5 blockbuster Tamil films of 2025 that had underlying problematic takes: From Maaman to Aan Paavam Pollathathu
Tamil cinema in 2025 saw some surprise hits that no one saw it coming; but there were also a few films that became successful despite some underlying regressive ideas
Last Updated: 12.41 PM, Dec 25, 2025
This year, Tamil cinema saw some films having a great run at the box office. But those films carried problematic takes as well, tucking in some regressive ideas. Masked with comedy, great performances, and writing, these films made a good mark at the cash registers, but that does not mean the messaging has gone unnoticed. Here are 5 such Tamil films of 2025 that were problematic.
5 blockbuster Tamil films of 2025 that had underlying problematic takes
Maaman
Maaman, the Soori-led family drama revolves around the relationship between a man and his overtly attached nephew. While it was welcoming to show the rapport between a man and child, Maaman had exaggerated it and had gone one step further showing how obsession and possessiveness can sometimes be termed just as harmless love, which is not the case. Instead of addressing the values and importance of boundaries, privacy, Maaman had glorified children acting beyond their age, which did not come across well. Despite its box office success and resonating with a lot of rural audiences, Maaman had missed addressing key points like family boundaries and replaced them with over-the-top child antics.
Dragon
Dragon, starring Pradeep Ranganathan, is a film that may not come across as regressive or problematic overall, but hides some of its stances in a few scenes. A film that explores the life of a young man who has to go back to clearing his college arrears, Dragon has a particular track of a man and his ex-lover, who is now a college professor. Choices such as a woman breaking up with a man she is done schooling, and the same woman who comes again only to apologise for leaving him, only excuses the man’s behaviour, leaving Dragon with some regressive take on the relationship front.
Aan Paavam Pollathathu
Aan Paavam Pollathathu starring Rio Raj and Malavika Manoj is a family drama that talks about a newly married couple whose lives soon turn sour, with the wife now at court asking for a divorce. Very much like the title, Aan Paavam Pollathathu takes the side of the man and the difficulties he goes through, but to show this, the film opts for the laziest method: showing the woman as a fake feminist and lazy woman who doesn’t bring anything to the table. In the process of showing what men have to go through, the film’s only way was to show it by writing an underdeveloped woman character. While that is not the case in the real world where women take up as many responsibilities as men, both in the workforce and on the domestic side, Aan Paavam Pollathathu’s only notion is to brand them as people who hide under the garb of feminism, thus lacking any empathy for women who not only go through much sexism and patriarchy on a daily basis. Nevertheless, the film went on to make about Rs 25 crore at the box office, making it a commercial success.
Thalaivan Thalaivii
Thalaivan Thalaivii, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, is a family drama about two people who marry of their will. But things don’t remain as smooth as it was, for the duo lock their heads quite often. In Thalaivan Thalaivii, the constant bickering couple is not as much as a problem as the film’s stance of anti-divorce, and how sometimes the need for ‘freedom and independence’ might blind a person from seeing the sacramental space of marriage. The film also doesn’t advocate for the right to live a happy life, but keeps stressing the fact of being together no matter what, making it one of the regressive marital takes.
Dude
At the core of it, Dude talks about the relationship and possible romance between first cousins. While the couple do not really end up together in the film, it is also the responsibility of the film to address the cons of such a relationship. But that apart, yet another Pradeep Ranganathan-starrer has a couple of scenes that take the side of man, glorifying his sacrifices, only so that the woman on the other side is vilified merely for her existence.
2025 Indian films FAQs
Q. What is the highest grossing Indian film in 2025?
A. Films like Dhurandhar, Kantara: Chapter 1, Chhaava, Saiyaara, Coolie, OG, War 2 are highest grossing Indian films of 2025.
Q. What are best Indian films of 2025?
A. Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Homebound, Tourist Family, Dhadak 2, are some of the best Indian films of 2025.