Tamil movies have always been rooted in their realism and inspirational storylines that leave the audience speechless. Among all, Tamil crime movies set a benchmark for thriller lovers. From the concepts of moral ambiguity, investigative realism, and psychological tension, these crime thrillers create the tension, drawing the thin line between justice and obsession. Undoubtedly, these movies will make you feel every time, “Who did this?”, “Why are they doing it?”, “Will they escape?”, and “What if?”, creating an intense experience every moment!
Are you a crime thriller fan? Well, here we have shortlisted the best Tamil crime thriller movies for you! Start your binge-watching with these suspense thrillers.
Curated the 10 best Crime Thriller Movies in Tamil
1. Thuppakki (2012)
Director – A.R. Murugadoss
Star Cast – Joseph Vijay, Kajal Aggarwal, Vidyut Jammwal
Thuppakki is an Indian Tamil-language action, crime, thriller movie that revolves around a capable army captain who is on a mission to track down and destroy the terrorist gang and deactivate the sleeper cells under its command. This is a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller where military intelligence meets urban terrorism. This is a must-watch crime thriller movie for all.
2. Guilty (2015)
Director – Meghna Gulzar
Star Cast – Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Neeraj Kabi
An extremely brilliant crime-thriller movie based on the true story of the 2008 Noida double homicide case (Aarushi Talwar murder case) in India. This movie features an internal investigation with conflicting perspectives. The case gets complicated when the parents of the murdered girl emerge as the prime suspects.
3. Thani Oruvan (2015)
Director- Mohan Raja
Star Cast – Ravi Mohan, Arvind Swamy, Nayanthara
The antagonist rules the moral battlefield in this highly regarded, unusual criminal thriller. The quest for justice is transformed into a psychological chess match in the film, which thrives on intellectual rivalry. In this best crime thriller film in Tamil, prominent scientist Siddharth Abimanyu engages in a number of illicit medical activities. An effective IPS officer named Mithran chooses to expose him.
4. Theeran Adhigaram Ondru (2017)
Director – H. Vinoth
Star Cast – Karthi, Rakul Preet Singh, Abhimanyu Singh
Inspired by real criminal cases, the film’s procedural realism secures its place among the best crime movies in Tamil. This movie depicts a police officer named Theeran being given the responsibility of unraveling the mystery surrounding a string of killings. The fact that every murder follows the same pattern is the sole hint that remains.
5. Kuttram 23 (2017)
Director – Arivazhagan Venkatachalam
Star Cast – Arun Vijay, Mahima Nambiar, Thambi Ramaiah
Medical crime takes center stage in this tightly written thriller. ACP Vetrimaaran investigates various series of murders that are taking place in the medical industry, identifying the villains who are performing the white-collar crimes with no worries.
6. Vikram Vedha (2017)
Director – Gayatri, Pushkar
Star Cast – Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, Shraddha Srinath
The story of a no-nonsense police officer, Vikram, who is on the hunt to capture Vedha, a smuggler and a murderer. In every turn of this movie, Vedha plays with Vikram by giving him riddles that question his life. With every riddle, Vikram gets more confused and ends up losing Vedha. But then Vedha confronts and tells Vikram the last shocking riddle that changes his life forever.
7. Raatchasan (2018)
Director- Ram Kumar
Star Cast- Vishnu Vishal, Amala Paul, Radha Ravi
A psychological thriller Tamil crime movie thrives on atmosphere and restraint. This movie reveals the pursuit of a mysterious serial killer who targets teen schoolgirls and murders them brutally. A must-watch movie for thriller lovers.
8. Irumbu Thirai (2018)
Director- P.S. Mithran
Star Cast- Vishal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Arjun Sarja
Irumbu Thirai (2018) centers on Indian Army Major Kathiravan (Vishal), who, while struggling with anger management issues, needs money for his sister’s wedding and is tricked by a cybercriminal mastermind known as “White Devil” (Arjun Sarja), who steals the entire loan amount from his account. Kathiravan then initiates a personal, high-stakes cyber-investigation, which culminates in an exciting game of cat and mouse in which the villain reveals a wider network of digital theft and exploitation.
9. Thadam (2019)
Director- Magizh Thirumeni
Star Cast – Arun Vijay, Vidya Pradeep, Tanya Hope
During the investigation of a murder, the police find a suspect with an identical twin who is creating a fuss. Slowly, the investigation gets twisted, where both men’s relationships and pasts are explored, resulting in a surprising and shocking climax revealing the true culprit.
10. Kaithi (2019)
Director- Lokesh Kanagaraj
Star Cast- Karthi, Narain, Arjun Das
After being released from prison, Dilli, an ex-convict, makes an effort to see his daughter for the first time. However, Inspector Bejoy’s planned drug raid thwarts his efforts.
Check out the newly released Tamil thriller movies here.
Final Words
The best Tamil crime thriller movies listed above showcase how the Tamil crime genre consistently elevates through realism, strong writing, and moral complexity. These films challenge perspectives on justice, crime, and accountability.
For viewers looking to discover or revisit Tamil crime movies available on YouTube, DHOOMDB serves as a reliable platform to explore curated crime thrillers in one place. Instead of endless searching, DHOOMDB helps you dive straight into quality cinema that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
You can also read about the top 10 Hindi thriller movies.
FAQ’s
Which is the No. 1 suspense movie in Tamil cinema?
Raatchasan, Kaithi &Thadam are widely regarded as one of the top suspense movies in Tamil cinema because of its intense psychological tension and unpredictable narrative.
What Tamil crime thrillers are based on true stories?
Movies such as Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru and Kuttram 23 are inspired by real-life crimes and investigations, making them stand out among Tamil crime movies.
Which Tamil crime thriller has won awards?
Vikram Vedha received multiple awards for screenplay and performances, while Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru won national and state-level awards for its realistic portrayal of police investigations.
Why are Tamil crime thriller movies so popular?
Tamil crime thrillers balance realism, emotional depth, and sharp writing, offering stories that challenge moral boundaries while keeping audiences engaged.
Where to find the best Tamil crime thriller movies online?
You can find many of the best Tamil crime thriller movies on platforms like DHOOMDB, where viewers discover Tamil crime movies available on YouTube, making it easier to explore quality thrillers without endless searching.
