Boo! Top 10 Horror Tamil Movies


Every year, the Tamil movie industry churns out one horror movie after another. Most of them end up being cliched, with scenes like ghosts moving behind the hero or appearing in the mirror etc., Such movies might result in the viewers being bored of spooky films. Still, some movies manage to bring in that X-factor, which rejuvenates your interest in movies of the horror genre.

1) Chandramukhi

Horror films and Chandramukhi are synonymous with nature. Ask any 90’s born kid what their favourite horror movie was, and Chandramukhi would surely top the list for many. The movie, directed by P. Vasu, father of Bigg Boss fame Shakti, was a multi-starrer with Rajinikanth and Jyothika playing the lead. It also features stars like Nayanthara, Vadivelu, Prabhu and Sonu Sood. Chandramukhi ran in theatres for 890 days, which was a record till SS Rajamouli’s Magadheera broke it. The film focuses on a woman, who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. This movie set the tone for further horror-comedy genre films like Muni series, Darling, Yaamirukka Bayamen etc.,

2) Pizza

Karthik Subbaraj marked his entry into Tamil cinema with this brilliant horror film. This nailbiting thriller had a very strong story. An engaging screenplay, combined with actors who did justice to their roles, this film made it big at the box office. This was also critically well received. Vijay Sethupathi and Remya Nambeesan shot to fame following this movie.

3) Aval

This movie makes it to the list despite being one of the latest movies to be released. Usually, every horror film has the same template: The hero and heroine come to a new house, the ghost enters the heroine’s body, and there is a separate comedy track and romantic track. At the end,  a priest would be called to evict the ghost. This film showed the audience that it is always possible to make a purely horror film, without any additional song/dance sequences. The twist at the climax was very unique and it never fails to pull the rug from under our feet. The movie simultaneously released in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.

4) Yaamirukka Bayamen

Directed by Deekay, this movie was no different from other horror-comedy films. The key to any art form is tension and release. The movie creates tension through the horror scenes while releasing it in the form of humour. The comedy track is not the cliched jokes made on the horror genre. Rather, there is some freshness in the humour that makes the movie work well. The movie was well received by the critics and the audience.

5) Arundhati

Arundhati is well remembered for what it did to Anushka Shetty’s career. The movie performed well at the box office and the critics too showered praise for the movie. This sent Anushka into the league of top heroines and she started getting more promising roles. The movie had a strong technical value and it did manage to make this movie a ‘not-advisable for weak-hearted’ one.

6) Maya

This Nayanthara starrer had debutant Ashwin Saravanan donning the director’s hat. The way the director believes his plot and the story of the movie, more than the commercial aspects of cinema is something heartwarming. It reassures us that future of Tamil cinema is in safe hands. The movie has a unique storyline and the way the movie is structured can definitely scare the soul out of you.

7) Kanchana: Muni-2

Kanchana was a milestone in Raghava Lawrence’s career. This was the second movie from the Muni franchise. This movie certainly had its moments of horror. The movie also made the horror-comedy genre, popular in Tamil cinema. The movie made the highest turnover in 2011 and did extremely well at the box office. A successful comedy pair of Raghava Lawrence-Kovai Sarala was established in this movie and they would be seen again in most of Raghava’s films.

8) Pisaasu

This movie shows that Mysskin is one of the very few directors who have an intention of making films. The man takes his own time, but never comes out with a half-baked movie. Pisaasu is one such movie, where the film can be compared to an empty football field. Cinematographer Ravee Roy, Music director Arrol Corelli, the actors and Myskkin enter the field, and pump in one goal after another. That is how well the movie is made. The film will ensure that you end up having nightmares after watching this flick.

9) Dora

Had it not been for Nayanthara, this movie would have been a letdown. The movie has a weak screenplay. But, Nayanthara shows us why she is the Lady Superstar, as she scores all over the movie with her terrific screen presence. The movie has its own moments of eerieness and taps into the emotions of the audience quite easily. Can be watched with the family for some good entertainment.

10) Aranmanai

Sundar.C, the director, and producer of this film, seems to have cracked the code for how to make a perfect masala entertainer. The film has Siddarth and Andrea Jeremiah play the lead roles. The story is the usual horror story, but the flow with which the movie has been made, it doesn’t let the audience worry about the flaws. The audience can sit and watch the movie at least a few times and not get bored. The movie too has its scary scenes and the climax portion, in particular, was well directed.



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Gurumurthy Rathnam
Gurumurthy Rathnam is a budding Journalist, Stand up Comedian and a die-hard sports fanatic. He is also actively involved in social service and empowering the differently abled. He loves writing about lesser known sports. He hopes that his writing can somehow bring a change in the society.



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