These movies confirmed beyond doubt that in today's day and age, star value is only an add-on and that it cannot be the sole determining factor of a film's success.
Best Tamil films of 2023. (X)
The year 2023 has been great for Tamil cinema as it belonged to films made on modest budgets. It also proved that “content is the king”.
These movies confirmed beyond doubt that in today’s day and age, star value is only an add-on and cannot be the sole determining factor of a film’s success.
Some of these Tamil films might have been termed small-budget before their release, but their returns were by no means small.
Equally significant was their role in reviving a film industry that was scared stiff at the beginning of 2023, wondering if theatres would ever again see footfalls for small films.
We list out some significant films that were released in 2023 and really made Tamil cinema proud. This is not to say that other films did not impress.
There may be other significant movies but the ones on this list and their makers need to be recognised for their contribution in taking Tamil cinema higher.
Interestingly, we have chosen to avoid films of top stars or big-budget films from this list as enough attention has already been paid to them.
A poster of the film ‘Viduthalai Part 1’. (X)
Master storyteller Vetrimaran’s Viduthalai Part 1 was so realistically shot and the story so compellingly told that it was almost impossible for anyone who watched it to remain unmoved by it.
The story of Viduthalai Part 1 revolves around a constable who is freshly assigned to a police unit that is tasked with capturing Perumal — the popular leader of a rebellious outfit that protects the rights of indigenous, downtrodden people in the hills.
It had realism and class stamped all over it. The movie made you watch with bated breath and left you longing for the second part, which one hopes will be released in the coming year.
For Vetrimaran’s masterful storytelling and the serious point Viduthalai looks to make, it takes the first position on this list.
A still from the film ‘Dada’. (X)
Director Ganesh K Babu’s Dada was a refreshing, entertaining film that revolved around a man who ended up becoming a single parent, not by choice but because of circumstances.
The first small film to emerge as a super hit in 2023, Dada narrated a heartwarming and inspiring tale of a man, a boy, and the adorable relationship between them.
It not only showed how difficult it is for a man to take care of a newborn but also portrayed how, despite the difficulties, he does it without any hullabaloo.
Director Ganesh K Babu shatters the myth and the perception that a man cannot bring up a child on his own, and he does it in fine style. For this myth-shattering effort, Dada takes second place.
Ashok Selvan in ‘Por Thozil’. (X)
Director Vignesh Raja came out of nowhere to deliver a mind-blowing investigative drama — Por Thozil (The Art of War) — that completely swept audiences off their feet.
The gripping thriller, which revolved around a three-member police unit trying to track down a serial killer of women, kept you on the edge of your seat — right from the time the film began till the time it ended.
The narration was perfect, and the attention to detail was exemplary. There were no unnecessary distractions, and the story moved at a blistering pace right from the word go.
For delivering a world-class investigative thriller, Por Thozhil is at number 3.
Stills from the film ‘Good Night’. (X)
Director Vinayak Chandrasekaran’s Good Night finds itself on this list for being an enjoyable romantic comedy that reinforces that simple, plain, good old love is more than enough to overcome any problem that may arise between two individuals in a relationship.
Good Night was not only a highly entertaining, adorable romantic story, but in the process, it made a distinct point about how society shamed and humiliated men who snore.
Vinayak Chandrasekaran’s story is so rooted in reality that one could relate to it.
It talked of how men try desperately to fix even those things that they know are well beyond their control for the sake of their loved ones.
A poster of the film ‘Parking’. (X)
Director Ramkumar Balakrishnan’s Parking was a classic reflection of the times we are living in.
It revolved around two perfectly good men who, over a petty issue as parking, turned into rivals.
Parking showcased how bitter people could become when their egos got bruised.
The story, which seemed to be the outcome of some careful observation, highlighted a significant problem that has been growing at an alarming rate but something which Tamil films have seldom showcased.
Making women in the family file false harassment and molestation cases to exact revenge on a rival is a worrying trend in the country.
Parking showcased how manipulative individuals are exploiting the biased and women-centric laws to ruin others.
Arjun Das in ‘Aneethi’. (X)
Director Vasanthabalan, best known for having delivered exceptional films like Veyil (2022) and Angadi Theru (2010), returned to form in 2023 with this fascinating winner called Aneethi (Injustice).
