Listing out the best South Indian suspense thriller movies. Includes all Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada movies in recent times. Watch these South Indian thriller movies and experience the thrill like never before. These films combine smart writing, immersive tension, and powerful performances that keep audiences hooked from start to finish.
South Indian Suspense Thriller Movies: Top 15 movies
1. Eko (2025)
Director: Dinjith Ayyathan
Star Cast: Sandeep Pradeep, Vineeth, Narain, Saurabh Sachdeva, Binu Pappu, Biana Momin
Set amid misty hills, Eko follows the hunt for Kuriyachan, a fugitive dog breeder with a dark past. As search parties close in, buried secrets from Kuriyachan’s life emerge, and the eerie atmosphere of the remote landscape heightens the suspense as truths unravel.
2. Thudarum (2025)
Director: Tharun Moorthy
Star Cast: Mohanlal, Shobana, Prakash Varma, Binu Pappu, Thomas Mathew, Amritha Varshini, Farhaan Faasil
A former stuntman turned taxi driver faces a life-altering tragedy when his son dies, and his beloved car is seized. His search for justice uncovers a deep conspiracy involving corruption and power, forcing him to confront danger and deceit.
3. Maharaja (2024)
Director: Nithilan Saminathan
Star Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, Sachana Namidass, Mamta Mohandas, Natty Subramaniam, Abhirami
Maharaja, a barber in Chennai, loses his wife in a tragic accident while his daughter, Jothi, survives under a dustbin he names Lakshmi. As Maharaja investigates the theft of Lakshmi, he uncovers a web of crimes involving police and criminals. Ultimately, he reveals the true perpetrators behind Jothi’s assault, confronting the dark truths of his past. The film culminates in Maharaja’s revenge and the haunting realization of the cycle of violence affecting his family.
4. Anweshippin Kandethum (2024)
Director: Darwin Kuriakose
Star Cast: Tovino Thomas
Straightforward SI Anand returns to duty after a suspension and is assigned a cold murder case. Through flashbacks, his past is revealed—his early investigation into a missing girl was derailed by religious pressure and corruption, ending in the suspect’s suicide and Anand’s suspension. In the present case, hostile villagers resist his probe, but clues lead Anand to retired constable Raveendran, who kills himself before arrest, denying Anand closure once again.
5. Kishkindha Kaandam (2024)
Director: Dinjith Ayyathan
Star Cast: Asif Ali, Vijayaraghavan, Aparna Balamurali
Appu Pillai, a retired army officer suffering from memory loss, lives with his son Ajayan in a monkey-inhabited village, where he is still searching for his missing child, Chachu. When Appu Pillai’s gun goes missing, and a buried skeleton is found, dark truths surface. It is revealed that Chachu died in an accidental shooting, and Appu Pillai unknowingly disposed of the body, only to repeatedly forget and reinvestigate the incident. The family remains trapped in an endless cycle of guilt, denial, and grief.
6. Bramayugam (2024)
Director: Rahul Sadasivan
Star Cast: Mammootty, Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan
Set in 17th-century Malabar, folk singer Thevan seeks shelter in a mysterious forest mansion ruled by the sinister Kodumon Potti. Trapped by dark magic, he uncovers that Potti is actually a powerful chathan demon who has murdered the real master. With the help of the cook, Thevan tries to destroy the entity. The mansion collapses, but a final twist reveals the chathan has escaped in Thevan’s body, leaving evil unleashed.
7. Aattam (2023)
Director: Anand Ekarshi
Star Cast: Vinay Forrt, Zarin Shihab, Kalabhavan Shajohn
In a theatre party, secrets are revealed. Anjali, the only actress in the theatre group, is the victim of a crime committed by one of the men following a party. There is a request for a meeting. Stories come apart, suspicions arise, and uproar follows in an attempt to come to an agreement.
8. Athiran (2019)
Director: Vivek, Vivek Thomas Varghese
Star Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Sai Pallavi, Atul Kulkarni, Renji Panicker
In 1967, young Nithya was found in shock among the murdered bodies of her family, branded the prime suspect. Five years later, a psychiatrist arrives at a remote asylum and uncovers disturbing secrets surrounding her confinement and the sinister doctor who controls the institution. As he grows close to Nithya and helps revive her buried memories, hidden tunnels, erased identities, and violent truths emerge. Just when escape seems possible, a stunning twist reveals the “doctor” himself is an impostor, Nithya’s cousin, a schizophrenic killer who framed her. The real murderer vanishes with Nithya, leaving behind a chilling question: has love won, or has madness escaped?
