Moviecrow Annual Rankings - Best Tamil Movies of 2021

The last two years in the history of cinema has been a mix of equal amounts theatrical and direct OTT/TV releases. In a country like India where the latter is an unusual norm, if 2020 was a year of tip-toeing, 2021 was the year of not holding back with the releases. Tamil cinema too saw a lot more films come out, compared to the first year of the pandemic and had enough good content to rank the best from the lot.

1. Jai Bhim ( MC Rating - 72%)

A harrowing case of police brutality and caste suppression, leading to a historic court proceeding is what Jai Bhim offered. Suriya's star power shouldered debutant TJ Gnanavel's story to no end and beyond a gripping narrative, the film left everyone aware of how the underprivileged in our society are often deprived basics and heaped with abuse, humiliation and injustice instead.

2. Sarpatta Parambarai (MC Rating - 70)

Pa. Ranjith who has been the champion of the Dalit cause in Tamil cinema, gave a well made sports film within that realm this year. The pursuit of glory for a boxing clan in the 70s Madras was superbly staged and the journey of Rangan and his protege Kabilan, via dramatic clan conflicts, tension building boxing matches, multiple memorable characters and a pinch of dark humour, left an indelible mark among the cine-loving audience.

3. Maanaadu (MC Rating - 68%)

Director Venkat Prabhu made the daring attempt of merging a concept like time loop with commercial cinema, and hit it out of the park with Maanaadu. Despite the repetitive demand of the film's concept, Maanaadu came with an engrossing screenplay and enjoyable performances. Most thorough entertainer this year.

4. Karnan (MC Rating - 68%)

Mari Selvaraj is another director whose films reflect the Dalit subjectivities and he delivered a hard-hitting plot with artistic brilliance in Karnan. How systematic oppression and caste-segregation pents up anger in a person, and what a moment of slip-up against the law costs his whole village is what the movie offered. A spine-chilling story told through references of nature and parallels to the Mahabharata.

5. Mandela (MC Rating - 66%)

Highlighting the oppressed was a popular theme in the Tamil movies that came out in 2021, and Madonne Ashwin's directorial debut was among the attempts that entertained as well. Mandela was as unconventional as it got for a Tamil film - with its satire genre, a full fledged comedian excelling as the lead and an impactful message about politics and elections.

6. Doctor (MC Rating - 63%) 

Another film that excelled in the space of dark comedy this year was Nelson Dilipkumar's Doctor. The director packed the film with a re-invented Sivakarthikeyan, a racy screenplay and good music to go with. Solid performances from comedy and villain characters in the movie, added to the entertainment offered.

7. Writer (MC Rating - 62%)

Writer is one more debut attempt which turned heads this year, but for its realistic and gritty story. Franklin Jacob highlights the several shades of a police department and leaves us with reminders about multiple important topics, while at it.

8. Kadaseela Biriyani (MC Rating - 62%)

Nishanth Kalidini's movie was a note-worthy black comedy this year. The bizarre nature of the film's story and the way it was shot garnered a lot of attention for a debut attempt.

9. Rocky (MC Rating - 61%)

Rocky's technical brilliance and Arun Matheswaran's refreshing stretches in presenting this revenge drama supersedes other aspects of the movie. One of the most violent films to come out in recent times.

10. Kasada Thapara (MC Rating - 61%)

Director Chimbu Devan is known for his novel attempts and the multi-starrer Kasada Thapara too was one with its hyperlinked stories. One of the better anthologies to come out of Tamil cinema this year.