Gopinath Rajendran
The Hindu
Lover
2024 · The Hindu
Lover tells us the story of Arun and Divya, two drastically different individuals connected by their fondness for each other. Every time they meet, it's the union of an unstoppable force and an immovable object, and it's everything from being explosive to destructive.
Captain Miller
2024 · The Hindu
Despite a few shortcomings, Captain Miller is a huge step up for its filmmaker — whose style and socio-political takes need more praise — and is yet another feather to Dhanush's much-adorned cap. What would have otherwise turned into a one-dimensional role in the hands of an unseasoned artist, becomes a blank canvas for Dhanush to showcase his acting prowess and he delivers.
Thangalaan
2024 · The Hindu
Thangalaan has quite a few momentous segments fuelled by Ranjith's unapologetically pertinent politics and fantastic performances. But whether they come together cohesively is a different question; the shimmer dims every now and then. The writing also lacks depth and gives very little space for us to establish an emotional connection.
Amaran
2024 · The Hindu
The perfectly titled Amaran is everything we expected it to be. Technically, Amaran would make for a near-perfect biographical war film but at its heart, it is an endearing love story. Amaran avoids such pitfalls like an expert soldier manoeuvring across a minefield.
Pichaikkaran 2
2023 · The Hindu
Pichaikkaran 2 tries to maintain the idea as a scaffolding to build a new story from scratch, and though it gets an intriguing idea, it fails to make headway. The idea of placing a poor man in the shoes of an affluent one is anything but new, and what baffles me more is the shockingly simple treatment. As far as this film is concerned, the insurmountable disappointment beggars all belief.
Good Bad Ugly
2025 · The Hindu · Apr 2025
Arguably, the biggest trick Adhik pulls off is how he stacks easter eggs and references to hide the utter lack of an intriguing plot. Nevertheless, cracks appear multiple times in the facade that he has carefully sculpted. Even when it's far from perfect and feels like a brass-knuckle punch to our senses, Good Bad Ugly is loving work of nostalgia.
Vidaamuyarchi
2025 · The Hindu · Feb 2025
Irrespective of whether the payoff is worth the trade, it's fun to see the star shed the vanity of stardom and surrender completely to the script in hand and that's what makes Vidaamuyarchi work... almost. It's in the execution of ideas that Vidaamuyarchi falters the most. The basic plot is painfully simple and predictable, and the makers' attempts to add tension fall flat as we see a fair share of twists.
Kudumbasthan
2025 · The Hindu · Jan 2025
Manikandan with back-to-back hits — Good Night and Lover — seems to have the Midas touch and his winning streak continues with Kudumbasthan. Kudumbasthan, much like most families out there, has its flaws and shortcomings. But similar to a mother's hand-fed affection or a father's care-laden motivation talks, the film comes as a tender affirmation that Tamil cinema has more to offer than just action and violence.
Kadhalikka Neramillai
2025 · The Hindu · Jan 2025
Despite its fair share of shortcomings, Kadhalikka Neramillai is a sweet breath of fresh air that plays to its strengths and, in a way, embodies contemporary relationships. It's a Nithya Menen and Ravi Mohan show all the way and the duo deliver some of their best performances in recent times.
Kraven the Hunter
2024 · The Hindu · Jan 2025
Despite being far better than Morbius and Madame Web, Sony's latest and possibly final superhero outing, Kraven the Hunter, still misses its mark by miles. But almost everything apart from these aspects is a royal mess and that's where the film falters.
Kanguva
2024 · The Hindu · Nov 2024
Kanguva becomes a textbook example of how a riveting tale can get lost in translation due to shoddy making. While Suriya stands tall with his dominating screen presence, the film banks too much on its period portions and offers very little to enjoy at the present.
Meiyazhagan
2024 · The Hindu · Sep 2024
Prem has not only come up with one of 2024's best films but also an opportunity for two fine actors to give career-defining performances. It is a thoughtful character study brought to life by some brilliant performances; for that very reason, Meiyazhagan, in every way, deserves its title.
Lubber Pandhu
2024 · The Hindu · Sep 2024
Lubber Pandhu is a breath of fresh air and a refreshing addition to the ever-growing list of films on cricket; so much so that we can call it a whole new ballgame. Director Tamizharasan does a splendid job of characterising and, as the film progresses, humanising Anbu and Gethu's tryst with a myriad of emotions.
Parking
2023 · The Hindu · Nov 2023
Parking is a straightforward yet effective and almost realistic take on some of the issues middle-class families face and the toll it takes on people and those around them when they let their egos get the best of them. Thanks to a captivating screenplay, remarkably good cinematography and editing, and an exceptional lead cast, Parking is a lovely addition to the list of small-budget films that have had a dream run this year.
Chithha
2023 · The Hindu · Sep 2023
With such brilliantly-written and staged scenes along with a strong core, Chithha marks a befitting resurgence for both its director and lead actor. The splendid performances from everyone in the cast aside, it is messages like these that make us forgive the niggles and celebrate Chithha as one of this year's most important films.
Jailer
2023 · The Hindu · Aug 2023
Jailer might be far from perfect, but with the towering presence of Rajinikanth standing tall along with Nelson's fortified writing, this is a commendable comeback for both the actor and filmmaker. It's this seasoned charisma, along with filmmaker Nelson's quirky touches, that make their latest collaboration Jailer an enjoyable entertainer.
Maamannan
2023 · The Hindu · Jun 2023
On the whole, Maamannan is an underwhelming political drama that's saved by its lead cast's brilliant performances. Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil deliver phenomenal performances that elevate the film, with Vadivelu underplaying his role to stunning effect and Fahasil becoming the human form of terror.
Por Thozhil
2023 · The Hindu · Jun 2023
Despite minor glitches, Por Thozhil is one of the best thrillers we've had in Tamil in a while. It's an impressive whodunnit with an intriguing plot headlined by brilliant performances from Sarath Kumar and Ashok Selvan.