21 Tamil Thriller Movies To Watch If You Love Suspense

The Tamil movie industry has always been on top for producing movies in a wide variety of genres, including romance, drama, action, and comedy. With the coming changes in the Tamil industry, there is another genre that has gained popularity i.e. thriller and suspense. In this article, we are going to list the best Tamil thriller movies that are a must-watch.

They are renowned for their fast-paced action, suspenseful plotlines, and unexpected twists and turns. Tamil crime thriller movies are mostly based on social issues like corruption, politics, trafficking, societal norms, and many more, which make them loved by a large number of people.

Many Tamil thriller movies have gained popularity and get critically acclaimed both throughout India and on an international level. They are famous for their innovative storylines, nail-biting suspense, and heart-racing action sequences. The best part about this genre is their contribution to the growth and development of the Tamil film industry. There are also several Tamil thriller movies dubbed in Hindi.

Overall, Tamil thriller movies are loved worldwide. These movies not only entertain but also provide social commentary and raise awareness about societal issues.

What makes Tamil thriller movies so exhilarating?

• Tamil thrillers have grasping plotlines. They include well-organized and complex storytelling.
• The Tamil thriller movies have high production costs. They are directed by renowned and experienced directors and a strong cast.
• Good suspense with unexpected plot twists.

Here is the list of the best crime thriller movies Tamil you shouldn’t miss out:

1. Vikram Vedha (2017)

Vikram Vedha is based on an Indian Folktale of Vikram-Betal. It follows Vikram (R. Madhavan), a ruthless encounter specialist, who is on a mission to capture Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi), a notorious gangster.

When Vedha voluntarily surrenders himself at the police station, he tells Vikram three stories. However, as Vikram digs deeper into Vedha’s life and history, he begins to question his own beliefs and morals. This deserves a place in the Tamil suspense movies list.

Directors: Pushkar-Gayathri

IMDb rating: 8.2/10

Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, R. Madhavan

Box office collection: ₹600 million globally

Watch on: Zee5, Amazon Prime Video, MX Player

2. Ratsasan (2018)

Ratsasan follows a story of a young filmmaker named Arun Kumar (Vishnu Vishal), who takes up a job as a police officer after his father’s death to support his family.

He is then assigned to investigate a series of brutal murders of schoolgirls happening in the city. As Arun delves deeper into the case, he realizes that the killer is using the serial killer’s modus operandi that he has written in his script.

Director: Ram Kumar

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

Cast: Vishnu Vishal, Amala Paul, etc.

Box office collection: ₹20 crore 

Watch on: Disney+Hotstar

3. Kaithi (2019)

Kaithi is one of the crime Tamil thriller movies revolving around an ex-convict Dilli (Karthi), who is released from jail and on a mission to meet his 10-year-old daughter named Amudha.

However, his plans go awry when he gets involved in a drug smuggling operation and a race against time to drive poisoned cops to a hospital in exchange for meeting his daughter. The movie is set throughout one night and is a non-stop action-packed ride.

IMDb rating: 8.5/10

Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Cast: Narain, Arjun Das, Harish Uthaman, George Maryan, Dheena, etc.

Box office collection: ₹105 crore 

Watch on: Aha, Hotstar, SonyLIV

4. Vikram (2022)

Vikram revolves around a former black ops commander Vikram (Kamal Hassan) who was believed to be dead and Amar (Fahad Faasil), the current head of a black ops team.

Vikram is on a secret mission to take down a drug syndicate and avenge the death of his son, who was killed by the syndicate’s leader Sandhanam (Vijay Sethupathi).

Along the way, he faces numerous challenges but ultimately succeeds in their mission. It is one of the best Tamil thriller movies 2022.

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj

Cast: Narain, Kalidas Jayaram, Gayathrie, Chemban Vinod Jose, Santhana Bharathi, etc.

Box office collection: ₹200 crore 

Watch on: Aha, Hotstar, Zee5

5. Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006)

Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu follows the story of Raghavan (Kamal Haasan), an IPS officer who is assigned to investigate a series of brutal murders of young women happening in Chennai. It is among the best crime thriller movies Tamil.

His investigation and series of murders lead him to New York City, where he delves deeper into the case, he discovers that the killer is a sadistic psychopath who enjoys torturing and killing his victims.

IMDb rating: 7.9/10

Director: Gautham Vasudev Menon

Cast: Kamal Haasan and Jyothika, while Kamalinee Mukherjee, Prakash Raj, etc.

Box office collection: ₹50 crore

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Zee5

6. Papanasam (2015)

Papanasam revolves around a middle-class cable TV operator named Suyambulingam (Kamal Hassan), who leads a simple life with his wife Rani and two daughters named Selvi and Meena in a village called Papanasam.

His simple life turns ups and down when his elder daughter accidentally killed Varun the only son of the Inspector General Of Police. It shows to what extent a man could go to protect his family.

IMDb rating: 8.4/10

Director: Jeethu Joseph

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami, Nivetha Thomas, Esther Anil, etc.