The movie sent out a hard-hitting message about how the rich exploit the powerless and the weak and how those with wealth lack kindness.
Every time Vasanthabalan came up with a story he deeply believed in, he never failed to move audiences. He does that his time too. Aneethi hits you hard with its powerful portrayal of the difficult deals that life doles out to the poor.
Aneethi will be remembered as much for its story as it is for Arjun Das’ powerful portrayal of the lead character.
A still from the film ‘Ayothi’. (X)
While most films celebrate the qualities of courage, love, bravery or tenacity, rarely does one find a movie highlighting the significance of compassion and kindness.
Director Manthira Moorthy’s Ayothi was a rare gem that did just that.
The film, based on a real-life incident in Tamil Nadu, revolves around a group of young men from different faiths who come to the aid of a family which lost a member while being stranded in a state that is far away from home.
The frantic efforts people make to help someone they do not know restores faith in humanity and unconsciously brings a smile to your face by the time the film ends.
For the meaningful message it sent across, Ayothi comes in at number 7 on this list.
A poster of ‘Kuiko’. (X)
T Arul Chezhian, the writer of the brilliant Aandavan Kattalai (2016), turned director with Kuiko and needless to say, he delivered yet another masterpiece.
The pace at which this story was told was gentle and gave you no indication of the strong points it was to make about people and society in an unassumingly humorous way.
Arul Chezhian’s writing was brilliant, and it showed that for a movie to work, nothing else mattered if the storyteller had something significant to say and knew how to say it.
Kuiko might have been a light-hearted entertaining story, but it made several significant points strongly.
The film, in a gentle yet powerful manner, showcased how sweeping generalisations were ruining lives.
A poster of ‘Kudimahaan’. (ScenarioWorks/Twitter)
One of the most refreshing and original comedies to have ever hit Tamil film screens, director Prakash N’s Kudimahaan was a realistic, refreshing, clean comedy that left audiences highly impressed by the time it ended.
Kudimahaan’s story was inspired by a real-life incident and revolved around a man whose job was to replenish cashboxes in the ATMs of banks.
With a cast that was by and large relatively inexperienced, director Prakash delivered a fantastic and meaningful entertainer that did not have a single dull moment in it. And for that, this film finds a place on this list.
A poster of the film ‘Sathiya Sonthanai’. (X)
Director Suresh Sangaiah’s Sathiya Sothanai was a gentle yet genuinely funny black comedy that won the hearts of audiences for its simplistic yet realistic representation of the state of affairs in today’s day and age.
Director Suresh Sangaiah narrated a simple story with a powerful plot that cleverly highlighted the sorry state of affairs in the police force.
Banking on just organic humour, Sangaiah’s film, which featured Premgi Amaran in the lead, exposed the incompetence and corruption that is prevalent in the police force, especially in police stations that function in remote places.
Siddharth in ‘Chithha’. (X)
Director SU Arun Kumar’s Chithha was a grim thriller that dealt with the sensitive issue of child sexual abuse.
It highlighted certain aspects of the sensitive topic that had not been addressed in Tamil cinema ever before. And for that, Arun Kumar’s work needs to be applauded.
Featuring Siddharth, Anjali Nair, Nimisha Sajayan, and Sahasra Shree in the lead, Chithha showcased both sides of the coin — the trauma of a person against whom false allegations of molestation and rape are made and the pain of real victims.
Shraddha Srinath in ‘Irugapatru’. (X)
Director Yuvaraj Dhayalan, who faced so much humiliation after the failure of his previous film Eli (2015) that he even thought of exiting the film industry, came back strong to prove his detractors wrong with Irugapatru.
A romantic drama, the film revolved around three couples and underscored the factors that could inadvertently strain the relationship between couples desiring to be together.
Featuring Vikram Prabhu, Shraddha Srinath, Vidaarth, Abarnathi, Sri, and Saniya Iyappan, Irugapatru was a reasonably engaging entertainer that made viewers voluntarily self-examine themselves to ensure that they were not inadvertently hurting their partners.
Apart from the Tamil films listed here, a few other projects were impressive — Beginning, Yaathisai, Erumbu, 800, Joe, and Pathu Thala.
The big Tamil films that were released in 2023 include Jailer, Leo, Maamannan, Ponniyin Selvan 2, Jigarthanda Double X, Varisu, and Thunivu.
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