- By Ridhi Suri
- Tue, 04 Jun 2024 01:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Tamil Crime Thrillers On OTT: From heart-racing suspense to intricate plot twists, Tamil crime thriller films offer a captivating cinematic journey. With compelling narratives, stellar performances, and masterful direction, Vijay's Leo and Kamal Haasan's blockbuster Vikram to Vikram Vedha, these films showcase the best of Tamil cinema's crime thriller genre available on Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar, JioCinema and Zee5, making them an absolute must-watch for any film enthusiast.
Leo (Netflix)
Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Seven Screen Studio, the movie features Vijay in the lead role, supported by an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Sarja, Trisha, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mysskin, Madonna Sebastian, George Maryan, Mansoor Ali Khan, Priya Anand, and Mathew. Despite the mixed reviews, the film set numerous box office records, emerging as the second highest-grossing Tamil film of 2023, the seventh highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, the third highest-grossing Tamil film of all time, the highest-grossing Tamil film overseas, and the highest-grossing film in Tamil Nadu.
Vikram (Hotstar)
Vikram, a Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, stars Kamal Haasan in the title role, alongside Vijay Sethupathi, Fahadh Faasil, Narain, Kalidas Jayaram, Gayathrie, Chemban Vinod Jose, Santhana Bharathi and Elango Kumaravel. The story line is about Vikram who is an elite pilot on the black operations squad, and his efforts to take down Sandhanam, the runner of a drug syndicate Vetti Vagaiyar.
Vikram Vedha (Hotstar)
Vikram Vedha is neo-noir action thriller film directed by Pushkar–Gayathri. Starring R. Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi, it follows Inspector Vikram's pursuit of the gangster Vedha, whose narratives challenge Vikram's perceptions of good and evil. The film received critical acclaim for its technical aspects, performances, and storyline. It performed well at the box office, grossing Rs 600 million worldwide against a budget of Rs 110 million.
Master (Amazon Prime Video)
Master, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, stars Vijay in the titular role, alongside Vijay Sethupathi, Malavika Mohanan, Andrea Jeremiah, Arjun Das, Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, and Gouri G. Kishan. The film centers on John Durairaj, an alcoholic professor, who starts a teaching job in a juvenile home. There, he confronts Bhavani, a gangster exploiting the children for his criminal schemes. Initially set for release on April 9, 2020, the film was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
Saani Kaayidham (Amazon Prime Video)
Tamil-language crime action film directed by Arun Matheswaran, stars Keerthy Suresh and Selvaraghavan. The film tells the story of Ponni, a police constable seeking justice for her family after a tragic incident. When her husband and daughter are killed due to caste-based violence, Ponni seeks revenge against the perpetrators, ultimately teaming up with her estranged half-brother Sangayya.
Ponmagal Vandhal (Amazon Prime Video)
legal drama film directed by JJ Fredrick and produced by Suriya under 2D Entertainment, stars Jyothika alongside an ensemble cast, the film revolves around a rookie lawyer who reopens a notorious 15-year-old case of a dead killer accused of kidnapping and murdering young girls. 2020. While praised for Jyothika's performance and the social message, it received mixed reviews for its narration and pacing. Nonetheless, it became one of the most-watched films on digital streaming platforms that year.
Mersal (Netflix)
Directed by Atlee and produced by Thenandal Studio Limited, the fil, stars Vijay in triple roles, alongside SJ Suryah, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Nithya Menen, the film follows two brothers separated at birth: Vetri, a magician seeking revenge for his parents' deaths, and Maaran, a compassionate doctor. It became a commercial success, grossing Rs 200–260 crore worldwide, becoming one of Vijay's highest-grossing films.
Kaithi (Amazon Prime Video)
Tamil-language action thriller is directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Starring Karthi in the lead role, alongside Narain, Arjun Das, and others, the film follows a recently released prisoner racing against time to save poisoned cops while evading criminals. The film, shot entirely at night without songs, received positive reviews upon its release on October 25, 2019, becoming a box office success. "Kaithi" is part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, with sequels titled "Vikram" (2022) and "Leo" (2023) following. A sequel, titled "Kaithi 2," is currently in development.