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Hans India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Top 5 Latest Tamil Movies of 2025 You Shouldn't Miss
In 2025, Tamil cinema never ceases to innovate when it comes to narrative, redefining genres and engaging viewers. From starry-eyed mass entertainers to emotionally rich narratives, the year so far has yielded a handful of notable films that have provoked conversations, shattered streaming records, and lured audiences back to the theaters. Whether you are an ardent fan of Kollywood or simply came looking the some desi delight, here is the list of the top five recent Tamil movies of 2025 that have made a mark with their story, performances, and direction. 1. Retro Starring: Suriya, Aishwarya Rajesh Director: Karthik Subbaraj Genre: Period Thriller Release Date: 1 May 2025 A memory-lane backdrop mixed with mythic drama, Retro is that rarity—old-school big-concept moviemaking that dares to be different. Set across two time periods, including the politically symbolic 1980s and today, the film follows Paarivel Kannan, a psychologically scarred man caught between violence and the search for peace. Suriya delivers a transformative performance that is emotionally restrained yet powerfully charismatic. Directed by Karthik Subbaraj, Retro is ambitious in both scale and spirit. The film blends folklore, politics, and gangster drama into a symbolic narrative arc. Composer Santhosh Narayanan's score shifts gracefully between Tamil folk and ambient orchestration, intensifying the film's emotional currents. The visuals, shot by Shreyaas Krishna, offer vivid contrasts between urban decay and mythical escapism. One of the highlights is a breathtaking 15-minute single-take sequence choreographed around the song 'Kanimaa.' While the first half is emotionally gripping and technically brilliant, the second half explores a surreal plot involving cults and island mysticism, which divided audience opinion. Nevertheless, Retro has generated widespread discussion, with audiences praising Suriya's bold character arc and Subbaraj's uncompromising direction. The film grossed over ₹104 crore at the box office and is trending widely across social media. For further insights, reviews, and legal streaming updates, readers can visit the movie review website, Tamilyogi, where the movie's artistic and thematic elements are explored in-depth. 2. Maaman Starring: Soori, Aishwarya Lekshmi Director: Prasanth Pandiyaraj Genre: Family Drama Release Date: 16 May 2025 Maaman is an emotional village drama that portrays the strong attachment shared by an uncle and his nephew. In an unexpected career play, Soori plays the protagonist Inba, a simpleton who gives up his dreams to bring up his orphaned nephew. The story is set in a serene village in Tirunelveli with green paddy fields, temple festivals, and native dialects adding beauty to the narration. The movie is directed by Lark Studios and filmed on location for realism. Director Prasanth Pandiyaraj, who has assisted Vetrimaaran, primarily relies on real-life tales and rural practices to build cultures within layers. As a local school teacher emotionally invested in the lives of Inba and the boy, Aishwarya Lekshmi. Her appearance, limited though it may be, enriches the second half of the film and makes it clear the extent to which the support of others can frame the future of a child. Maaman explores the broader social problems of patriarchy, alcoholism, and generational trauma. Unlike a traditional melodrama, the film doesn't preach; rather, it surfaces organically, letting characters grow and situations speak for themselves. Its soundtrack, by Hesham Abdul Wahab, incorporates folk instruments and lullabies of the sort found in Tamil Nadu's southern regions. The songs all tie into the story, adding to the emotion as well as the realism of the period. Of particular note, the film was lauded for its realistic portrayal and authentic emotion. The themes of the film were well received by the audiences, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and it became a word-of-mouth hit. It was shown in rural cinemas, schools, and by NGOs to raise awareness about the status of children. 3. Perusu Starring: Vaibhav, Sunil Reddy, Niharika NM Director: Ilango Ram Type: Satirical Comedy / Family Drama Release Date: 14 March 2025 Perusu tackles the madness of family dysfunction with a bite of the darkly humorous and satirical. The tale revolves around two brothers who get together after their father's weird, early passing, to find his body wedged in a posthumous salute. While attempting to host a socially acceptable funeral without arousing their gossipmonger town, A comedy of surprising, slapstick twists begins. Based on Tamil folk tales, and worked through a lens that includes contemporary criticisms like social media addiction, performative grief, and family hypocrisy in the age of the constantly online world, the script by Ilango Ram is top-notch. There is Niharika NM, making her Tamil debut as a meddling cousin who, while ushering out the family, accidentally live streams the body, turning it into a viral sensation and pulling the rest of the family into unwanted public scrutiny. The movie leverages an absurd premise to address more fundamental problems. Discussions of inheritance, class disparity, and the taboo around death rituals are subtly threaded through the narrative. Aesthetically, the film's contrast between the old village dwelling and the shiny smartphones used for streaming underscores the clash of generations and values. Perusu received praise for its originality and for combining farcical comedy with poignant notes. The background score uses folk instruments, often with comic cues, to elevate the mood of the film without drowning out scenes. It did modest business at the box office, but found a huge audience on OTT, particularly among the young. Audiences have appreciated the film's non-linear narrative and rich character arcs, and it's being discussed in cultural studies circles for its bold attempt to merge tradition with postmodern satire. It's also one of the few Tamil films to parody death rituals without disrespecting cultural sentiments. 