1. Kalidas (1931) A Princess is tricked into marrying a naive and illiterate youth. Worldwide Gross: 1 Lakh (Pure Estimate)
2. Seeta Kalyanam (1933) The story of this film revolves around Sri Rama and Seetha’s wedding. Worldwide Gross: 2.5 Lakhs (Pure Estimate)
3. Pavalakkodi (1934) Pavalakkodi tells the mythical love story of Arjuna (Thyagaraja Bhagavathar) and Pavalakkodi (S. D. Subbulakshmi), the princess of Coral Island. Worldwide Gross: 7.5 Lakhs (Pure Estimate)
4. Sati Leelavati (1936) A wealthy man escapes after shooting his friend in a drunken state which results in a drastic change in his life then. Worldwide Gross: 10 Lakhs
5. Chintamani (1937) Based on the life story of a Sanskrit poet named Bilwamangal. Worldwide Gross: 15 Lakhs
6. Ambikapathy (1937) Worldwide Gross: 17.5 Lakhs
7. Thiruneelakantar (1939) Based on the life history of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. Worldwide Gross: 20 Lakhs
8. Aryamala (1941) The love story of Kathavarayan and Aryamala. Worldwide Gross: 25 Lakhs
9. Nandanar (1942) Based on Nandan, a low caste farmer’s deep devotion towards Shiva. Worldwide Gross: 30 Lakhs
10. Haridas (1944) • The first Tamil film & also the first South Indian film to gross 50 Lakhs. Worldwide Gross: 50 Lakh
11. Chandra (I) (1948) • The first South Indian film to gross over 1 crore worldwide. • Made on a budget of around 30 Lakhs, this film was the all-time most expensive Indian film at that time. Worldwide Gross: 1.65cr
12. Enga Veetu Pillai (1965) Ramu is an innocent son of a rich landlord who is afraid of his brother-in-law Narendran and his whiplash. To escape from his punishments, Ramu leaves his house and his look-alike replaces him. Worldwide Gross: 1.75cr
13. Adimai Penn (1969) • The first Tamil film to gross 2 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 2cr
14. Vasantha Maligai (1972) A woman must overcome a wealthy alcoholic’s wicked family as she tries to help him turn his life around. Worldwide Gross: 2.5 Cr
15. Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973) • The first Tamil film to gross 3 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 3 Cr
16. Thirisoolam (1979) • The first Tamil film to gross 4 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 4cr
17. Murattu Kaalai (1980) Kaaliyan and Jaishankar are like dictators in neighboring villages separately, but in contrast to Kaaliyan, Jaishankar is selfish and bad. The engagement of Jaishankar’s sister with Kaaliyan triggers rivalry between the two villages. Worldwide Gross: 4.5cr
18. Sakalakala Vallavan (1982) • The first Tamil film to gross 5 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 5.5 Cr
19. Padikkathavan (1985) Two brothers are ousted from their house by their stepbrother’s wife. Years later, when one of the brothers is framed for a murder, his stepbrother, who is a judge, returns as a lawyer to save him. Worldwide Gross: 6.5cr
20. Manithan (1987) After returning from prison, Raja works as a social worker. But he makes many enemies who constantly try to plot against him. Worldwide Gross: 7.5cr
21. Nayakan (1987) • The Telugu version of this film has emerged as a successful venture in Andhra/Nizam, which helped this movie to surpass Manithan & emerge as the all-time highest-grossing Tamil film worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 8 Cr
22. Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989) • The first Tamil film to gross over 10 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 11.25cr
23. Chinna Thambi (1991) A rich girl is guarded by her possessive brothers due to an astrologer’s prediction, that she will marry a man from a lower caste, against their wishes. Can they stop the wheels of fate? Worldwide Gross: 12cr
24. Thalapathi (1991) • The first dubbed film to earn over 1 crore share in Andhra/Nizam. • Earned a lifetime distributor share of around 1.5 crores in Andhra/Nizam. Worldwide Gross: 14.75cr
25. Annamalai (1992) • The first Tamil film to gross over 15 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 17cr
26. Thevar Magan (1992) • Emerged as a big successful film in Andhra/Nizam & earned around 1.5 crore share in Andhra/Nizam. Worldwide Gross: 17.5cr
27. Baasha (1995) • The first Tamil film & also the first South Indian film to gross over 25 crores worldwide. • The first dubbed film to earn over 5 crore share in Andhra/Nizam. Worldwide Gross: 40cr
28. Indian (1996) • The first Tamil film & also the first South Indian film to gross over 50 crores worldwide. • The Hindi version of this film grossed a huge 15 crore in India. Worldwide Gross: 58.5cr
29. Padaiyappa (1999) • The second Tamil film & also the second South Indian film to gross over 50 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 61.5cr
30. Chandramukhi (2005) • The first Tamil film & also the first South Indian film to gross over 75 crores worldwide. • The first dubbed film to earn over 10 crore share in Andhra/Nizam. Worldwide Gross: 89cr
31. Sivaji (2007) • The first Tamil film & also the first South Indian film to gross over 100 crores worldwide. Worldwide Gross: 153.2cr
32. Enthiran (2010) • The first Tamil film & also the first South Indian film to gross over 200 crores worldwide. • The first dubbed film to earn over 25 crore share in Andhra/Nizam. Worldwide Gross: 290.9cr
33. Kabali (2016) A reformed gangster is released from prison and attempts to protect his family from his enemies. Worldwide Gross: 294.2cr
34. 2.0 (2018) • The first Tamil film to gross over 500 crores worldwide. • The first dubbed film to earn over 50 crore share in Andhra/Nizam. Worldwide Gross: 647.7cr