Box office collection: ₹100 crore

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube

7. Yashoda (2022)

Yashoda is among the best Tamil thriller movies that revolves around an undercover IPS trainee named Yashoda, who goes on a secret mission to investigate a conspiracy involving a drug made from fetuses harvested from poor surrogate mothers and to find his sister named Brinda who got involved in this conspiracy.

Along the way, she unfolds the truth behind the murders happening and the people behind them.

IMDb rating: 6.6/10

Directors: Hareesh Narayan, K. Hari Shankar

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami, Nivetha Thomas, Esther Anil, etc.

Box office collection: ₹50 crore

Watch on: Prime Video

8. FIR (2022)

FIR follows the story of Irfan Ahmed, a jobless graduate who turns to the perfume business. He was arrested twice on the charges of terrorism because of the bomb blast that happened in Hyderabad.

He undergoes torture in police custody but later escapes. However, it is revealed that Irfan is an undercover NIA agent, who has waited for years to find out the terrorist, Abu Bakr Abdullah, and his real name is Faizal Ibrahim Raiz (FIR).

IMDb rating: 6.9/10

Director: Manu Anand

Cast: Vishnu Vishal, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Manjima Mohan, Raiza Wilson, etc.

Box office collection: ₹24 crore

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar

9. Diary (2022)

Diary revolves around Varadhan Annadurai (Arulnithi), a new police officer who is given the unsolved murder case of a couple who were killed during their honeymoon in Ooty. As he embarks on this mission he comes across a group of robbers, a runaway couple, and a haunted bus.

He then discovers the remains of a bus that crashed 16 years ago and a few skeletons inside it. This movie is about how this case personally impacts Varadhan’s life.

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Director: Innasi Pandiyan

Cast: Arulnithi Tamilarasu, S Kathiresan, etc.

Watch on: Aha

10. Irumbu Thirai (2018)

Irumbu Thirai follows the story of a military officer named Kathiravan (Vishal) who has anger management issues. In order to return to his job he is asked to reconcile with his family by his psychiatrist Rathi who is also his lover. After returning to his village he learns about the cybercrime network run by a mastermind known as White Devil. He then sets on a mission to find and arrest him. Irumbu Thirai is on the list of top 10 crime thriller movies in Tamil.

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Director: P.S. Mithran

Cast: Vishal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Arjun Sarja, Delhi Ganesh, etc.

Box office collection: ₹71 crore

Watch on: MX Player, Zee5, Hotstar

11. Gargi (2022)

Gargi is a story that revolves around a school teacher named Gargi (Sai Pallavi), who is fighting to prove her dad’s innocence after he’s accused of assaulting a child.

With no one to support she finds a lawyer who agrees to represent them and uncovers evidence that puts the case in question.

However, Gargi’s doubts about her dad’s claims lead her to confirm his guilt, leading to his arrest and conviction. The family eventually reconciles with the victim and her dad.

IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Director: Gautham Ramachandran

Cast: Sai Pallavi, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Kaali Venkat, R.S. Shivaji, Jayaprakash, etc.

Box office collection: ₹71 crore

Watch on: SonyLIV

12. Visaranai (2016)

Visaranai tells the story of four migrant workers who are falsely accused of theft and brutally tortured by the police. However, they get involved in a political conspiracy when they learn about the plan they get framed and getting eliminated.

The film sheds light on corruption and police brutality. It is based on a novel written by one of those migrants named Kumar in real life, who received recognition from human rights organizations. You can watch it on OTT platforms. It is among the Tamil thriller movies on Netflix.

IMDb rating: 8.5/10

Director: Vetrimaaran

Cast: Attakathi Dinesh, Murugadoss, Samuthirakani, Kishore, E. Ramdoss, etc.

Box office collection: ₹ 110 million

Watch on: Netflix

13. Kuttram 23 (2017)

Kuttram 23 is a movie based on a novel of the same name written by Rajesh Kumar. It follows the story of the Assistant Commissioner of Police Vetrimaaran (Arun Vijay), who is ordered to investigate the mysterious death of a high-ranking police officer.

His investigation leads him to uncover a medical scam involving the illegal trade of fetal organs. He then sets on a mission to track down the mastermind behind the illegal operation.

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Director: Arivazhagan Venkatachalam

Cast: Arun Vijay, Mahima Nambiar, Thambi Ramaiah, Amit Bhargav, etc.

Box office collection: ₹11 crore

Watch on: Disney+Hotstar, Zee5, YouTube

14. Etharkkum Thunindhavan (2022)

Etharkkum Thunindhavan is a story about a Madras High Court lawyer named Kannabiran (Suriya) who falls in love with Aadhini (Priyanka Arul Mohan) from a rival village.

The two get married and Kannabiran helps Yazhnila friend of Aadhini fight against a pornography racket run by Inba (Vinay Rai).

Inba secretly records Kannabiran and Aadhini’s intimate moments and uses them against them. He then took the law into his own hands and delivered justice.

IMDb rating: 6.5/10

Director: Pandiraj

Cast: Suriya, Priyanka Arulmohan, Sathyaraj, Saranya Ponvannan, Vinay Rai, etc.