4. Test Cast: Siddharth, Radhika Sarathkumar Director: S. Sashikanth Genre: Sports Drama Release Date: 4 April 2025 Test combines the worlds of cricket, media witch hunts, and mental health in a gripping, emotional story. Siddharth is Aravind, a star cricketer who is forced into oblivion when he is falsely accused of match-fixing. Years later, he attempts a comeback in domestic tournaments, haunted by stigma and self-doubt. The director S. Sashikanth develops the story in layers, with flashbacks to Aravind's glory days, intercut with his present-day troubles, training in isolation, media backlash, and reconciliation with estranged family. Radhika Sarathkumar is compelling as Aravind's previous coach, turned sports psychologist, who promotes the idea of dealing with mental stress prowess. Its depiction of depression, insomnia, and anxiety is based on actual sports cases, with advice from consultants who have worked with Indian athletes. Cricket sequences are realistic, shot with the latest tracking cameras, and domestic-level players have made cameo appearances. Test also satirizes the sensationalism of breaking news media houses and the tyranny of online opinion. It's not a sports idol worshipping kind of story, but a human kind of story of anything that happens to an athlete in their personal and professional lives, thus making it a story for everyone and not just a cricket fan. The movie received a lot of appreciation from ex-cricketers and sportspeople, and also initiated discussions in sports federations towards better psychological support systems. Schools and colleges have shown it as a tool in their stress-reduction workshops. 5. Veera Dheera Sooran Cast: Jayam Ravi, Nayanthara Director: ARK Saravan Genre: Action Fantasy/Historical fiction Release Date: 27 March 2025 Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2. In this intense Tamil action drama, a reformed criminal is forced to come out of hiding when his former murderer believes he's still alive. This taut thriller with intense emotions and a realistic cinematic style is directed by S. U. Arun Kumar of Chithha fame. Vikram has earned rave reviews for finding the right mix of mass and emotional values. It's a film with a lot of depth in that way; redemption, loyalty, and the weight of a past are all huge themes in the story. As Arunagiri IPS, SJ Suryah is instrumental in adding tension and unpredictability to the cat-and-mouse game that he plays with Kaali. Suraj Venjaramoodu and Dushara Vijayan also play roles here, besides providing punchlines at a couple of places; these two contribute significantly to fleshing out the emotional core of the film. Technically, Veera Dheera Sooran is good. The screenplay gets a boost from Theni Eswar's cinematography, which is especially highlighted through the widely debated single-shot action climax. Music by G. V. Prakash Kumar, especially with standout songs like 'Kalloorum,' helps the film oscillate between the intense and the mundane. The audience's reaction, so far, has been largely positive, and many have opined that it's one of Vikram's career best. Critics praise its grounded action, complex characters, and the show's unwillingness to be bogged down by exposition, preferring to let the show tell its stories in a naturalistic way. Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 is Tamil cinema's ability to blend artistry with commercial storytelling, and it's one of the most important releases of 2025. 2025 At the end, 2025 has proven to be a landmark year for Tamil cinema. The five films, Retro, Maaman, Perusu, Test, and Veera Dheera Sooran, are a testament to evolving contours of Kollywood that seamlessly blend artistic ambition with cultural rootedness. These are movies that cater to a growing population of fans who have a taste for authenticity, experimentation, and emotional honesty. They both underline how Tamil films are not just an influential regional industry but also an important strand in world cinema. Whether you're a die-hard fan of South Indian cinema or a curious first-timer, this year's offerings boast an impressive range of movie experiences that you should take a deep dive into.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Retro', ‘The Four Seasons' and ‘Thunderbolts*' are all about finding purpose and navigating change
