76 articles
Lingaa (லிங்கா)
Lingaa (லிங்கா), also spelled Linga, is a 2014 Tamil action drama directed by K. S. Ravikumar starring Rajinikanth in a dual role, with A. R. Rahman's music; it opened on his birthday but left distributors with about Rs 54 crore in losses.
Maanagaram (மாநகரம்)
Maanagaram (மாநகரம், Metropolis) is a 2017 Tamil hyperlink action thriller set in Chennai, the directorial debut of Lokesh Kanagaraj, starring Sundeep Kishan, Sri, and Regina Cassandra, released 10 March 2017.
Maari (film)
Maari (மாரி), 2015 Tamil gangster comedy directed by Balaji Mohan, starring Dhanush as a pigeon-racing Chennai don with Kajal Aggarwal and Vijay Yesudas; Anirudh music, released 17 July 2015, followed by Maari 2.
Maattrraan (மாற்றான்)
Maattrraan (மாற்றான்), Telugu-dubbed as Brothers, is a 2012 Tamil action thriller by K. V. Anand starring Suriya as conjoined twins Akilan and Vimalan, with Kajal Aggarwal and Sachin Khedekar, released 12 October 2012.
Magamuni (மகாமுனி)
Magamuni (மகாமுனி) is a 2019 Tamil crime drama thriller directed and written by Santhakumar, starring Arya in a dual role as long-separated brothers Maga and Muni, with Mahima Nambiar and Indhuja; released 6 September 2019 by Studio Green.
Mankatha (மங்காத்தா)
Mankatha (மங்காத்தா) is a 2011 Tamil heist action thriller directed by Venkat Prabhu, Ajith Kumar's 50th film with Arjun, Trisha, and Yuvan Shankar Raja's music; it grossed over Rs 75 crore and its 2026 re-release earned about Rs 13 crore.
Meaghamann
Meaghamann (மீகாமன்), meaning "captain of the ship", is a 2014 Tamil action thriller directed by Magizh Thirumeni, starring Arya, Hansika Motwani, and Ashutosh Rana, about an undercover cop infiltrating a Goa drug cartel; released 25 December 2014 with music by S. Thaman.
Mersal (மெர்சல்)
Mersal (மெர்சல்), 2017 Tamil action thriller directed by Atlee, starring Vijay in a triple role as Vetrimaaran, magician Vetri, and doctor Maaran fighting medical corruption; A. R. Rahman music, Diwali release, ₹235 crore gross, GST controversy.
Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva (மோட்டா சிவா கெட்டா சிவா)
Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva (மோட்டா சிவா கெட்டா சிவா), also spelled மொட்ட சிவா கெட்ட சிவா, is a 2017 Tamil action film, the official remake of Telugu hit Pataas, starring Raghava Lawrence as a corrupt ACP, directed by Sai Ramani, released 9 March 2017 to negative reviews.
Mouna Guru (மௌன குரு)
Mouna Guru (மௌன குரு), 2011 Tamil action thriller directed by Santha Kumar, starring Arulnithi, Iniya, John Vijay, music by Thaman; corrupt-cops conspiracy film remade as Guru, Shankara, and Akira.
Muthuramalingam (முத்துராமலிங்கம்)
Muthuramalingam (முத்துராமலிங்கம்) is a 2017 Tamil action drama directed by Rajadurai, starring Gautham Karthik and Priya Anand, with music by Ilaiyaraaja; released 24 February 2017, it flopped at the Chennai box office and is distinct from the 2023 Arya film Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam.
Naachiyaar
Naachiyaar (நாச்சியார்) is a 2018 Tamil investigative thriller directed by Bala, starring Jyothika as IPS officer Naachiyaar with G.V. Prakash Kumar and Ivana, music by Ilaiyaraaja, released 16 February 2018.
Naan (நான்) (2012 film)
Naan (நான், "I") is a 2012 Tamil crime thriller directed by Jeeva Shankar, starring composer Vijay Antony in his acting debut as Karthik, an ex-convict who assumes a dead student's identity; released 15 August 2012, remade as Amanush 2 and Asthitva.
Naan Mahaan Alla (நான் மகான் அல்லா) (2010 film)
Naan Mahaan Alla (நான் மகான் அல்லா), a 2010 Tamil action drama directed by Suseenthiran, stars Karthi as a young man in Chennai who hunts his father's killers.
Naan Sigappu Manithan (நான் சிகப்பு மனிதன்) (2014 film)
Naan Sigappu Manithan (நான் சிகப்பு மனிதன்) is a 2014 Tamil revenge thriller directed by Thiru, starring Vishal as a narcoleptic man avenging his partner's assault; not a remake of Rajinikanth's 1985 film of the same title.
