5 critically acclaimed Tamil crime thrillers by debut directors that you should stream right now

Crime thrillers are an important part of Tamil cinema’s successes. As generic the genre might sound, some of the new age filmmakers have made successful debuts by making crime thrillers, which went on to become a turning point in cinema. With HIT 3 starring Nani making its OTT debut, here are some of Tamil crime thrillers helmed by new-age directors at their first go, that you can watch on OTT right now. And guess what? All of them are available on OTTplay Premium.

5 Tamil crime thrillers to watch right now

Por Thozhil 

Por Thozhil is a 2023 crime thriller directed by Vignesh Raja in his debut. The film stars Sarathkumar and Ashok Selvan as police officers investigating a series of brutal murders, which seem to have a common pattern. Hailed for its gripping narrative, sharp performances, and intense story, the movie delves into the psyche of a serial killer while exploring the dynamics between a seasoned cop and a rookie. Por Thozhil received critical acclaim for its intelligent writing and engaging direction. Actors Nikhila Vemal, Sarath Babu, Nizhalgal Ravi, and Sunil Sukhada are also part of the film.

8 Thottakkal 

8 Thottakkal is a 2017 crime thriller directed by Sri Ganesh, making his debut. The film follows Sathya, a young and honest sub-inspector who loses his service pistol, loaded with eight bullets, to a pickpocket. This leads to a chain of events where the gun lands in the hands of an elderly man who is driven to crime by personal tragedies. The film features Vetri, MS Bhaskar, Aparna Balamurali, Nassar and others.

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru 

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru is a 2016 Tamil crime thriller directed by Karthick Naren, who made a smashing debut at the age of 21. Starring actor Rahman as a retired police officer recounting a complex murder case that led to his early retirement, the film takes a non-linear method to navigate its screenplay. The film was critically acclaimed for its writing, technical aspects and performances. Yashika Aannand, Delhi Ganesh, Anjana Jayaprakash and others are part of the cast.

Naan 

Naan is a Tamil crime thriller directed by Jeeva Shankar in his directorial debut. The film features music composer Vijay Antony in his acting debut. Siddharth Venugopal, Anuya Bhagvath, Rupa Manjar, and others are part of the cast. The story revolves around a young man who has a troubled past and takes the identity of a deceased passenger in a bus accident. As he enrolls himself at a medical college under the new name, it leads to a series of deceitful events. The narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the consequences of one's actions.

Writer 

Writer is a Tamil crime drama directed by debutant Franklin Jacob and produced by filmmaker Pa Ranjith. The film stars Samuthirakani in the main role as a veteran police writer nearing retirement. But when he becomes entangled in the illegal detention of Devakumar, it sets off a series of events on a bigger issue. The film talks about systemic corruption and caste discrimination.