them in walking free, but on condition that they kidnap someone else. This abduction, unknown to the laborers, is a part of a larger conspiracy of the state’s ruling political party. When the man dies in detention, his death is once again attributed to the four laborers. The movie is based on the novel ‘Lock Up’ by M. Chandrakumar, who is the sole surviving laborer in the novel. To know what is done to the other three guys, you can see this Vetrimaaran directorial right here.

22. Maamannan (2023)

Directed and written by Mari Selvaraj, this political thriller action film is based in Salem district, Tamil Nadu. The film is about ‘Maamannan,’ an MLA belonging to the Dalit community who has risen from being a cadre of SSMK party. The main plot revolves around the strained relationship between Maamannan and his son Athiveeran alias “Veera,” who is a master of Adimurai, an ancient form of martial art. Veera does not speak to his father because of the psychological and physical trauma suffered by him as a child when he was subjected to a casteist attack.

The movie features Vadivelu as the lead in the title role, with Udhayanidhi Stalin playing the character Athiveeran (Veera). The movie captures the intricacies of caste relationships common in contemporary Tamil Nadu. This moving plot reveals the plight of those ostracized by society and brings out the quest of these people for self-realization and self-empowerment. You can view the movie here.

21. Doctor (2021)

‘Doctor’ is an action-thriller comedy movie helmed by Nelson Dilipkumar. The film is based on the life of Varun, an army doctor who goes on a rescue mission for his kidnapped fiancée, Padmini. Supported by his friends, Varun utilizes his intelligence and medical expertise to outwit the kidnappers and rescue Padmini, discovering a more extensive criminal scheme in the process. The film features Sivakarthikeyan, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Vinay Rai, and Yogi Babu in crucial roles. You are free to watch the film here.

20. Kadaseela Biriyani (2021)

Kadaseela Biriyani is a crime-comedy drama written and directed by Nishanth Kalidindi. The film is about three brothers who intend to kill their father’s murderer. As they attempt to carry out their mission, they encounter unforeseen circumstances and moral challenges that test their intent and familial ties. Ram, Vasanth Selvam, Hakkim Shah, and Dinesh Mani feature in this action movie, which delves into revenge, family, and the law of karma. You can watch the film here.

19. Etharkkum Thunindhavan (2022)

‘Etharkkum Thunindhavan’ is a gripping action-drama movie written and directed by Pandiraj. The movie narrates the life of Kannabiran, an attorney who fights against a crime syndicate that traffics women. As he progresses deeper into the case, Kannabiran discovers scandalous truths and is confronted with personal and professional obstacles that push him to the limit of his determination to deliver justice to the victims. Suriya, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Vinay Rai, and Sathyaraj have key roles in the film. You can view the movie here.

18. Annaatthe (2021)

Meaning “Big Brother,” ‘Annaatthe’ is a Tamil action movie that centers around Kaalaiyan, an honest village president. Though Kaalaiyan keeps ethics and morality first, he is quite proud to be in his position and never bows down to anyone, earning him a huge conflict with the opposing leader, Nattadurai. Slowly, the film showcases how Kaalaiyan’s sister, Meenatchi, is the world to him, and the leader prepares to arrange a groom for her. Although fate fixes Meenatchi’s marriage with Nattadurai’s younger brother, she falls in love with a fellow student and attempts to run away. Nevertheless, Kaalaiyan gives in to his sister’s demands and somehow manages to contain the situation. However, the decision comes back to haunt Meenatchi, and thus, with his sister in danger, Kaalaiyan sets out to face whatever trouble he has to to keep her safe. You can watch ‘Annaatthe’ here.