Nadunisi Naaygal (நடுநிசி நாய்கள்)
Nadunisi Naaygal (நடுநிசி நாய்கள்; Midnight Dogs) is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language psychological thriller directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, starring Veera Bahu and Sameera Reddy, made without songs or background score.
Nenjil Thunivirundhal (நெஞ்சில் துணிவிருந்தால்)
Nenjil Thunivirundhal (நெஞ்சில் துணிவிருந்தால்), aka C/O Surya, is a 2017 Tamil action drama directed by Suseenthiran, starring Sundeep Kishan, Vikranth, Mehreen Pirzada, and Harish Uthaman, released 10 November 2017 to average reviews.
NGK (film)
NGK (Nandha Gopalan Kumaran, என்ஜிகே) is a 2019 Tamil-Telugu political thriller directed by Selvaraghavan, starring Suriya as an organic farmer drawn into politics, with Sai Pallavi and Rakul Preet Singh; released 31 May 2019 to mixed reviews.
Nibunan (நிபுணன்)
Nibunan (நிபுணன்) is a 2017 Tamil action crime thriller directed by Arun Vaidyanathan, Arjun Sarja's 150th film, in which a DSP with Parkinson's disease hunts a serial killer; shot in Kannada as Vismaya.
NOTA (film)
NOTA (నోటా/நோட்டா) is a 2018 Tamil-Telugu bilingual political drama directed by Anand Shankar, starring Vijay Deverakonda as an interim chief minister; Studio Green production released 5 October 2018, a box-office disaster.
Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum (ஓநாயும் ஆட்டுக்குட்டியும்)
Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum (ஓநாயும் ஆட்டுக்குட்டியும்), aka The Wolf and the Lamb, is Mysskin's 2013 Tamil neo-noir thriller with no songs or heroine, starring Mysskin and Sri, scored by Ilaiyaraaja, acclaimed and cult-status.
Osthe (ஒஸ்தே)
Osthe (ஒஸ்தி), also spelled Osthi, is a 2011 Tamil masala action-comedy directed by Dharani, the official Tamil remake of Dabangg, starring Silambarasan as inspector Osthe Velan with Sonu Sood reprising his villain role; released 8 December 2011 with music by S. Thaman.
Oththa Seruppu Size 7
Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (ஒத்த செருப்பு), also called Single Slipper Size 7, is a 2019 Tamil thriller written, directed, produced by and starring R. Parthiban as lone on-screen character Masilamani, a murder suspect interrogated in one room; it won two 67th National Film Awards.
Paambhu Sattai (பாம்பு சட்டை)
Paambhu Sattai (பாம்பு சட்டை), aka Pambu Sattai, is a 2017 Tamil action thriller directed by debutant Adam Dasan, starring Bobby Simha and Keerthy Suresh, about a poor man entangled in a counterfeit money racket.
Paayum Puli (பாயும் புலி) (2015 film)
Paayum Puli (பாயும் புலி), also known as Jayasurya in Telugu, is a 2015 Tamil action thriller by Suseenthiran starring Vishal as undercover cop ACP Jayaseelan, with Kajal Aggarwal, Soori, and Samuthirakani; music by D. Imman, released 4 September 2015.
Paiyaa (பையா)
Paiyaa (பையா) is a 2010 Tamil road romance-action film directed by N. Lingusamy, starring Karthi and Tamannaah with Yuvan Shankar Raja's music; released 2 April 2010, it grossed 35 crores and was re-released in 2024.
Pandiya Naadu (பாண்டிய நாடு)
Pandiya Naadu (பாண்டிய நாடு), also Pandianadu, is a 2013 Tamil action film directed by Suseenthiran and produced by Vishal, his first production. Released 2 November 2013, it stars Vishal, Lakshmi Menon, and Bharathiraja, grossed ₹50 crore, and was remade in Kannada as Rudra Tandava.
Pencil (film)
Pencil (பென்சில்) is a 2016 Tamil teen thriller directed by Mani Nagaraj, starring G. V. Prakash Kumar, Sri Divya, and Shariq Hassan; a remake of the Korean 4th Period Mystery, released 13 May 2016 after delays.
Petta (film)
Petta (பேட்ட), 2019 Tamil action drama by Karthik Subbaraj, Sun Pictures; Rajinikanth as hostel warden Kaali versus Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vijay Sethupathi; released 10 January 2019, grossed ₹232.92 crore worldwide.
Pichaikkaran (பிச்சைக்காரன்)
Pichaikkaran (பிச்சைக்காரன்), aka Bichagadu in Telugu, is a 2016 Tamil action thriller directed by Sasi, starring Vijay Antony as a tycoon living 48 days as a beggar to save his comatose mother; a Rs 5 crore Tamil Nadu hit and 100-day Telugu blockbuster.