Box office collection: ₹175–200 crore

Watch on: Netflix

15. Aruvi (2017)

Aruvi narrates the story of a young girl named Aruvi (Aditi Balan), who is ostracized by society for her actions and beliefs. Her life suddenly changes when she is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and she decides to fight back against social misogynistic norms.

She does this by appearing on a popular TV talk show and revealing the truth about her life and the way society treats people like her. This has a heart-wrenching plot and is surely among the best Tamil thriller movies.

IMDb rating: 8.4/10

Director: Arun Prabhu

Cast: Aditi Balan, Padmashri Mohammad Ali, Pradeep Anthony, etc.

Box office collection: ₹ 35 Crores

Watch on: Prime Video

16. Kavan (2017)

Kavan is a story about a guy named Thilak (Vijay Sethupathi) a news anchor, who sets on a mission to expose the corrupt practices of a multinational company involved in water privatization.

However, his boss, Kalyan, and politician Dheeran are also involved in corruption, so he and his team are fired and blacklisted. They start working for a struggling local news channel and expose Dheeran’s and Kalyan’s crimes leading to their arrest.

IMDb rating: 7.1/10

Director: K. V. Anand

Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Madonna Sebastian, Thesingu Rajendar, Bose Venkat, etc.

Box office collection: ₹ 20 crore

Watch on: Zee5, MX Player

17. Dejavu (2022)

Dejavu is one of the Tamil thriller movies that follows the story of a novelist Subramani (Achyuth Kumar), who goes to the police station in a drunken state to file a complaint about receiving harassing calls from his fictional characters.

The next day the police arrive at his house asking about a woman named Pooja who has been kidnapped. Vikram, an officer from another state, arrives to assist with the investigation and discovers the mastermind behind the entire scene. It is among the best Tamil thriller movies in Amazon Prime.

IMDb rating: 6.7/10

Director: Arvindh Srinivasan

Cast: Arulnithi, Madhoo, Achyuth Kumar, etc.

Box office collection: ₹ 2.48 Cr

Watch on: Prime Video

18. Kurangu Bommai (2017)

Kurangu Bommai revolves around a father-son duo Kathiresan (Vidharth) and Sundaram (Bharathiraja), who get involved in a dangerous world of crime.

This story is set in the small town of Tamil Nadu, where Kathiresan runs a local barbershop and his son Sundaram works as a driver for a local moneylender.

Listed in the best Tamil crime thriller movies list, it explores the complex relationship between the father and son as they get caught up in a web of deceit and crime.

IMDb rating: 8.0/10

Director: Nithilan Swaminathan

Cast: Vidharth, Delna Davis, Bharathiraja, Elango Kumaravel, etc.

Watch on: Zee5

19. Rocky (2021)

Rocky is a story about a hitman named Rocky (Vasanth Ravi), who recently got released from prison and is looking for his sister named Amutha who left the city. Rocky finally finds a pregnant Amutha, who berates him for his mistakes but later reconciles with him.

But his sister then got killed by a henchman of a drug dealer named Manimaman (Bharathiraja). Then, along with his friend Nadarajan, he kills all of Manimaran’s goons and sets on a new journey with his niece.

IMDb rating: 7.9/10

Director: Arun Matheswaran

Cast: Bharathiraja, Raveena Ravi, Vasanth Ravi, Rishikanth, etc.

20. Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016)

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru follows the story of a police officer named Deepak (Rahman) who narrates a case where three young men hit a man with a car and later find his body missing. Deepak investigates this case and then is forced to retire after an accident. \

Years later, he discovers that the man he is narrating the story to is the real culprit, who is also a police officer named Gautham. Deepak’s son Rajiv is revealed to be the true killer.

IMDb rating: 8.2/10

Director: Karthick Naren

Cast: Rahman, Prakash Raghavan, Sharathkumar, Santhosh Krishna, etc.

Box office collection: more than ₹ 110 Crores

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Zee5

21. Kodi (2016)

Kodi is a movie about twin brothers named Kodi and Anbu (by Dhanush). They are both involved in Tamil Nadu politics.

Kodi is a loyal person to a powerful politician named Rudhra, while Anbu is a social worker who stands against Rudhra’s corrupt practices.

The brother’s life takes an unexpected turn when Kodi is forced to choose between his loyalty towards Rudhra and his love for his brother Anbu. This one is definitely one of the best Tamil thriller movies that you shouldn’t miss.

IMDb rating: 6.7/10

Director: R.S. Durai Senthilkumar

Cast: Dhanush, Trisha, Anupama Parameswaran, Saranya Ponvannan, etc.

Box office collection: ₹ 15 crore

Watch on: Sun NXT

Conclusion

Tamil thrillers are full of suspense, drama, and amazing storytelling. We hope you like the movies listed above that showcase the talent in this particular genre in Tamil cinema. Which one would you like to watch? Mention the Tamil Thrillers you like the most in the comments below.

Also read: 15 Tamil Horror Movies That Are Not For The Faint Heart