17. Nitham Oru Vaanam (2022)

‘Nitham Oru Vaanam’ is a drama romance movie depicting Arjun, a young boy who has OCD. He is a loner until he meets Janani, a girl of his age who he thinks gets him. The two bond with each other, and marriage is something that is discussed around. But Janani suddenly breaks up with him and returns to her old boyfriend, leaving Arjun devastated. His therapist recommends two stories Tamil Movies  for him to read. Since he has the tendency to put himself in the shoes of the characters in stories he reads, the hasty and cliffhanger endings of the two said stories infuriate Arjun to no end. His therapist informs him that the characters he read about are real individuals and asks him to get acquainted with them, in the hope that Arjun will realize solutions to his heartache and misery through the journey as well. You can watch the movie here.

16. Don (2022)

The title of the film ‘Don’ is taken for the title character, Chakaravarthi “Don” Ganesan. The film takes off with Don already being a successful filmmaker. As he rushes to college, the story flashes back and we find him in school days when he falls in love with and meets Angaiyarkanni or Angu. Don’s dad wishes him to join as a civil engineer and essentially forces him to join BEC (Best Engineering College) in Coimbatore. Though Don and Angu split up post-school, they meet again in college after he assists her in reconciling with her dad. Don’s dream for a simple and carefree college life is shattered after he encounters Bhoominathan, a strict professor. As the movie unfolds, Don learns means to challenge the authority figures in his life and becomes Tamil Movies  passionate about filmmaking. You can watch ‘Don’ here.

15. Aelay (2021)

This directorial by Halitha Shameem is an unconventional take on a father-son relationship. When old Muthukutty (Samuthirakani) dies, his son Parthi (K. Manikandan) conducts the last rites. Simultaneously, we see young, jovial Sudhakar live off selling ice cream and how much his people loved him. Still, Parthi never enjoyed the same equation with his dad. Will the funeral of Will Muthukutty make a difference? ‘Aelay’ is an interesting movie with surprises that fall into place perfectly into the Tamil Movies  overbearing father-son drama. You can view it here.

14. KD (A) Karuppudurai (2019)

‘KD (A) Karuppudurai’ is a family drama movie directed by Tamil Movies Madhumita Sundararaman. The film traces the life of Karuppudurai, an 80-year-old man who runs away from his family, who want him killed so that they can inherit his property. During his time on the run, he develops a relationship with a boy named Kutty who is an orphan. They go through their journey together and search for the meaning of life, friendship, and family. Mu Ramasamy, Nagavishal, Yog Japee, and Badava Gopi act in this movie, with the essence of family, friendship, and life. Feel free to view the movie here.

13. Gatta Kusthi (2022)

Veera (Vishnu Vishal) is a chauvinist to the core and brought up by his uncle Ratnam. When he decides that he needs to search for a bride, he formulates certain conditions in which a girl has to qualify so that he can consider her seriously. She cannot be more qualified than him, cannot have a job, must have long hair, and must be obedient. He could not go past the eighth grade and is not as high-valued a candidate as he imagines himself to be. Keerthi (Aishwarya Lekshmi), who is the opposite of everything Veera desires and is a wrestling champion, consents to marry him in desperation as well as because he does not take dowry. At her uncle’s advice, she gets hair extensions, conceals her wrestling certifications, and that she is an alumnus of the university. Comical moments arise when Veera finally discovers the truth. You may watch the movie here.

12. RK Nagar (2019)

A political satire Tamil movie, RK Nagar traces Shankar, a Chennai individual who barely scrapes by. Shankar feels that money serves no purpose for mankind and, therefore, does not consider it a need to admire people of wealth. At the same time, there is Ranjini, a girl who detests drunken men, who suddenly develops a different attitude towards Shankar and falls in love with him after she sees him running guys out with a machete. This unexpected romance soon develops as the couple becomes familiar and at ease with one another. But fate had something else in store when a brutal fight between two competitors leads to a man killed within Shankar’s tailoring store. The remaining part of the film offers a good balance between romance and comedy as the inquiry narrows down to Shankar as he attempts to redeem himself. You can watch ‘RK Nagar’ here.

