2025 will also be remembered as the year Tamil superstar Vijay bids farewell to cinema. His final film, Jananayagan, is set for a Pongal release on 9 January.
Published Dec 31, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 31, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Tamil Cinema 2025. (X)
2025 has been a mixed year for the Tamil film industry, with cinema stalwarts Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan failing to deliver films with an overwhelming response, while small films like Tourist Family, Madras Matinee, and Kudumbasthalam became hits.
Rajinikanth’s Coolie became a superhit but faced heavy criticism. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life failed at the box office and received poor reviews from critics.
Meanwhile, Ajith, Sivakarthikeyan, Dhanush, Pradeep Ranganathan had hits this year.
2025 will also be remembered as the year Tamil superstar Vijay bids farewell to cinema. His final film, Jananayagan, is set for a Pongal release on 9 January.
Another major highlight of 2025 is the reunion of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan after 44 years. Both actors have confirmed the collaboration and are currently searching for a suitable script.
Ajith’s Good Bad Ugly emerged as a major box office success this year. The film grossed ₹248 crore worldwide, making it the biggest hit of Ajith’s career. Its India net collection stood at ₹153.77 crore.
Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, the movie had all the elements of a commercial entertainer. Although it received mixed reviews from critics, it was well received by audiences, especially Ajith fans. The film benefited from references to the actor’s earlier works and Anirudh Ravichander’s music.
Rajinikanth in ‘Coolie’. (X)
Rajinikanth’s Coolie was one of the most anticipated films of the year. The Superstar collaborated with Lokesh Kanagaraj, one of the youngest and most promising directors in Tamil cinema.
The film had its moments, including Rajinikanth’s trademark swag, but received a mixed response overall. It went on to collect around ₹500 crore worldwide.
At a recent event, Lokesh Kanagaraj acknowledged the criticism the film faced. He said Coolie received thousands of critiques and promised to improve in his next project. He also noted that audiences watched the film for Rajinikanth and thanked everyone after confirming its ₹500 crore collection.
Sivakarthikeyan’s Madhraasi opened to mixed responses from both audiences and critics. However, the film came as a relief for A.R. Murugadoss, who had not delivered a hit in a long time.
Sivakarthikeyan’s performance was widely appreciated, along with Vidyut Jammwal’s role. The film’s box office collection stands at around ₹100 crore.
A still from the film ‘Tourist Family’. (X)
Abishan Jeevinth’s Tourist Family, starring Sasikumar and Simran, turned out to be a surprise hit. The film earned ₹86 crore worldwide. It was reportedly made on a budget of ₹7 crore, making it a highly profitable venture.
Tourist Family connected well with audiences and delivered several hilarious moments that worked in theatres. It became the highest-grossing film of Sasikumar’s career. It was also refreshing to see Simran in a prominent role, unlike her cameo appearances in Petta (2019) and Good Bad Ugly (2025).
Mari Selvaraj’s Bison is one of the major Tamil films of the year. The movie addresses casteism against the backdrop of boxing. Dhruv Vikram, Anupama Parameshwaran, Rajisha Vijayan, Pasupathy, and Lal delivered strong performances. According to Sacnilk, the film has earned around ₹65 crore in gross collections worldwide.
Pradeep Ranganathan continued to impress with Dragon, directed by Aswath Marimuthu. The film collected ₹150 crore worldwide, including around ₹83 crore from Tamil Nadu alone.
A poster of the film ‘Dragon’. (X)
The movie received a good response from audiences and had all the elements of a complete entertainer. It featured Anupama Parameswaran, Kayadu Lohar, Mysskin, K.S. Ravikumar, and Gautham Vasudev Menon in key roles.
Dude, another Pradeep Ranganathan starrer featuring Mamitha Baiju, also emerged as a superhit. The film grossed around ₹114 crore worldwide. It worked as an entertainer while also offering a critique of honour killings.