'The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.' — Mark Twain. And sometimes, it's the day you wake up and realise your purpose is to save your money… and avoid that next bad movie. The picks for this week are all about purpose, change, and transformation. 'Retro': Masala, meaning, and mayhem collide 'The journey of a hero is always a search for purpose,' said Joseph Campbell in The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Karthik Subbaraj's ode to the movies of yore, Retro, starring Suriya in a complex role, is a treat for cinephiles — but… and this but is in all caps! So, BUT— is the treat really satisfying? That's debatable. Retro, with its tagline 'Love, Laughter, War,' started with a bang at the box office, but collections dipped after mixed reviews. It has still hit ₹100 crore, but let's leave business aside. The film begins with a climax of sorts — a gangster bids farewell to the thug life to get married. Cue a 15-minute oner with song, dance, action, emotion, masala… the much-talked-about 'Kanimaa' sequence is the best part of the film. If it were a mini movie, it'd get five stars. But expectations soar so high, it's impossible for the film to live up to that promise. It slowly spirals into a mess, especially in the second chapter, 'Laughter.' The idea of a violent gangster using laughter therapy to win back his love is fun on paper. But invoking Chaplin's name isn't enough. This portion doesn't pack laughs — despite Jayaram's presence — because the joke writing doesn't exist. Characters tell jokes, but we never hear a punchline. With help from a comedy writer, this might've worked. Here, the laughs come only from situational gags. With this hole in the narrative, the film dives into War. But since Suriya is a fighting machine throughout, it's just war, war, and more war. The polarising third act borrows the age-old 'chosen one' trope. After failing to shun violence, the hero embraces it as a purpose. It's like an alcoholic discovering drinking is good — because hey, it kills stomach germs. The problem with glorifying a call to arms is that while it could be great satire, Retro plays it straight, justifying violence with purpose. The girl who hates violence is told, 'He's not Buddha, he's Krishna.' That's the only reasoning the film offers. What if war is necessary— the only way out? In the film, it is. But in the real world, especially in the wake of real wars, we know better. Violence is cyclical. War ends with bodies on both sides. There might be chest-thumping in the fog of war, but there are no happy endings. To his credit, this problematic messaging is still wrapped in poetic justice. Every scene contains more cinema per frame than most films out there. So go easy on this treat. Keep your expectations basic. A bunch of drunk fans dancing to Kanimaa during their repeat viewing simply left at the interval. They'd had their fill. Perhaps a more honest title would've been: War, More War, and… Diminishing Returns. 'The Four Seasons': Comedy that breaks you Tina Fey's adaptation of Alan Alda's 1981 movie The Four Seasons explores how decades-old relationships change overnight. This sharp, well-observed comedy could've easily turned dark. But in Tina Fey and Steve Carell's hands, the strongest medicine comes from unexpected laughs. It's a show that breaks your heart — but in a way that feels like a good cleanse. Like crying during a rom-com, except you don't get a happy ending — just a solid 'Well, that was real.' Even when it gets devastating, you never stop smiling. A triumph of comedy writing. A must-watch with your loved ones — because nothing says 'I love you' like silently judging each other's emotional baggage for four hours straight. 'Thunderbolts*' / 'New Avengers': Marvel's last laugh? Marvel changed Thunderboltsto The New Avengers a day after release. Most of us have Marvel fatigue. Ever since The Boys, Marvel has been flailing. With Thunderbolts, they borrow from DC — a team of misfits and anti-heroes. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Valentina, trying to kill them off. They won't die. So they team up. It's all very meta. Not super — just rejects with issues. Watchable. Not worth IMAX 3D. But perfect for OTT. Two hilarious end-credit scenes roast Marvel's desperation. So meta, I almost missed Deadpool. Quick reccos Muthayya, directed by Bhaskhar Maurya, tells of a 70-year-old chasing a dream to be on the big screen. A minimalist Telugu indie with heart, now on ETV Win. That SS Rajamouli launched its trailer is practically an Oscar. Also, Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal Season 2 on JioStar continues to unsettle. Episode 3 goes too far — in the best way. You may never unsee Nathan in a diaper. Catch the full video of this FOMO Fix column on YouTube From the hottest shows to hidden gems, overlooked classics to guilty pleasures, FOMO Fix is a fortnightly compass through the chaos of content. Expect timely recommendations, spoiler-free insights, and an honest heads-up on what to not miss.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
In Pics: Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Suriya At A Grand Wedding In Chennai
