72 articles
Kizhakke Pogum Rail (கிழக்கே போகும் ரயில்)
Kizhakke Pogum Rail (Eastbound Train), 1978 Tamil romantic drama, Bharathiraja's second film after 16 Vayathinile; debuts of Sudhakar and Radhika, Ilaiyaraaja music, released 10 August 1978, remade as Toorpu Velle Railu.
Malaikkallan (மலைக்கள்ளன்)
Malaikkallan (மலைக்கள்ளன்) is a 1954 Tamil adventure film directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu and starring M. G. Ramachandran, the first Tamil film to win a National Film Award.
Michael Madana Kama Rajan (மைக்கேல் மதன காம ராஜன்)
Michael Madana Kama Rajan (மைக்கேல் மதன காம ராஜன்) is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language comedy directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, with Kamal Haasan playing four quadruplets separated at birth.
Missiamma (மிஸ்ஸியம்மா)
Missiamma (மிஸ்ஸியம்மா) is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad, starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri as a couple posing as married.
Moondram Pirai (மூன்றாம் பிறை)
Moondram Pirai (மூன்றாம் பிறை, The Third Crescent) is a 1982 Tamil romantic drama by Balu Mahendra starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi; remade as Sadma, it won National Awards for Best Actor and Cinematography.
Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு) (1976 film)
Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு, The Three Knots) is a 1976 K. Balachander Tamil romantic drama, a remake of O Seeta Katha, starring Sridevi, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth; it was Sridevi's first adult lead and Rajinikanth's Tamil breakthrough.
Mouna Ragam (மௌன ராகம்)
Mouna Ragam (மௌன ராகம்), aka Silent Symphony, is a 1986 Tamil romantic drama directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Mohan, Revathi, and Karthik, with Ilaiyaraaja's music. It won the 1986 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and was Ratnam's breakthrough.
Mullum Malarum (முள்ளும் மலரும்)
Mullum Malarum (முள்ளும் மலரும்) is a 1978 Tamil drama, J. Mahendran's directorial debut, starring Rajinikanth as winch operator Kali, based on Uma Chandran's Kalki novel, with music by Ilaiyaraaja and cinematography by Balu Mahendra.
Muthal Mariyathai (முதல் மரியாதை)
Muthal Mariyathai (முதல் மரியாதை), a 1985 Indian drama directed by Bharathiraja, stars Sivaji Ganesan and Radha. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Nadodi Mannan (நாடோடி மன்னன்)
Nadodi Mannan (நாடோடி மன்னன், The Vagabond King), 1958 Tamil action adventure film directed, produced, and scripted by M. G. Ramachandran in a dual role; first MGR Pictures production, ₹18 lakh budget, over ₹1 crore gross, DMK propaganda classic that launched his political image.
Nayakan (நாயகன்)
Nayakan (நாயகன்), also spelled Nayagan, is Mani Ratnam's 1987 Tamil crime drama starring Kamal Haasan as Bombay don Velu Naicker, based on Varadarajan Mudaliar; it won three National Film Awards and entered Time's All-Time 100 Movies list.
Neer Kumizhi (1965) is a Tamil melodrama that trades the expected thunder of romantic tragedy for the quiet, suffocating weight of domestic entrapment. Directed by C. V. Sridhar, it lets the camera do more emotional labor than the dialogue, capturing the slow erosion of a marriage through rain-slicked streets and shadowed interiors.
Neer Kumizhi is a 1965 Tamil-language drama directed by K. Balachander, starring Nagesh and Sowcar Janaki, about a terminally ill man's doomed romance with his doctor.
Ninaivellam Nithya (நினைவெல்லாம் நித்யா)
Ninaivellam Nithya (நினைவெல்லாம் நித்யா), also spelled Ninaivellam Nitya, is a 1982 Tamil romance film written and directed by C. V. Sridhar, starring Karthik and Gigi in her only role, with music by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Vairamuthu.
Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (ஒரு கைதியின் டைரி)
Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (ஒரு கைதியின் டைரி, A Prisoner's Diary) is a 1985 Tamil revenge thriller directed by Bharathiraja from K. Bhagyaraj's story, starring Kamal Haasan in a dual role, with Ilaiyaraaja's music; remade in Hindi as Aakhree Raasta (1986).
Oru Thalai Ragam (ஒரு தலை ராகம்)
Oru Thalai Ragam (ஒரு தலை ராகம்), 1980 Tamil romantic musical written by T. Rajendar, credited to director-producer E. M. Ibrahim, starring Shankar and Roopa; ran 365 days, seven songs with no female voice, Telugu remake Panchadara Chilaka (1999).
