MovieCrow Annual Rankings - Best Tamil Movies of 2016

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This year saw the release of some brilliant movies as well some runaway disasters. We are back with this year's definitive list of movies, which we think every movie buff would have watched/must watch.

 

1. Visaranai - Vetri Maaran 

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Vetri Maaran's Visaranai might have missed out of the Oscar race, but it is undoubtedly on top of our list. The hard-hitting police drama gifted sleepless nights to movie buffs across the country.

 

2. Joker - Raju Murugan 

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Joker is a bold attempt in many ways. The movie, which openly takes a dig at modern day politics, is a moving drama that pricks the common man's consciousness.

 

3. Irudhi Suttru - Sudha Kongara 

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Irudhi Suttru has got to be this year's most loved movie by all sections of the audience. Madhavan's stellar act as the coach and Ritika Singh's mind-blowing performance as the boxer make it a must-watch.

 

4. Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru - Karthick Naren

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After seeing rave reviews from the press show, we decided to watch this film before publishing our annual rankings of best movies. And, without a surprise, our wait is worth it. Debutant Karthick Naren's D-16 is one of the finest whodunits you will ever see.

 

5. Kuttrame Thandanai - Manikandan

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Manikandan's Kuttrame Thandanai, which revolves around a protagonist suffering from tunnel vision, is a laid-back yet suspenseful thriller. The movie stays true to its core element and never goes overboard.

 

6. 24 - Vikram K Kumar

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Vikram K Kumar's 24, based on time travel concept, is backed by Suriya's brilliant performance and AR Rahman's stirring music. In spite of a few flaws, the movie deserves a watch for being a notable attempt.

 

7. Aandavan Kattalai - Manikandan

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Manikandan has been on a dream run for sure. With Aandavan Kattalai, he proved that he has a natural flair for comedy and the movie is a rollicking family entertainer.

 

8. Uriyadi - Vijay Kumar

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Vijay Kumar made a bold and brilliant debut with Uriyadi, which showcases how college students are inadvertently dragged into caste-based politics.

 

9. Thozha - Vamsi Paidipally

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Touted as the remake of The Intouchables, Thozha instantly stuck a chord with the audience, thanks to the natural performances from Karthi and Nagarjuna. The movie is a rare take on matured friendship.

 

10. Ammani - Lakshmi Ramakrishan

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Ammani is a moving tale of an old woman being swindled for money by her children. Lakshmi Ramakrishan, who has directed and played the protagonist in the film, has done a commendable job in both the departments.

 

11. Iraivi - Karthik Subbaraj

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Iraivi became a critics' favourite right away, with many of them putting the film in the same league of veteran K Balachander's films. The bold portrayal of relationships received mixed response from the audience though.

 

12. Chennai 600028 II - Venkat Prabhu

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It was quite a successful reunion for Venkat Prabhu and his Chennai 600028 boys as the sequel was overwhelmingly received by the critics and fans alike. The movie is sure to give many nostalgic moments to '80s and '90s guys.

 

13. Kathakali - Pandiraj

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Kathakali is a taut thriller from Pandiraj, with Vishal carrying off his role with ease. The short running time also helps the movie's momentum.

 

14. Sethupathi - Arun Kumar

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While the duo's first film, Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, did not yield them commercial success, Vijay Sethupathi and Arun Kumar have given what the audience want in Sethupathi. The tightly-packed cop story showcases Vijay Sethupathi in a never before seen avatar.

 

15. Kodi - Durai Senthilkumar

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Kodi saw Dhanush playing dual roles for the first time in his career and Trisha was unanimously praised for her bold performance in this political thriller.

 

16. Kabali - Pa Ranjith

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Forget the logical loopholes and flaws. You just can't miss a Superstar film, even more when he shows the world that his swag is intact even when he plays the role of a 60 year old man. Pa Ranjith has come up with many cherishable moments for the ardent Rajinikanth fans in the film.

 

17. Metro - Ananda Krishnan

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Ananda Krishnan's Metro is a riveting crime thriller revolving around chain snatchers. The movie is so intense that it faced difficulties in getting censored.

 

18. Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum - Nalan Kumarasamy

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Nalan Kumarasamy's Ka Ka Po is yet another film, which has Vijay Sethupathi playing a wannabe gangster. The movie is a light-hearted comedy entertainer with plenty of laugh-worthy moments.

 

19. Pichaikkaran - Sasi

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Sasi's Pichaikkaran, starring Vijay Antony in the lead, is one of the biggest hits of the year. The movie garnered more attention after the demonetisation move by the government since the movie had a scene explaining that concept.

 

20. Zero - Shiv Mohaa

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Zero is easily the most underrated movie of the year. This supernatural thriller is backed by brilliant performances from Ashwin and Sshivada.