Top 10 Tamil Movies Across OTT Platforms In 2020
After a breakthrough in the year 2019, the digital platforms and the OTT content hit through the roof in 2020. It also helped a great deal that there was a pandemic induced lockdown due to Covid-19.
Up until 2019, it was the lesser-known films with second-grade actors or high concept idea that found no takers in the traditional market that got space on OTT. However, 2020 proved to be a game-changer in that many biggies too joined the list. And none other than Tamil cinema was at the forefront with its historical decision swinging the course of movie consumption online.
Here are the top 10 films from Tamil across various OTT platforms that have come out in the year 2020.
10. Mamakiki (Zee5Tamil)
Mamakiki is basically a continuous comedy gag involving four friends. They have a reunion a few years after college days. It is more of an extended short film, but a couple of comedy sketches are sure to bring laughs merely on the strength of the writing, and the actors involved in them.
9. RK Nagar (Netflix)
Yet another Vaibhav Reddy movie finds a place in the list, even if it’s in the lower half. It means he is doing something right as far as the subject selection go. RK Nagar is a part crime comedy and part drama that features an ensemble cast.
8. Lock Up (Zee5Tamil)
This deadly game of deceits features Vaibhav Reddy, Venkat Prabhu, and Easwari Rao in critical roles. The extent to which people go to get what they need is captured neatly in a moderately engaging, but convoluted thriller.
7. Ponmagal Vandhal (Amazon Prime video)
The Jyothika starrer is the film which started it all. It is the first major acquisition on OTT platform featuring A-listers. The courtroom drama helmed by JJ Fredrick has the right casting and enough tightly-packed dramatic moments to engage the viewers.
6. Mookuthi Amman (Disney Plus Hotstar)
The RJ Balaji written and co-directed satire on devotion and godmen culture in Tamil Nadu was an instant winner for the Diwali weekend. The ladies, Nayanthara and Urvashi were the highlights with their contrasting yet highly effective performances.
5. Ka Pae Ranasingam (Zee Plex, Zee5Tamil)
Ka Pae Ranasingam is the first (and only one so far) Tamil film to opt for a Pay-per-View model release via ZeePlex. It proved to be a winner and won a lot of critical acclaim for the leading actress, Aishwarya Rajesh and honest film making from P Virumandi.
Many predict her to win recognition at ‘National’ level for her searing act that makes its point without veering into a melodramatic zone. The character of Ariyanachi is a powerful female role that is sure to find a place among many ‘best-performances’ lists. Oh, and there was a certain Vijay Sethupathi too essaying a small but likeable part in the film.
4. Andhaghaaram (Netflix)
The most recent of the lot, a small film from V Vignarajan got a lot of appreciation for the unique blend of horror elements with psychological tensions. It also further cemented Arjun Das’s position as a young talent to watch out.
3. Putham Pudhu Kaalai (Amzon Prime Video)
The anthology series helmed by top names in Tamil cinema like Gautam Menon, Sudha Kongara, Rajeev Menon, Karthik Subbaraj, and Suhasini Maniratnam was an instant winner. The casting and the lovely emotional tales with varying backdrops were icing on the cake.
2. Sethum Aayiram Pon (Netflix)
It is a small rustic gem that was one of the first digital arrivals just after the lockdown. Once again, a Tamil movie gave a streaming platform (Netflix, in this case), the best outing, and didn’t disappoint. It also helped that Sethum Aayiram Pon was best suited for the digital platform. The Anand Ravichandran directorial was a realistically shot, slow-paced drama that was authentically made. There were no half measures. Srilekha Rajendran’s scene-stealing act makes this little gem a heartfelt watch.
1. Soorarai Pottru (Amazon Prime video)
The Suriya starrer occupies the top spot among the digital releases without any questions asked. The Sudha Kongara directed biopic is the only biggie that delivered across all the industries in India. It is a blockbuster for Amazon Prime Video. The widespread critical acclaim has given Suriya a new career-high whereas the director (Sudha Kongara) has become a hot commodity overnight. Everyone has noticed not only the star of the show but the heroine (Aparna Balamurali) and a couple of supporting actors too.
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