2025 has finally wrapped, and unlike the early years of the decade, many of the most anticipated big-ticket films didn’t quite land as expected. However, the year more than made up for it with solid content, standout performances, breakout music, and pleasant surprises.
What truly defined 2025 was the rise of small and mid-budget films. Movies like Tourist Family, Kudumbasthan, and a few others not only won audience hearts but also pulled impressive box office numbers, proving once again that strong storytelling remains king.
Best Film: Tourist Family - Director: Abishan Jeevinth
Written and directed by Abishan Jeevinth in his filmmaking debut, Tourist Family emerged as the most heartwarming film of the year. Striking the right balance between humour, emotion, and social commentary, the film gently explores themes of identity, belonging, and resilience through the lens of an ordinary family navigating unfamiliar spaces.
What truly elevates Tourist Family is its lived-in characters and understated writing, allowing emotions to unfold naturally without manipulation.
Organic performances from the entire cast, led by Sasikumar and Simran, further strengthen the film’s honest core. With its warmth and authenticity, Tourist Family comfortably claims the top spot of 2025 in MovieCrow’s annual rankings.
Best Actor (Male): Dhanush (Kuberaa)
2025 undoubtedly belonged to Dhanush. In Kuberaa, he went all out to bring a beggar’s role to life — from dialogue delivery and mannerisms to physical transformation. The performance stands tall as one of the finest in his already remarkable career.
He followed this up with a strong showing in Idli Kadai, once again proving his unmatched consistency across genres. Beyond Tamil cinema, Dhanush also earned significant praise in Bollywood for Tere Ishk Mein.
Simply put, Dhanush owned 2025.
Best Actress: Bhagyashri Borse (Kaantha)
Bhagyashri Borse arrived like the ultimate out-of-syllabus surprise of the year. Delivering an unexpectedly mesmerizing performance in Kaantha, she announced herself as a talent to watch.
If Mahanati proved Keerthy Suresh’s mettle, Kaantha undoubtedly does the same for Bhagyashri. A breakthrough performance with no looking back from here.
Best Comedian: Jensan Diwakar - (Kudumbasthan, Aan Paavam Polladhadhu)
Jensan Diwakar delivered effortless humour across films, consistently elevating scenes with timing and relatability.
Best Entertainer: Pradeep Ranganathan (Dragon, Dude)
Pradeep Ranganathan comfortably straddles the space between the boy-next-door charm and an emerging action hero. His attitude, antics, and screen presence elevated both Dragon and Dude.
Drawing parallels to Rajinikanth’s style-and-attitude template — but in his own modern way — Pradeep made it work convincingly. With two successful films, he ruled the entertainment space in 2025.
Best Music Director: Sai Abhyankar (Dude)
Sai Abhyankar emerged as the biggest musical breakout star of 2025, instantly striking a chord with younger audiences.
His debut album Dude shot straight into the charts, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the music became the backbone of the film’s popularity. Every track resonated, taking the film to every corner of the audience.
With a sharp understanding of the youth pulse and contemporary listening habits, Sai’s compositions became the film’s strongest selling point — a promising start that firmly places him among the most exciting new-age composers.
Best Supporting Actor: Mysskin (Dragon)
Mysskin delivered a striking supporting performance, adding gravitas and unpredictability to Dragon.
Best Child Artist: Kamalesh Jagan (Tourist Family)
Kamalesh Jagan impressed with a natural, emotionally grounded performance that added immense value to Tourist Family.
Best Cinematography: Dani Sanchez-Lopez (Kaantha)
Outstanding camera work by Mahanati-fame Dani Sanchez-Lopez. His use of phenomenal angles as storytelling tools and beautifully textured 35mm frames transport viewers back to the film’s period setting.
The cutting patterns complement the visuals perfectly, narrating the story exactly as intended.
Best Editor: Pradeep E. Ragav (Dragon)
After Love Today, Pradeep E. Ragav once again proves his mastery at the edit table. With precise cut points and sharp pacing, he ensured Dragon never suffered from dull moments or narrative lag.
Best Choreographer: Sherif Master
(Kanima from Retro)
Kanima presented one of the toughest song situations of the year, with heavy narrative weight around it. Sherif Master not only made the song stand out but delivered a signature hook step that ruled social media post-release.
Best Art Director: N.K. Rahul (House Mates)
N.K. Rahul’s art direction played a crucial role in grounding House Mates within its lived-in world.
Best Publicity Design: Tuney John (Retro)
Retro stands tall as one of the most impactful publicity campaigns of 2025. Tuney John delivered a vibrant, mood-rich set of posters that perfectly captured the film’s tone.
The color palette, heroic framing, and retro sensibility were spot on. What truly worked was the consistency of the campaign — from announcement to release, every poster sustained recall and added value.