New Delhi: Producer and founder of Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Ishari K Ganesh's daughter Peetha Ganesh married Lushvin Kumar in a traditional ceremony in Chennai on Friday. Actors like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Sathyaraj, filmmakers like C Sundar, Mani Ratnam, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and others, attended the wedding. Inside pictures from the wedding went viral on social media. Peetha Ganesh and Lushvin Kumar had their Sangeet night on Thursday. A viral video shows Suriya greeting the couple. Guests are seen dancing to the tune of Kanimaa from his recently released film Retro. #Suriya @Suriya_offl attended @VelsFilmIntl @IshariKGanesh 's daughter Preethaa's grand Sangeeth Function after the #Retro thanks meet ♥️✨ #VelsWedding — sridevi sreedhar (@sridevisreedhar) May 8, 2025 In another viral video, Suriya is seen gifting the couple a bouquet. Actor @Suriya_offl attended the Sangeet ceremony of Vels Group Chairman @IshariKGanesh 's daughter. ❤️ #IshariGanesh #VelsWedding — Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 8, 2025 See some more pictures from the ceremony: #DrIshariKGanesh daughter Preethaa weds Lushvin Kumar wedding ceremony stills 🎉 #VelsWedding #IshariGanesh @teamaimpr — Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) May 9, 2025 Ganesh is the son of former actor-politician Isari Velan. In 1992, he founded Vel's Educational Trust in memory of his late father. Under Vels Film International, he has produced films like Devi, Comali, Enai Noki Paayum Thota, Kutty Story, Mookuthi Amman, Joshua Imai Pol Kaakha and more. Among his upcoming ventures, Ganesh has Sumo and Dayangaram at hand. He is also producing Genie and Nayanthara-starrer Mookuthi Amman 2. In 2024, he also produced the Jio Hotstar (then Disney+ Hotstar) series Chutney Sambar. He also acted in a few films like 2.0 and Ninaikkaadha Naalillai.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Karthik Subbaraj reveals how Suriya reacted when he pitched a 15-minute single-shot almost ruined by rain in Retro
Director Karthik Subbaraj's Suriya and Pooja Hegde-starrer Retro was released in theatres on May 1. Talking to THR India, the filmmaker discussed the famous 15-minute single-shot from the film that everyone's talking about, revealing Suriya's reaction when he first pitched it. (Also Read: Karthik Subbaraj wants to make an 'indie film for film festivals' after Suriya's Retro: 'Want to see the other side') Suriya and Pooja Hegde in a still from the song Kanimaa, which is part of the 15-minute single shot in Retro. There is a 15-minute scene in Retro shot in a single take where a lot happens. Numerous characters go from dancing to Kanimaa to getting confrontational and fighting in a span of a few minutes. Karthik stated that while he was interested in the idea from the get-go, he needed to ensure it was technically possible before pitching it to Suriya. 'Once we mapped out the details of the single take and figured out if it was even technically possible, then I informed Suriya sir. He just smiled first, and then he's like, how are you coming up with something like this? But then, he was also excited. He, too, felt it would be challenging, but he was also full on into it,' said Karthik. The challenges of shooting the scene in 3 takes Karthik revealed that they dedicated a few days solely to getting that scene right in Retro, which included one full day of tech rehearsals without artistes and another full day of rehearsals to ensure every actor and technician in the scene hits their mark on time. After a dress rehearsal on the third day, they went on floors to shoot the scene, which was marred by a technical glitch. 'Towards the end of the day, we tried another take and got it almost right, but someone shook the camera, someone else looked into the camera…we were still happy. The next day, it began raining, which wasn't in the plan at all. Eventually, we brought on umbrellas, lightly wrapped the cameras and took a take, we still weren't fully satisfied. With half an hour left, we wanted to try once more, and Suriya sir agreed. That's the take we got what's in the film now,' explained the director.
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First Post
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Varun Dhawan Praises Pooja Hegde's Performance in Retro, Says 'You were soo good'
Soon after igniting the screens with Retro, Pooja Hegde is already onto her next Bollywood rom-com, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, with Varun Dhawan read more Pooja Hegde and Varun Dhawan are shooting together for their upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai in the United Kingdom. Recently, the duo enjoyed a special screening of Pooja and Suriya starrer Retro in London, and they were also joined by Mrunal Thakur. Now, Varun Dhawan took to his social media handle to heap praise on Pooja Hegde, and also applauded her role as Rukmani. Taking to his Instagram handle, Varun Dhawan wrote, 'Saw Retro last night, loved Rukmani. @hegdepooja you were soo good and @actorsuriya always loved your work sir but enjoyed u in this avatar more. @ksubbaraj laughter is the best medicine.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Well, it's not Varun Dhawan who is impressed by Pooja's performance in Retro. It's been a day since the film made its theatrical debut, and Pooja has left the audience and critics amazed as the fierce and grounded Rukmani. The actress brings a soft touch of romance to the gangster trope and adds weight to the plot with her emotional range. Besides adding momentum to the narrative, Pooja also left the theatrical audience dancing to the viral hokstep of Kanimaa song, and cemented herself as the hookstep queen all over again. While the rave reviews continue to pour in, the audiences have declared Pooja's act in Retro as her career-best performance! Soon after igniting the screens with Retro, Pooja Hegde is already onto her next Bollywood rom-com, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, with Varun Dhawan. Directed by David Dhawan, the film is expected to be released soon.
