Like every other year, I must remind everyone this list is subjective. Also, I did not get to watch every film that was released this year because, first, not every theatrical release is screened at my local film theatres. Second, not all streaming services are available in my region. Third, I have a full-time day job that keeps me occupied most of the time and thus, I choose to only watch films that I am confident will truly work for me. So, if one of your favourites is not here, please forgive me and read on.
12. Gypsy
The film starts out as a road film but midway through, it changes into an epic love story where our two leads must overcome different obstacles, both figurative and literal, to unite once again. As a result, the film falls somewhere in between a love epic and a political commentary but does not really deliver in both fronts. At times, it seems as if the filmmaker is trying to make social point at every turn, whether it is beef issue, communal riot, communism and many more. Ultimately, some of it feels contrived. Although the film is rather draggy at times, the film's strong central story is backed by powerhouse performances, cinematography and music.
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11. Mafia: Chapter 1
For a relatively low-budget film set in Chennai that revolves around Narcotics officers, the film is definitely overly stylized. Not to mention the scope of the story is screaming for a grander setting. Nevertheless, the great performances and the interesting twists keep the story engaging for the most part.
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10. Putham Pudhu Kaalai
Indian filmmakers often rave about how streaming platforms have provided them with an avenue to express their creativity and capability to the fullest without any need to satisfy the masses. In that sense, this film works to an extent. All the short films that make up this larger film have a very feel-good, positive vibe to them. However, the fact that the only short film that revolves around the lower middle class features them as petty criminals makes the film somewhat problematic.
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9. Oru Pakka Kathai
A final year college girl mysteriously gets pregnant even though she has never had intercourse with her boyfriend. The news makes headlines and it changes the young couple's life forever. There is also a subplot of a neighbour boy who comes to believe he is the avatar of God. Despite being delayed for over half a decade, the theme of science versus superstition is very timely. All credit goes to the director/writer, who can create the most outlandish premise while still grounding it in the real world.
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8. Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal
When was the last time you watch a Tamil romantic-comedy that had enough brains to keep you guessing until the very end? This film is also a thrilling crime caper with an intense cat-and-mouse game between the charming main leads that will keep you at the edge of your seats throughout the ride. While the film's lack of a moral compass and any consequences for its leads' wrongdoings might make the film less palatable to some, its positives surely outweigh its negatives.
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7. Vaanum Kottatum
With good writing and excellent performances, this moving family drama is best described as Mani Ratnam lite. If only the film focused more on the elderly couple instead of their children's love lives, the film would have been higher up in this list. Nevertheless, we rarely get any films that revolve around a brother-sister duo that is not melodramatic and mushy. Regardless, this is a family entertainer with a lot of heart.
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6. Andhaghaaram
Imagine Denis Villeneuve directing a supernatural thriller scripted by Jonathan Nolan that is set in Chennai with Tamil characters and dialogues. But its Indian producer insists on a final scene where everything is spelt out for the audiences. That's this film in a nutshell. Every scene is engineered with such precision and it shows. Although the details take sometime to unravel, it is overall a satisfying watch.
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5. Kae Pae Ranasingam
Many Tamil films have shown us the pain the average Indian has to go through when dealing with the cruelty of bureaucratic red tape and abuse of power. But no other film has shown it with as much depth as this one. The film is rather long and draggy, but that is only because its main lead's quest for justice is such. Although the film is about a female lead, she is still very much in the male lead's shadow. Regardless, she is not is funny, strong and bold, a far cry from the usual Tamil film heroine.
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5. Kavalthurai Ungal Nanban
Tamil cinema has never shied away from depicting police brutality. But unlike most older films where the hero saves the day, this film plays out like 'Visaranai' from a different perspective. Apart from that film, this film is one of the few to show the Tamil Nadu police in such an unfavourable light that it is difficult to sit through the scenes where the main antagonist appears. And that is a compliment. To some audiences, the film might come across as a cautionary tale to the middle-class to suck it and accept the status quo, instead of standing up against police injustice.
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4. Paava Kadhaigal
Netflix’s first Tamil venture holds a mirror onto the audiences and makes them questions their perception on honour, pride, dignity and morality. Each of the four hard-hitting short films that make up this anthology are both raw and ruthless in unveiling certain brutal ideologies that are still practiced by some pockets of Indian society. Whether it is how we treat trans-people, inter-religious relationships, victims of sexual assault, vigilante justice, LGBTs or inter-caste marriages, these four filmmakers do not shy away from provoking uncomfortable sentiments.
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3. Baaram
This hard-hitting social film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for 2019 but was only released this year. The film is best enjoyed by avoiding any reviews or interviews as it reveals the social issue it revolves around and this ultimately spoils the suspense. It is best understood as a murder-mystery that might not necessarily keep you guessing, but it will keep you engaged. The art house filmmaking approach gives the film a docu-drama feel, which is a rarity in Indian cinema.
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2. Psycho
Although the film is mainly a serial killer film, it is also a Mysskin film. This is the man who wrote and directed Pisasu, a horror film that made you sympathize with the ghost's plight instead of the main lead's. This film is not for the faint hearted as there is sex, violence, gore and many things we rarely see in mainstream Tamil films. While the overall story is rather far-fetched, it is thoroughly suspenseful and engaging from start to finish.
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1. Soorarai Pottru
Loosely based on Captain G. R. Gopinath's life, this is an inspiring biopic that will make you want to go out and chase your dreams. If you have missed the Suriya of the GVM universe, he is back with a bang. Perhaps because the film was made for a theatrical release, it is by far the best Tamil language film made available first on streaming as of 2020. Despite starring a big star with emotionally charged melodrama and fan-pleasing goosebumps moments, the film does not compromise its main story.
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