Best Tamil Movies in 2022: from Sai Pallavi’s Gargi to Kamal Haasan’s Vikram.

As 2022 draws to a close, we examine Tamil films that left an impression, went beyond simply amusing audiences, and succeeded in winning over a sizable following without always needing the support of a star. Here are the top Tamil movies of the year, listed in no particular order, from Sai Pallavi's Gargi to Dhanush's Thiruchitrambalam and Kamal Haasan's Vikram.

GARGI

The hard-hitting, unnerving drama Gargi by Gautham Ramachandran, in which Sai Pallavi gives one of the most moving performances by a mainstream heroine in recent memory, is about a daughter's struggle for justice. Gargi examines the effects on a family when one of its members is the main suspect in a rape case from a social perspective.

THIRUCHITRAMBALAM

Thiruchitrambalam, a slice-of-life drama from Mithran Jawahar, was a breath of new air in a year when every industry was preoccupied with producing pan-Indian movies. It's a straightforward movie with a good heart. This Dhanush-led film features a pretty well-known story, but it works like a charm and makes you smile as you leave the theatre.

NITHAM ORU VAANAM

Nitham Oru Vaanam, a coming-of-age journey play by Ashok Selvan, is a lovely tale about accepting life, its flaws, and hope. With its central message of acceptance, the movie taps all the appropriate emotional chords and impacts you in a variety of ways. The Ra Karthik-directed movie may not have received as much praise in theatres, but it will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest of the year.

KADAISI VIVASAYI

The powerful drama Kadaisi Vivasayi by M Manikandan explores farming as a vanishing profession. Farming has served as the setting for a number of Tamil movies throughout the years, many of them, however, were painfully didactic. The movie successfully communicates its message loud and clear to change without ever discussing farming as a noble vocation and why more people should take it up.

WITNESS

One of those tales is filmmaker Deepak's Witness, which should be praised merely for its purpose. This movie examines the daily struggles of a caste-discriminated community that relies on cleaning up the trash around us for its survival. In this movie, we see all the atrocities committed in the name of sanitation and human scavenging while as a society doing nothing.

SAANI KAAYIDHAM

A lady cop and her stepbrother from an oppressed caste go after the men from the dominant caste who not only raped her but also killed her family in Saani Kaayidham, Arun Matheswaran's sophomore film. The way Arun's film handles violence, nearly turning it into a therapeutic process that one doesn't mind cherishing as a viewer, really distinguishes it from a typical tale of retribution.

VIKRAM

After a hiatus, Kamal Haasan makes a triumphant comeback in Lokesh Kanagaraj's Vikram. Lokesh, a self-described Kamal Haasan fan, pays passionate homage to his hero while also transforming Vikram—sort of a sequel to Haasan's own 1986 film of the same name—into the start of a franchise that will likely keep Kamal busy for a few more years.

SILA NERANGALIL SILA MANIDHARGAL

Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal by Vishal Venkat is a poignant and incisive linked drama about human emotions. It's a narrative about regret, remorse, and realisation with likable characters and incredibly convincing acting.

KANAM

Kanam, directed by Shree Karthick, features much of time travel and nostalgia for the 1990s. Kanam is a straightforward tale of a mother and son's bonding, but the time travel element is what really made it interesting and novel. The story of second chances in a wonderful drama.

PONNIYIN SELVAN 1

With his film adaptation of the legendary Ponniyin Selvan tale, which he portrays with enough thrills, mystery, and drama to keep you riveted, Mani Ratnam accomplishes the unthinkable. The excellent writing makes up for the lack of more entertaining moments for the audience.