The best Tamil movies of all time
The top 3 according to 472 votes from people: Nayakan (1987) · Thevar Magan (1992) · Anbe Sivam (2003). (Updated Nov 15, 2023.)
Mani Ratnam, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and beyond: the highest-rated Tamil films, based on IMDb's Indian top-rated chart, Pinkvilla and a Letterboxd top 100.
Top 10
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1
Nayakan (1987)
A boy from Tamil Nadu who becomes a Bombay underworld don, by Mani Ratnam.
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2
Thevar Magan (1992)
A son returns from abroad to village feuds.
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3
Anbe Sivam (2003)
Two strangers on a long road trip, with Kamal Haasan.
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4
Jai Bhim (2021)
A lawyer defends an Irular tribal woman's husband in custody.
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5
Thalapathi (1991)
Rajinikanth and Mammootty in Mani Ratnam's Mahabharata-inspired drama.
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6
Mouna Raagam (1986)
An arranged marriage and a lost first love, by Mani Ratnam.
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7
Roja (1992)
A wife searches for her kidnapped husband in Kashmir; music by A.R. Rahman.
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8
Enthiran (2010)
Rajinikanth as a scientist and his robot double.
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9
Mahanadhi (1994)
A man's family torn apart by a con, with Kamal Haasan.
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10
Gunaa (1991)
An obsessive love story set in the Kodaikanal caves.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Kannathil Muthamittal (2002)
An adopted girl searches for her mother in war-torn Sri Lanka.
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12
Indian (1996)
A freedom fighter turned vigilante against corruption.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (3)
Nayakan first is correct. But no Vada Chennai or Pariyerum Perumal? Those deserve a spot.
agree about Vada Chennai, though the list seems to stop at the classics
Anbe Sivam is the most underrated Kamal film, glad it's this high