11. Mehandi Circus (2019)

When two individuals fall in love, it is not only about the two of them; there are social consequences behind their love story, which can ruin lives. Mehandi (Shweta Tripathi) and Jeeva (Madhampatty Rangaraj) love story is marred by difference in caste and jealousy. Filmed in the 1990s, ‘Mehandi Circus’ marks Saravana Rajendran’s directorial debut. He revives the dying art of the circus where Mehandi is a part of. Jeeva owns a music shop in Kodaikanal where Mehandi’s troupe of the circus performs. The troupe used for the film is Kamala Circus, Gujarat. The color scheme of the film renders the scenes spectacular and evokes a feeling of nostalgia. You can watch it here.

10. Andhaghaaram (2020)

Meaning “Darkness,” ‘Andhaghaaram’ is a supernatural Tamil language film about three apparently unrelated men in Chennai. The first, Dr. Indran, is a physician who was attacked by an violent patient. While the doctor is not killed, his entire family is massacred by the patient, and his license is subsequently suspended. The second, Selvam, is a truthful blind man with a bad kidney condition. But having been well-versed in the occult, he attempts to earn a living by trapping spirits in a reportedly haunted house. Last is the third, Vinod, a cricket coach who believes that he is responsible for having given his friend, Pradeep, a book on the occult, which seems to have induced the latter some instability of mind. As the film continues, it unfolds how these three men exist in different timelines and how the spirit world, or rather the supernatural, connects them. The latter part of the film is an entertaining watch as it unfolds the present timeline and how the spirit world attempts to utilize the living to cause destruction to past perpetrators. You can watch the film here.

9. Irugapatru (2023)

Directed by Yuvaraj Dhayalan, ‘Irugapatru’ features Saniya Iyappan, Abarnathi, Shraddha Srinath and Vikram Prabhu. It is about marriage counselor Mithra, whose advice and hacks for keeping a marriage strong begin affecting her own marital life. Alongside, we also come across two other married couples having relationship problems. In between understanding and misunderstanding, we are given a large canvas of what it is to be in a relationship where both individuals are tied by the sacred promise. You may view the movie here.

8. Love Today (2022)

Director Pradeep Ranganathan brings us a rom-com that features Ivana, Pradeep Ranganathan, Akshaya Udayakumar, Yogi Babu, and Sathyaraj. The video demonstrates what occurs when Nikitha’s dad asks her and her boyfriend Uthaman to exchange their mobile phones for one day, after which, if they are willing to marry, they can. Uthaman’s parents are not in the picture here. Though both Uthaman and Nikitha are reluctant in the beginning, they exchange and ultimately unlock each other’s phones. And that’s where troubles, complaints, and confusion arise. Though for us audience, it is entertaining, the movie is clear in its message that it takes one to know one in such a condition. It’s not cheating but concealing and/or withholding things from the person with whom you have chosen to live your entire life. To know what happens to Nikitha and Uthaman, you can check out the movie here.

7. Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (2020)

The two friends who scam people by introducing themselves as app developers and the resultant misadventures along with finding love for themselves make the movie an enjoyable watch. All four lead actors of the movie have been provided with enough room, which only adds to the specialness of the film. ‘Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal’ was filmed in Delhi, Goa, and Chennai by much-acclaimed debutant director Desingh Periyasamy. The entertainer is not preachy by any means, nor does it blame any of the characters for what they did. But it does present us with some “life lessons” via this amusing but full-of-twists narrative. You can watch the movie here.

6. Jagame Thandiram (2021)

‘Jagame Thandiram,’ which translates to “The Universe is a ruse,” is about Suruli, a Madurai gangster who runs a restaurant. Though Suruli longs to get married as quickly as possible, fate catches up with him and his bride discovers that he has a criminal past and escapes from him. Left alone, Suruli turns to crime and soon falls into the radar of John, who brings him to London to work in Peter Sprott’s gang. After Suruli assists Peter in murdering a competing leader, he wins the confidence and backing of his boss. Slow.y, the Madurai gangster does well and even falls in love with a Sri Lankan Tamil lady, Attila. Nevertheless, when Attila attempts to nurse him back to health following a brutal fight, Suruli does catch her attempting to poison him to death. The explanation for Attila’s motive fills out the rest of the film as the series of events risks upsetting the underbellies of both Sri Lanka and London. You can find out more about the film here.