Manikandan’s Kudumbasthan is another small film that turned into a superhit. Interestingly, his previous film Lover was also a hit, and this consistent success is helping him build a strong career. Kudumbasthan delivered good returns for its budget and collected nearly ₹27 crore in India, making it a profitable venture.
Vikram’s Veera Dheera Sooran came as a relief for the actor after a period without major box office success. The film was appreciated for its content and making style. It collected around ₹63 crore worldwide, though the figure was modest compared to Vikram’s star value.
Soori’s Maaman did not fare well with critics but received a positive response from family audiences in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The film boosted Soori’s standing as a lead actor. It went on to collect over ₹40 crore worldwide, a strong figure for a small film.
Surprisingly, Sundar C’s Madha Gaja Raja, released after 12 years, became a hit, earning over ₹50 crore. The Vishal-starrer, released during the Pongal season, attracted family audiences.
A poster of the film ‘Thalaivan-Thalaivi’. (X)
Thalaivan-Thalaivi, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, faced widespread criticism for misogyny but still performed well at the box office.
Vikram Prabhu’s latest release, Sirai, which came out during the Christmas season, received a positive response from both audiences and critics.
Meanwhile, several major films, including Vaa Vaathiyar (Karthi), Love Insurance Kompany (Pradeep Ranganathan), Genie (Ravi Mohan), and Lockdown (Anupama Parameshwaran), have postponed their release dates.
Ajith’s Vidaamuyarchi was the first big-budget film released in January. Despite strong initial collections, it failed to meet audience and critic expectations. The film was made on a budget of over ₹175 crore but earned only ₹135 crore globally, according to Sacnilk. However, losses could have been recovered through OTT and other deals.
Kamal Haasan in ‘Thug Life’. (X)
Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, was highly anticipated. However, it became a major disappointment, earning only around ₹99 crore. The reunion of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam failed to impress audiences and critics. Raj Kamal International had planned an OTT release after 8 weeks, but the film’s poor performance led them to move the Netflix premiere to within a month.
Suriya’s Retro had high expectations but received a mixed response from the audience. The film didn’t face major losses, as Suriya and director Karthik Subbaraj were also producers. The makers reported a total collection of ₹235 crore, calling it profitable.
Dhanush’s Kubera was another highly anticipated film. The bilingual movie did well in Telugu states but underperformed in Tamil Nadu. Starring Dhanush, Chiranjeevi, and Rashmika Mandanna, it grossed ₹132 crore.
Dhanush’s Idli Kadai, a feel-good drama directed by him, earned around ₹71 crore, making it an average grosser.
Angammal, directed by Vipin Radhakrishnan, stars Geetha Kailasam in the lead role. The movie is based on Perumal Murugan’s Koduthuni and explores Angammal’s personal struggles and how she confronts them. It tells the story of an elderly woman who must fight for her identity when her son tries to control her—forcing her to wear a blouse and behave according to his wishes to impress his in-laws.
When cooked with the right balance of flavors, a dish can be perfect. Similarly, crafting a perfect film is challenging, but director Ram has created one of the finest Indian films, Paranthu Po. This feel-good drama can be a remedy for those dealing with anxiety and depression.
The film centers on Anbu, played by Mithul Ryan, who represents the kids of the new generation. Ram has dedicated the movie to children—it truly belongs to them. The director also emphasizes friendships: Shiva and Anjali, school friends, reunite after many years, and their meeting is depicted in a heartwarming way. The songs, composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, evoke nostalgia and transport the audience back to their younger days.
A poster of the film ‘Bad Girl’. (X)
Varsha Bharath’s Bad Girl is a bold film and an impressive debut. It offers a unique cinematic experience with a sharp narrative. The movie is a well-made, woman-oriented coming-of-age story that exposes the dark side of patriarchy and shows how women are breaking free from generational trauma. It also presents a fresh perspective on female friendships, mother-daughter relationships, and the quest for independence.
Other films that connected with audiences this year include Madras Matinee, Kinaru, Naangal, Mask, Devil, The Verdict, Gevi, and DNA.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
