The Kollywood film industry which is known for producing a minimum of 500 movies a year has slowed down for the past one and a half years due to the Covid crisis. In 2021, the movie theatres across Tamil Nadu got opened and a bunch of films were released before the Covid second wave. After the second wave crisis, multiple movies were released and many more are gearing up to release in the next couple of months. Now, as the year is about to end in a few days, we bring you the Best Tamil movies in 2021 which had either theatrical or direct to digital release.
Directed by TJ Gnanavel, Jai Bhim is a hard-hitting social drama that showcases the inequalities in society. Starring Tamil star Suriya in a crucial Lawyer role, Jai Bhim also has Lijomol Jose, Manikandan, Rajisha Vijayan, Prakash Raj, Rao Ramesh among others in key roles. The film had a direct to digital release on Amazon Prime Video on November 2nd. Produced by Suriya’s 2D Entertainments banner, the film is one of the best movies released post-Covid crisis. The film has a 9.4/10 rating on IMDB.
Starring Harish Kalyan and Priya Bhavani Shankar as the lead pair, Oh Manapenne is an official remake of the 2016 Telugu movie, Pelli Choopulu. Directed by Kaarthikk Sundar, the film had a theatrical release on October 22nd. The movie has a 7.3/10 rating on IMDB and is available online on Disney Plus Hotstar.
Directed by Madonne Ashwin, Madela is a political drama set in a rural backdrop. Starring reputed comedian Yogi Babu in the lead role, Mandela has Sheela Rajkumar as the female lead. Also starring Kanna Ravi, GM Sundhar, Deepa Shankar in prominent roles, Mandela had a direct OTT release on digital giant Netflix on April 4, 2021.
Starring K Manikandan, Samuthirakani, Madhumathi, Deepa Shankar among others in key roles, Aelay is a comedy-drama that revolves around the life of a group of people. Directed by Halitha Shameem, the film had a direct to digital release on Netflix on February 28, 2021. The film has a 7.1/10 rating on IMDB.
Directed by Milind Rau, Netrikann has Lady Superstar Nayanthara in the lead role. The film is the story of a visually challenging woman, who was once a cop. Being blind, how will the lady track the whereabouts of a serial abduction killer? Forms the main USB. Produced by Nayan’s boyfriend Vignesh Shivan, the film also has Ajmal Ameer, Saran Shakthi and K Manikandan in key roles. The film had a direct to digital release on Disney Plus Hotstar on August 13, 2021.
Starring Thalapathy Vijay in the protagonist role, Master has Vijay Sethupathi in the antagonist role. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film is social drama that had a theatrical release on January 13, 2021. Master also has Malavika Mohanan, Arjun Das, Andrea Jeremiah in key roles.
Directed by Pa.Ranjith, Sarpatta Parambarai stars Arya, John Kokken, Shabeer Kallarakkal, Pasupathy, Anupama Kumar, Sanchana Natarajan in crucial roles. The film is a boxing drama set in the 1970s time period between two clans namely Idiyappa Parambarai and Sarpatta Parambarai in North Chennai. The film had a direct to digital release on Amazon Prime Video on July 22, 2021.
Starring Karthi, Rashmika Mandanna as the lead pair, Sultan was released on April 2, 2021. Directed by Bakkiyaraj Kannan, Sultan also stars Giant Zanjeer, Ramachandra Raju, Napoleon, Lal among others in supporting roles. The film is a formulaic mass and family entertainer.
Directed by Mari Selvaraj, Karnan is loosely based on 1995 Kodiyankulam caste violence. The film stars Dhanush, Lal, Yogi Babu, Natarajan Subramaniam, Rajisha Vijayan in prominent roles. Karnan was released on April 9, 2021.
Starring Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut in the titular role, Thalaivi is a biopic based on the life of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Directed by AL Vijay, the film had its theatrical release on September 10, 2021. Arvind Swami played the role of MGR in this political drama.
Starring Sivakarthikeyan, Priyanka Mohan, Yogi Babu among others in key roles, Doctor revolves around the kidnap story of a small girl. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, the film was released on October 9, 2021.
Touted as a neo-noir thriller, Kabadadaari was written and directed by Pradeep Krishnamurthy. Starring Sibi Satyaraj, Nandita Swetha, Nassar, Jayaprakash, Suman in key roles. The film had its theatrical release on January 28, 2021.
Kaadan is a tribal drama that revolves around the life of elephants in the Jungle. Starring Rana Daggubati, Vishnu Vishal, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Zoya Hussain among others in key roles, Kaadan was simultaneously released in Telugu as Aranya on March 26, 2021. Directed by Prabhu Solomon, the film’s Hindi version, Haathi Mere Saathi had a direct OTT release on noted OTT platform Zee5.
Directed by MS Anandan, Chakra had a theatrical release on February 19, 2021. Starring Vishal and Shraddha Srinath in the lead roles, the film revolves around cybercrimes and e-commerce scams. Regina Cassandra played the antagonist role in the movie.
Starring Vijay Sethupathi, Sreeja Sethupathi, Regina Cassandra in lead roles, Mughizh was directed by Karthik. The film is a simple family drama that revolves around a girl, who is scared of dogs. Mughizh was released on October 8, 2021.