Palaivana Solai (பாலைவனச்சோலை)
Palaivana Solai (பாலைவனச் சோலை), 1981 Tamil buddy drama, directorial debut of Robert–Rajasekar; stars Chandrasekhar, Janagaraj, Rajeev, Suhasini; Vairamuthu songs, 200-day run; distinct from the 2009 remake.
Parasakthi (பராசக்தி) (1952 film)
Parasakthi (பராசக்தி, The Goddess) is a landmark 1952 Tamil drama directed by Krishnan–Panju, written by M. Karunanidhi, and starring Sivaji Ganesan in his debut; released 17 October 1952, it popularized DMK ideology and faced censorship controversy.
Pasamalar (பாசமலர்)
Pasamalar (பாசமலர்) is a 1961 Tamil drama directed by A. Bhimsingh, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri as siblings, with Gemini Ganesan. A 26-week silver-jubilee hit, it won a 1962 National Award Certificate of Merit and was remade in Hindi as Rakhi (1962).
Penn (பெண்)
Penn (பெண், "Girl") is a 1953 Tamil film directed by M. V. Raman and produced by AVM, starring Vyjayanthimala, Anjali Devi, and Gemini Ganesan; it was also made in Hindi and Telugu.
Poompuhar (பூம்புகார்)
Poompuhar (பூம்புகார்), also Puhar or Kaveripoompattinam, was the early Chola port capital at the Kaveri mouth and the setting of Silappathikaram; the name also denotes the 1964 Tamil film by Karunanidhi and P. Neelakantan starring S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari.
Pudhiya Paadhai
Pudhiya Paadhai (புதிய பாதை, New Path), also spelled Pudhea Paadhai, is a 1989 Tamil drama and R. Parthiban's directorial debut, a box-office success that won two National Film Awards including Best Tamil Feature Film.
Pudhiya Vaarpugal
Pudhiya Vaarpugal (புதிய வார்ப்புகள், New Moulds) is a 1979 Tamil romantic drama directed and produced by Bharathiraja, starring K. Bhagyaraj in his lead debut and Rati Agnihotri in her screen debut, with music by Ilaiyaraaja.
Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal (புதுப்புது அர்த்தங்கள்)
Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal (புதுப்புது அர்த்தங்கள்) is a 1989 Tamil film written and directed by K. Balachander, starring Rahman, Geetha, and Sithara, whose Ilaiyaraaja score marked their last collaboration and which won a Filmfare Award South.
Pulan Visaranai (புலன் விசாரணை)
Pulan Visaranai (புலன் விசாரணை) is a 1990 Tamil action crime film directed by R. K. Selvamani, starring Vijayakanth as DCP Honest Raj investigating the kidnapper Dharma, loosely based on Auto Shankar; music by Ilaiyaraaja, released 14 January 1990.
Ratha Kanneer (இரத்தக்கண்ணீர்)
Ratha Kanneer (இரத்தக்கண்ணீர், Tears of Blood) is a 1954 Tamil drama film by Krishnan–Panju, adapted from Tiruvarur K. Thangaraj's play, starring M. R. Radha as a westernized rich man who contracts leprosy; a Diwali 1954 hit preserved by NFAI in 2026.
Rosappu Ravikkaikari (ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி)
Rosappu Ravikkaikari (ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி), also Rosapoo Ravikkaikari, is a 1979 Tamil drama directed by Devaraj–Mohan, Sivakumar's 100th film, a remake of Parasangada Gendethimma with Ilaiyaraaja's music.
Senthoora Poove (செந்தூரப்பூவே)
Senthoora Poove (செந்தூரப்பூவே, Sendhoora Poove, "Saffron Flower") is a 1988 Tamil drama directed by P. R. Devaraj, starring Vijayakanth, Ramki, and Nirosha; a 200-day-run blockbuster that won Vijayakanth his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.
Server Sundaram (சர்வர் சுந்தரம்)
Server Sundaram (சர்வர் சுந்தரம்) is a 1964 Tamil comedy-drama directed by Krishnan–Panju, starring Nagesh as a hotel waiter who becomes an actor; written by K. Balachander from his 1963 play, music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, Best Tamil Film at the 12th National Film Awards; distinct from the delayed Santhanam remake.
Sigappu Rojakkal (சிகப்பு ரோஜாக்கள்)
Sigappu Rojakkal (சிகப்பு ரோஜாக்கள்), also known as Red Roses, is a 1978 Tamil psychological thriller directed by Bharathiraja, starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, with music by Ilaiyaraaja; it ran 175 days and won two Filmfare Awards South.
Sindhu Bhairavi (சிந்து பைரவி)
Sindhu Bhairavi (சிந்து பைரவி), 1985 Tamil musical drama by K. Balachander starring Sivakumar, Suhasini, Sulakshana; Ilaiyaraaja music; three National Film Awards and a Filmfare Best Film – Tamil win.