5. Maharaja (2024)

Directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, ‘Maharaja’ features Vijay Sethupathi in the lead role. He is a barber/single father whose life ends up in the wrong way in the form of a robbery that steals from him his “Lakshmi.” He tries to get the police to locate Lakshmi, whom Maharaja’s daughter, Jyothi, adores. When pleading does not work, he uses bribes to make the police locate the robbers who have stolen away Lakshmi. But what the police are not aware of is that Maharaja is hunting for the culprits for another motive, one driven by the revenge thirst that has been triggered by a personal loss. Sethupathi’s act elevates the movie from its standard revenge theme to a serious crime drama. Additionally featured in the cast are Anurag Kashyap, Mamta Mohandas, Sachana Namidass, and Natarajan Subramaniam. You can view ‘Maharaja’ here.

4. Sila Samayangalil (2016)

Also referred to as ‘Sometimes,’ this movie tells a strange tale of seven strangers who visit a clinic to be tested for AIDS and their suspense when they hear that one of them is infected. This is what human nature is all about: to be curious and to think of possibilities or an alternate reality. As all of the characters share their history in conversations of varying depth, we begin to relate to the characters and what they are experiencing. The movie also points out the stigma that is attached to AIDS and how it impacts people, whether they do or do not have AIDS. This is revealed discreetly as the characters never have reservations judging each other, though they are all in the same location. The whole movie is enacted in the waiting area of a clinic; hence, the delineation of the characters and the narrative strength are on its shoulders. You can watch ‘Sila Samayangalil’ here.

3. Jigarthanda Double X (2023)

Another recent Tamil addition to Netflix, ‘Jigarthanda Double X,’ is helmed by Karthik Subbaraj and features Raghava Lawrence, SJ Surya, Nimisha Sajayan, and Shine Tom Chacko. The action takes place in the 1970s and involves two characters: Alliyus Caesar, a gangster, and Kirubakar, a police sub-inspector on a mission to catch Caesar. So when he learns that Caesar is on the lookout for a director who will direct a movie with him in the lead, Kirubakar poses as Ray Dasan, an assistant director of world-renowned Indian director Satyajit Ray, and passes the audition. If Kirubakar manages to get Caesar into court while attempting to shoot a film with him, we are offered in this completely engaging movie with excellent performances from all cast members. You can view ‘Jigarthanda Double X’ here

2. Amaran (2024)

Rajkumar Periasamy’s biographical war film ‘Amara’ is inspired by the life of Martyr Major Mukund Varadarajan (Sivakarthikeyan), who was martyred on 25 April 2014 while conducting a counterterrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The movie is adapted from the chapter devoted to the braveheart in the book ‘India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes’ by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh and narrated from Mukund’s wife Indhu’s (Sai Pallavi) perspective as she remembers her husband while traveling to New Delhi to collect the Ashoka Chakra conferred upon him after death. The movie goes inside the life of Major Mukund Varadarajan, highlighting his days as a soldier in a visually beautiful way, touching on the battles that he fought. A heart-stirring drama with its share of heroic and tragic episodes, ‘Amaran’ is definitely one to watch and can be seen here.

1. Maareesan (2025)

‘Maareesan’ is a thriller comedy whose main focus is on a small-time thief, Dhyalan, and an old man called Velayudham. The latter has Velayudham chained when Dhyalan tries breaking in into his house. Velayudham’s son is out, and because the man suffers from Alzheimer’s, his son chained him up so that he wouldn’t go out and lose himself. Velayudham provides Dhyalan with money in return for freedom, and the latter accepts. While the duo goes on their quest to locate an ATM, there are rumors of a serial killer, whose modus operandi is phone calls. How these two storylines intersect makes ‘Maaresan’ a must-see drama fueled by Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu’s performances. You can watch it here. Read More: Best Bollywood Movies on Netflix