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- 8 Tamil horror movies that will haunt you for days: ‘Pizza’, ‘Aval’ and more
By Kshitij Rawat
There is something about the horror films of Tamil cinema that hits hard. Maybe it could be the regular crossover of ghosts with comedy; maybe it is that in the middle of all this supernatural nonsense, they can throw in a tragic love story here and there. Or maybe — just maybe — Tamil cinema has mastered the art of representing spirits to feel like relatives you never wished to meet. Seriously, just see a good Tamil horror movie, and you know exactly what I mean. One moment, a ghost is causing havoc, throwing people against walls and making them levitate; the next, it is an entire sentimental flashback describing how it just wanted justice. And before you know it, you’re crying for the floating and vengeful apparition. Here are the finest Tamil horror movies you need to watch.
Of ghosts and ghouls: Finest Tamil horror movies for your streaming pleasure
Kanchana (2011) may be the most recognised (and known) horror comedy in Tamil cinema. The story revolves around a ghost haunting the character played by Raghava Lawrence, which later turns into a tale of revenge with some gut-wrenching backstories. And there is slapstick humour in there too. Somehow, it all looks wonderful. It was remade in Bollywood by Lawrence himself as Akshay Kumar starrer Laxmii (2020), but sadly it was not nearly as good. In Chandramukhi (2005), Rajinikanth’s swagger almost matches the power of the spirit haunting the mansion, and Vadivelu’s impeccable comic timing makes a horror film ten times more enjoyable.
If a spine-chilling serious horror movie without a single laugh or comic moment is more to your taste, then Maya (2015) should be on your list. The slow-burn psychological terror features Nayanthara and delivers one scare after the other till after the credits start rolling.
Likewise, Aval (2017), which features Siddharth and Andrea Jeremiah in the lead roles, provides a Hollywood-style experience, with gruesome cinematography and relentless tension.
Note: These horror movies in Tamil are rated according to IMDb ratings, from top to bottom.
8 best Tamil horror movies: A list of the scariest films to watch
1 /8
Pizza (2012)
IMDb rating: 7.9
Directed by: Karthik Subbaraj
Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Ramya Nambeeshan, Aadukalam Naren
Synopsis: You’ve seen haunted houses and even haunted, but have you ever seen a haunted pizza delivery? Pizza is a brilliant horror thriller that follows a delivery guy who gets trapped in a terrifying house while dropping off an order. What seems like a typical ghost story quickly transforms into something much more unpredictable. If you haven’t seen Pizza, you’re missing out on one of the most unexpected horror experiences Tamil cinema has to offer. This film put Vijay Sethupathi on the map.
IMDb rating: 7.6
Directed by: Arivazhagan Venkatachalam
Cast: Aadhi, Nandaa Dorairaj, Sindhu Menon
Synopsis: Water has never been scarier. Eeram follows a police officer Vasudevan (Aadhi) investigating a series of mysterious deaths where the victims are found drowned in their own homes. The deeper he digs, the more he realises that the hauntings are connected to his past. With a gripping story and eerie visuals, this one is a must-watch. Even if you do not like the horror angle, it is also an excellent suspense thriller.
3 /8
Pisaasu (2014)
IMDb rating: 7.5
Directed by: Mysskin
Cast: Naga, Prayaga Martin, Radha Ravi
Synopsis: Pisaasu is not your regular ghost tale. It starts with everyday events with Siddharth, who is a violinist, and he is going to witness an unfortunate incident involving a little girl. After that, be it now the case of whispers in the dark or communing objects, or that very specific Mysskin-style tension — the kind of silence that can be scarier than a jump scare — strange things have come to occur in his abode. But there’s a twist: the ghost isn’t going to harm him; it actually appears to be looking after him. But why? What does it need? Watch the movie to find out.
4 /8
Maya (2015)
IMDb rating: 7.5
Directed by: Md. Hafizur Rahman, Ashwin Saravanan
Cast: Nayanthara, Aari, Aari Arujunan
Synopsis: If you think Tamil horror is all about over-the-top ghosts and exaggerated scares, Maya will change your mind. This is horror of the psychological kind at its finest, following an actress (Nayanthara) who finds herself tangled in a supernatural nightmare linked to an eerie film. With a haunting atmosphere and slow-building terror, Maya proves that sometimes, the scariest things are the ones you don’t see.
5 /8
Chandramukhi (2005)
IMDb rating: 7.2
Directed by: P. Vasu
Cast: Rajinikanth, Jyothika, Prabhu, Nayanthara, Vadivelu
Synopsis: What happens when you move into a grand, eerie mansion with a reputation? If you’re Rajinikanth, you stay cool and try to get to the bottom of the mystery. If you’re Vadivelu, you run for your life. Chandramukhi, which is a remake of Mohanlal‘s 1993 film Manichitrathazhu, follows a psychiatrist (Rajinikanth) investigating supernatural occurrences in an ancestral palace, where a long-dead dancer’s spirit may or may not be wreaking havoc. Jyothika delivers a powerhouse performance as a woman slowly consumed by the entity.
6 /8
Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014)
IMDb rating: 6.9
Directed by: Deekay
Cast: Krishna Sekhar, Rupa Manjari, Karunakaran
Synopsis: If you love horror comedies, Yaamirukka Bayamey should be your choice. A man Kiran (Krishna) inherits a rundown mansion and decides to turn it into a hotel, only to find out that his new business has… unwanted guests. Packed with sharp humour and spooky sequences, this is one of Tamil cinema’s best attempts at combining horror with laughs — which is not at all easy to do in a compelling manner.
7 /8
Aval (2017)
IMDb rating: 6.7
Directed by: Milind Rau
Cast: Siddharth, Andrea Jeremiah, Anisha Victor
Synopsis: If Maya is subtle horror, Aval, called The House Next Door in English, is horror of the in-your-face kind. Inspired by real events, this chilling movie follows a young couple (played by Siddharth and Jeremiah) whose peaceful life takes a terrifying turn when a new family moves into the neighbourhood. This movie has a top-notch cinematography and there is a relentless sense of dread throughout. Aval is Tamil cinema’s closest thing to a Hollywood-style haunted house flick.
8 /8
Kanchana (2011)
IMDb rating: 6.6
Directed by: Raghava Lawrence
Cast: Raghava Lawrence, R. Sarathkumar, Kovai Sarala
Synopsis: Ghosts? Scary. Ghosts possessing people? Terrifying. Ghosts possessing Raghava Lawrence and making him wear sarees while beating up bad guys? Absolutely legendary. Kanchana is a horror comedy that takes the classic haunted house trope and flips it into a revenge story with heart. It’s got jump scares, humour (thanks to Kovai Sarala’s A+ reactions), and an emotional backstory that turns the film from a spooky ride into an unexpectedly powerful one.
(Hero and Featured images: Courtesy of IMDb)
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best horror movie in Tamil?
'Chandramukhi' (2005) is the most iconic, but 'Pizza' (2012) and 'Pisaasu' (2014) are also top-tier horror films.
What is the No. 1 scariest movie?
'The Exorcist' (1973) is arguably the scariest movie of all time.
Which is the No. 1 Ghost movie?
'The Exorcist' (1973) is the best ghost movie of all time.
Which is the first Tamil horror movie?
'Aayiram Jenmangal' (1978) is considered the first Tamil horror film.
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Horror Movies Tamil movies Tamil horror movies
