2025 was quite a polarising year for Tamil cinema. Audience thronged to theatres, not to watch the best of what the biggest stars of the industry had to offer, but to listen to good stories from medium-budget and small-budget titles. The likes of Madras Matinee and Tourist Family entertained and made people find more meaning in their lives, while Madharaasi was the sole big-star film that won both critical acclaim and commercial success.
To sum it up, here’s our 10 best Tamil films of the year, in no particular order.
Angammal
Vipin Radhakrishnan’s excellent Angammalstars Geetha Kailasam as a woman who refuses to mend ways with time. It’s an intricate character study that moves measuredly to capture an intimate story with a lot of indie movie conviction. Like the generational wind the titular character speaks about, it’s a rumination of life that hugs you and tugs at your heartstrings, and in the end, leaves you pondering over the many parts of us that we are forced to let go to stay in line with society’s norms. Unfortunately, the film is yet to find a streaming release.
A still from ‘Angammal’
Dragon
Numbers need not equate to quality, but that isn’t the case with Ashwath Marimuthu’s coming-of-age entertainer Dragon. Starring Pradeep Ranganathan, the film is one of the biggest hits of the year, and not without reason. With a deeply flawed protagonist, Dragon hit all the right notes in telling a relevant story about the perils of taking shortcuts to success. That this is told through a thoroughly entertaining screenplay, ample humour, and with the right mix of masala elements catering to the sensibilities of mainstream audiences, makes it a must-watch. With Love Today and now Dragon, Pradeep has just become the ‘Tamil Jesus’ of the middle-class youth, and certainly a star in the making. Dragon is streaming on Netflix.
A still from ‘Dragon’
Madras Matinee
Many Tamil films in 2025 celebrated middle-class life, but this one truly stood out. Written and told with a lot of conviction, debutant filmmaker Karthikeyan Mani’s Madras Matinee not only shone a light on all that lies beneath the cracks of a middle-class life in Chennai, but also transported the viewers to a beautiful world filled with real, lived-in characters. Its characters come alive with so much colour and depth, especially thanks to noteworthy performances by Kaali Venkat, Shelly Kishore and Roshini Haripriyan. This little gem of a film currently streams on Prime Video.
A still from ‘Madras Matinee’
Bison Kaalamaadan
Ace filmmaker Mari Selvaraj took the Tamil industry by storm and cemented his undeniable claim as a modern great with his extraordinaryBison Kaalamaadan, a social sports-drama with profound political takes that are as sharp as its protagonist’s eyes. Mari reinvents his popular tropes and showcases an unmissable fluency in pulling us into his world. The film, based on the life of a kabaddi champion Manathi Ganesan, will be remembered as Mari’s most conventional (and violent) work yet and for its audacious mix of genres. Bison Kaalamaadan is currently running amok on Netflix.
A still from ‘Bison Kaalamaadan’
Paranthu Po
Director Ram, known for his sobering films, threw a curveball with Paranthu Po. A comedy drama that makes you chuckle, ponder and smile ever so often, Paranthu Po came like a breath of fresh air. The film follows the story of a middle-class father who, through an impulsive road trip with his mischievous eight-year-old son, realises the real meaning of happiness. And in that journey, we too begin to fly with him — and dream about going to Mars on a rocketship and wish for a dinosaur to come out of a duck egg. Elegantly told with lots of heart and humour, this film from a master filmmaker is bound to make you a child again. It’s streaming now on JioHotstar.
A still from ‘Paranthu Po’
Naangal
Frames in filmmaker Avinash Prakash’s assured debut Naangal carry either the softness of childhood memories or the pangs of remembering what you wish you could forget. In Naangal, the lives of three young brothers slowly wither at the hands of their strict school principal father. It’s quite something to see them yearn for basic needs and pleasures of life, even when they live in a posh bungalow in an estate. The screenplay puts a magnifying glass on the childhood being slowly tethered away, with affecting empathy, and you only hope the film finds a streaming platform soon. Naangal also reasserts that the most personal is the most creative.
A still from ‘Naangal’
Tourist Family
This must be a no-brainer for all those who watched this Sasikumar, Simran-starrer and left it with teary eyes and a full heart. Directed by debutant Abishan Jeevinth, Tourist Family follows the life of a Sri Lankan family who seek refuge in India. Those who caught the film early on lost themselves in Vasanthi’s innocence, Das’s compassion and generosity, Nithu’s and Kural’s romance, and, of course, Mulli’s dance moves and one-liners. It’s been well over six months since the film’s release, and if you still remember the character arcs of supporting actors like MS Bhaskar and Elango Kumaravel, it is a sign of a work of art that deeply cares about its characters and respects the emotional intellect of the audience. Join this one-of-a-kind family on JioHotstar
A still from ‘Tourist Family’
Madharaasi
The year saw many greats of the game attempt a glorious comeback, only to fall short. Not AR Murugadoss. The filmmaker returned to form with an excellent action entertainer. Starring Sivakarthikeyan in his prime form, the film takes a spot on our list for its conviction over the masala cinema formula, for a racy screenplay (aside from the forgettable climax), for its refusal to use mental health as mere shtick, and, above all, for the adrenaline-pumping action choreography that is on par with the best of Indian cinema. Madharaasihas just reintroduced Murugadoss as a filmmaker who can still thrill mainstream audiences. Hop onto this thrill ride on Prime Video
A still from ‘Madharaasi’
Kudumbasthan
There’s something about Manikandan, isn’t there? In a year that filled the big screen with many middle-class melodies, Kudumbasthan used humour and melodrama to deftly put a strong case for middle-class men who fight through the suffocation day in and day out to keep their families afloat. “Similar to a mother’s hand-fed affection or a father’s care-laden motivation talks, the film comes as a tender affirmation that Tamil cinema has more to offer than just action and violence,” read The Hindu’s review of this beautiful film. Manikandan and the entire lead cast of the film deliver exceptional performances. The film is currently streaming on ZEE5.
A still from ‘Kudumbasthan’
Bad Girl
Varsha Bharath’s terrific debut signals a new era in filmmaking — where women rewrite their narratives, with a cinematic language that’s both unique, sharp-edged, and palatable. Bad Girl will win hearts and stand tall for posterity, every time a lonely girl sees herself in Ramya, and every time a chauvinist feels repulsed at the thought of the film. For its confident storytelling, conviction, and refreshing form, Varsha’s Bad Girl makes our list of the year’s best. Bad Girl rules on JioHotstar
A still from ‘Bad Girl’
Published – December 26, 2025 06:26 pm IST
