5 Tamil Films to Watch Out for in 2020

With quarantine restrictions slowly being lifted across the world, it is likely that theaters will slowly start opening up again and screening new films. However, some films that were touted as blockbuster/high-profile releases for 2020 have unfortunately been postponed to a later date in 2021. Despite this, I have compiled a list of five highly anticipated Tamil films that are still on track to release this calendar year.

1. Master

Lyrical Video of "Kutti Story"

a) The film features Vijay as the protagonist and Vijay Sethupathi as the antagonist, arguably two of the most popular actors in the Tamil film industry at the present moment. While I don’t necessarily anticipate Vijay to deviate much from what we would normally expect of him; I am excited to see what Vijay Sethupathi will be bringing to the table. If he is able to deliver a performance that is similar to what he showed us in Vikram Vedha, then we are in for a treat!

b) The film also features a handful of well-established actors and actresses that will presumably be playing crucial supporting roles, including Malavika Mohanan, Arjun Das (antagonist in Kaithi), Nassar, and Andrea Jeremiah. Knowing Kanagaraj, I anticipate that there won’t be many (if any) individuals with “wallflower” like roles, so it will be intriguing to witness what sorts of characters they will be portraying.

c) Lokesh Kanagaraj has written and directed this film, making Master all the more appealing. His past two directorial ventures, Maanagaram and Kaithi, were extremely well received by both critics and the general public while performing well at the box office. Unlike typical mass-focused directors, Kanagaraj has provided us with two films that shed light to the creative potential he possesses, and it will be exciting to see what he has concocted for us with Master.

2. Dhruva Natchathiram

3rd Released Teaser of Dhruva Natchathiram

a) This film features Vikram as the protagonist and an ensemble cast featuring characters that will serve as key figures in Vikram’s team. The film has been delayed for some time now, with problems arising from securing enough financial capital to shoot certain portions of the film. The first teaser was released back in June of 2017, and there have been a few more teasers that have been released since then. Gautham Vasudev Menon, the director of this film, announced that the movie will be released in theaters in December 2020.

b) Speaking of GVM, the director has a pretty solid track record with the types of films he has helmed. From organic romantic dramas to gripping action thrillers, GVM has shown Tamil audiences the kind of panache and versatility that he brings to the table with his film-making. It only makes sense to anticipate that Dhruva Natchathiram will be another finely executed suspenseful thriller.

c) From the teasers that have been released, the cinematography, editing, background score, and action/stunt sequences are simply stunning. The shots are simply gorgeous (the film has been shot largely in Europe), with crisp, fast-paced editing that will just blow you away. The background score is extremely hard-hitting and tense; kudos to Harris Jayaraj for the work that he’s completed here. Lastly, the set-pieces are extremely sleek and stylish while being grounded in realism (at least most of the time).

3. Jagame Thandhiram

Official Motion Poster of Jagame Tantram

a) The film stars Dhanush in the lead role, and he too is another extremely well-established actor in the Kollywood industry. After experiencing commercial success with films such as Maari and Pattas as well as more critical appreciation for his performances in films such as Asuran, Vada Chennai, and Aadukalam, Dhanush has also proven to audiences that he possesses a significant amount of versatility and commitment to the roles that he essays. It will be intriguing to see what he will be offering us in this film.

b) Karthik Subbaraj, known for films such as Jigarthanda, Pizza, and Iraivi, wrote and directed this film. People will likely associate him with making more content-driven films that break the mold of the stereotypical films that are commonly released in the Tamil film industry. Pairing his imaginative script with the versatility and acting chops that Dhanush brings to the table makes this film all the more riveting for audiences to watch.

4. Soorarai Pottru

Teaser of Soorarai Pottru

a) This film stars Surya in the lead role as “Maara” (his character and the film are based on the Air Deccan founder, G.R. Gopinath, and his life), and he is in desperate need of delivering a clean box office hit. Recent films of his (Kaappaan, NGK, Thaanaa Serndha Koottam) were not very successful in setting the cash registers ringing; furthermore, these films did not experience much critical appreciation from both critics and audiences alike. The trailer looks promising, and Surya does seem to essay a role that should garner him some critical acclaim should he deserve it.

b) The director of the film is Sudha Kongara, who is known for directing Irudhi Suttru, her directorial debut. That film, featuring Madhavan and debutant Ritika Singh, received positive critical reception; specific praise was reserved for the evocative performances of the leads, and the film ended up receiving significant recognition at various award ceremonies. Referencing the first point again, one can expect that Kongara has cooked up something similar for Surya to really shine some much needed light on his acting potential.

5. Ayalaan

Brief Teaser of Ayalaan

a) Ayalaan features Sivakarthikeyan in what is touted to be the biggest film of his career thus far in Kollywood. Expectations are high given the production budget of this film, and like Surya, it’s been some time since Sivakarthikeyan has really delivered an outright successful film. There’s a lot riding on the box office performance and critical reception of this film, and if it works out in Sivakarthikeyan’s favor, then he could find himself amongst the upper echelon of established actors and actresses in the industry.

b) The premise of this film is extremely unique. Reminiscent of the American film Paul, Ayalaan chronicles the relationship between a human and an alien and their various adventures together. Alien/human-based stories have rarely been told in such detail throughout the existence of Kollywood or really any South Asian film industry. Such a film conceived and developed within the Tamil film industry is bound to garner some anticipation and curiosity amongst both moviegoers and those involved in the industry.

c) The director of the film, R. Ravikumar, made himself known to the Tamil audience with his directorial debut Indru Netru Naalai. This film was a science fiction comedy that revolved around time travel. It received positive critical reception amongst both audiences and critics alike and ended up becoming a profitable venture. Given that he has tasted success on both fronts with his debut centered around science fiction, it is likely that he will create something enthralling, memorable, and poignant with the budget and resources he’s been entrusted with conceiving and developing Ayalaan.