9. Evaru (2019)
Director: Venkat Ramji
Star Cast: Adivi Sesh, Regena, Cassandra, Naveen Chandra
Sub-inspector Vikram Vasudev is given the responsibility of looking into the death of a senior officer who was allegedly raped. He discovers some startling information as he investigates the case further.
10. Rangasthalam (2018)
Director: Sukumar
Star Cast: Ram Charan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Aadhi
Rangasthalam follows Chittibabu, a partially deaf, hot-headed villager whose simple life is shaken when his idealistic brother, Kumar Babu, challenges the ruthless grip of the village president, Phanindra Bhupathi. As corruption, land seizures, and murders surface, love blooms, loyalties are tested, and the village slowly awakens. When Kumar Babu is brutally killed, Chittibabu’s grief turns into a burning quest for truth. His search exposes a far darker conspiracy behind the throne of power, leading to a chilling final act of justice that changes Rangasthalam forever.
11. Theeran Adhigaram Ondru (2017)
Director: H. Vinoth
Star Cast: Karthi, Rakul Preet Singh, Abhimanyu Singh
A police officer named Theeran is given the responsibility of unravelling the mystery surrounding a string of killings. The fact that every murder follows the same pattern is the sole hint that remains.
12. Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu (2016)
Director: Hemanth M. Rao
Star Cast: Anant Nag, Rakshit Shetty, Sruthi Hariharan
Venkob Rao, an Alzheimer’s patient, vanishes during a shopping trip; his ambitious son, Shiva, is pulled into a frantic search across Bengaluru, just as his dream deal and U.S. future hang in the balance. But Venkob unknowingly stumbles into a deadly conspiracy involving a murdered officer, ruthless fixers, and a body that won’t stay hidden. As gangsters, civilians, and a confused old man collide in a chaotic chain of events, Shiva’s desperate hunt turns into a dangerous adventure.
13. Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016)
Director: Karthick Naren
Star Cast: Rahman, Prakash Raghavan, Sharathkumar
A retired cop recounts a twisted case of a hit-and-run, a missing girl, and a fatal investigation until his listener reveals himself as his scarred former partner, forcing out the shocking truth: the real killer is Deepak’s own son.
12. Lucia (2013)
Director: Pawan Kumar
Star Cast: Sathish Neenasam, Sruthi Hariharan, Achyuth Kumar
A struggling theatre usher named Nikki begins taking mysterious “Lucia” pills that let him dream a better life as Nikhil, a famous but unhappy film star. As both worlds unfold in parallel, events in his dreams begin bleeding into reality, blurring what is real and imagined.
13. Anniyan (2005)
Director: S. Shankar
Star Cast: Vikram, Sada, Prakash Raj
Ramanujam is a lawyer by day and a vigilante by night. He has multiple personality disorder. He exposes numerous antisocial elements using advice from the “Garuda Purana”.
Final Note
If you’re passionate about uncovering the best South Indian suspense thriller movies and cult South Indian crime thriller movies, DHOOMDB is here to help you find them.
Apart from crime thrillers, if you love to watch South Indian horror movies, check out the top 10 South Indian horror movies list for true horror lovers here- https://blog.dhoomdb.com/top-10-south-indian-horror-movies-list-for-true-horror-lovers/
At DHOOMDB, you can find the movies that are available on YouTube. DHOOMDB keeps your watchlist sharp, fresh, and endlessly exciting.
Start discovering. Start decoding the thrill with DHOOMDB.
FAQ
1. Which are the best South Indian thriller movies to watch right now?
Some of the most talked-about South Indian thriller movies include Maharaja, Bramayugam, Kishkindha Kaandam, Anweshippin Kandethum, Thudarum, and Eko. These films stand out for their gripping plots, strong performances, and unexpected twists.
2. What makes South Indian suspense thriller movies so popular?
South Indian suspense thriller movies are known for layered narratives, emotionally driven characters, rooted settings, and bold storytelling. They often blend crime, psychology, and social themes, delivering thrills that feel both intense and meaningful.
3. Are South Indian crime thriller movies different from Bollywood thrillers?
South crime thriller movies often focus more on investigative depth, realistic characters, moral ambiguity, and regional backdrops. They rely less on glamour and more on storytelling, atmosphere, and psychological tension.
4. Which South Indian industries make the best thriller films?
All four major industries (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada) produce outstanding thrillers. Malayalam cinema is praised for realism, Tamil films for innovative plots, Telugu thrillers for scale and emotion, and Kannada cinema for experimental, concept-driven suspense.
