From Vikram to Kadaisi Vivasayi, Tamil movies in the year 2022 have been both diverse and consistent in quality, entertaining not just their local audience, but those around the globe. This is indicative of the creative and innovative talent that Tamil movie directors and producers have, not only being able to entertain the audience but also telling a story in an engaging way that breaks away from traditional storytelling methods.
There is no doubt that these eleven movies are the best Tamil movies of 2022 with their captivating stories, catchy music, spectacular visuals, and ground-breaking performances, and prove why Tamil cinema has become a force to be reckoned with in the film industry.
Best Tamil Movies 2022:
11. Seththumaan
“A hard-hitting tale of food, people, and politics. Bit amateurish in the beginning but by the time you are familiar with its people, you are totally invested, and by the time it ends, it’s heart-wrenching cinema. Atmospheric and one for the “Food is politics” genre.” – Vasanthan, Letterboxd.
10. Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal
“An emotional hyperlink drama rightly justifies its title, by strongly exploring the different shades of the human psyche based on themes of affection, loss, regret, guilt, introspection, and realization. Your frame of mind, approach towards life, and the decisions you make during the unexpected drastic moments, define you and your character.” – Michael James, Letterboxd.
9. Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee
“A beautiful slice-of-life Tamil romance film. The film is split into two halves, where the fist half takes place towards the end of the school year in the 90s. The other half serves as a reunion of that class. The way it depicts the various possibilities that can affect us in the present and the future is incredible. These can range from small to big choices that alter our lives. The way it shows our adolescent mistakes and regrets, but more importantly, the passage of time was powerful ” – Aj Waran, Letterboxd.
8. Love Today
“This is the product of a guy who knows how to captivate his audience and what makes them tick, he knows how to take an original concept and commercialize it. After watching this movie I can confidently say that comali is just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more gems to come out from this guy.” – Akshay Kannan, Letterboxd.
7. Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu
“The movie is so densely textured, you can almost smell the gravy cooking on the stove in the kitchen. Watching STR’s evolution is downright fascinating, so much of it moving with such a cocksure elegance and grace the spell it casts is borderline hypnotic. VTK is a rare film that tries to do too much, yet carries the heavy load of its themes with ease. GVM dreams big, and his movie is unquestionably a classic crime film, because it transcends all of the conventions of the genre.” – Sudhakar Kumar, Letterboxd.
6. Mahaan
“Thankfully, this film has a distinctively auteur style to it whilst being a blockbuster. Karthik Subbaraj has been nicknamed the Tamil Tarantino deservedly. It’s well-written with a lot of layers that twist and contort. The themes within it are really salient in our current politically polarised climate; thus I appreciate how it shows perspectives. Plus, it’s depiction of alcoholism is quite authentic and poignant in current Tamil Nadu politics” – Aj Waran, Letterboxd.
5. Ponniyin Selvan: Part I
“An epic in a true sense of the word, Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan adaptation is a true spectacle to watch. The performances were all amazing, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Vikram, and especially Karthi, who brings Vandiyathevan’s charisma and charm to life very well. A.R. Rahman’s score brings scenes to life very well, and the songs from the movie are all amazing. Ponni Nadhi and the Devaralan Attam were especially terrific. ” – chrisnolansim, Letterboxd.
4. Thiruchitrambalam
“I feel that the cinema of 2022 so far has taught and reinstated that the success of stories lies in simplicity and effectiveness rather than complicating narration. Mithran Jawahar’s “Thiruchitrambalam” chronicles the life of the titular character (Dhanush), his friendship, romance, heartbreaks, and his dysfunctional family. “Thiruchitrambalam” aims to be a simple and subtle slice-of-life drama and it does that perfectly.” – Adithiyan Curioser, Letterboxd.
3. Gargi
“The last time I was this disturbed by a film was during Mads Mikkelsen’s the hunt, Gargi was beyond what I expected. It’s so mature and intense for most of the parts, and surprisingly works well as a whodunit as well. The racy screenplay of Gargi is on point with applause-worthy dialogues and erratic comedy that feels organic. I don’t wanna exaggerate too much, just experience this gripping drama in the theaters.” – Jack, Letterboxd.
2. Vikram
“Blown away by Lokesh Kanagaraj’s VIKRAM. A well-written, brutal & energizing action thriller with impressively staged & well-executed action set pieces & a terrific soundtrack! Kamal Hassan once again, showing the kids how it’s done! VJS, Fahadh & Suriya… the entire cast made up exclusively of scene-stealers! Can’t remember the last time I saw an Indian action thriller this good.” – Nakul, Letterboxd.
1. Kadaisi Vivasayi
“Kadaisi Vivasayi is a film with a whole heart, surfaced in the emotions, humor, energy and philosophy of life. The film doesn’t picturise farming as profitability. It breaks the stereotypical tropes of the genre and portrays farming as a way of life. Along with the life of a farmer, his love for the world’s essential job, the director Manikandan also weaves the simple and awesome lives of people and the benefits of a devoted heart. Director Manikandan is a gem of Tamil Cinema, a visionary who can only make this kind of films here. Kadaisi Vivasayi is a paen to a simple life and self-sufficiency.” – cinema_made, Letterboxd.
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