Ajith Kumar delivered one of the most physically demanding performances of his career in Citizen , directed by Saravana Subbiah. The plot follows a brilliant master-of-disguise kidnapper targeting corrupt government officials to avenge the wiping out of an entire coastal village. Ajith’s multiple prosthetics-heavy avatars and the film's strong anti-corruption message resonated deeply with audiences.
A quintessential Tamil commercial action-drama released during the Diwali season. Vijayakanth's commanding performance, along with the music by Vidyasagar, made it a massive success. Exclusive 2001 Tamil Movies List (Chronological Order)
| Movie Title | Director | Cast | Notes / Type | |------------|----------|------|---------------| | Dheena | A. R. Murugadoss | Ajith Kumar, Suresh Gopi, Laila | Action; Breakthrough film for Murugadoss | | Citizen | Saravanan Subbiah | Ajith Kumar, Meena, Vasundhara Das | Political action thriller | | Villain | K. S. Ravikumar | Ajith Kumar, Meena, Kiran Rathod | Action drama | | Asoka | Santosh Sivan | Ajith Kumar (cameo), Shah Rukh Khan | Historical (Tamil-dubbed version existed, but original Tamil scenes with Ajith) – Tamil original component limited | | Poovellam Un Vasam | Ezhil | Ajith Kumar, Jyothika, Nanditha | Romantic drama | | Friends | Siddique | Vijay, Suriya, Ramesh Khanna, Devayani | Comedy drama | | Badri | P. A. Arun Prasad | Vijay, Bhumika Chawla, Monalisa | Action romance | | Shahjahan | Ravi Raja | Vijay, Richa Pallod, Vivek | Romantic action | | 12B | Jeeva | Shaam, Jyothika, Simran | Romantic drama; critically acclaimed | | Minnale | Gautham Menon | R. Madhavan, Reema Sen, Abbas | Romantic hit; Gautham Menon's debut | | Nandha | Bala | Suriya, Laila, Rajkiran | Drama; Suriya's breakthrough performance | | Kushi | S. J. Suryah | Vijay, Jyothika, Vivek | Romantic comedy; blockbuster | | Samudhiram | K. S. Ravikumar | Sarath Kumar, Murali, Abhirami | Action drama | | Rojakoottam | Bharathiraja | Kunal, Nanditha, Richard Madhu | Romantic drama | | Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya | S. P. Rajkumar | Ramesh Aravind, Meena, Kovai Sarala | Comedy; remake of Kannada hit Mungaru Male prequel? Actually Tamil original comedy | | Dumm Dumm Dumm | Azhagam Perumal | R. Madhavan, Jyothika, Vivek | Romantic comedy | | Pandavar Bhoomi | Cheran | Cheran, Murali, Meena, Abhirami | Rural drama | | Vedham | S. A. Chandrasekhar | Vijayakanth, Devayani, Laila | Action | | Thavasi | P. Vasu | Sarath Kumar, Devayani, Kausalya | Action drama | | Middle Class Madhavan | Sundar C. | Sundar C., Vadivelu, Vindhya | Comedy | | Looty | Shaji Kailas | Mammootty (Malayalam dubbed?), but Tamil original: Looty with R. Parthiepan? Check: Actually Looty (2001) Tamil – Parthiepan, Vadivelu, Simran | Action comedy | | Vaanchinathan | R. T. Neason | Vijayakanth, Meena, Sangeetha | Action | | Ullam Kollai Poguthae | R. S. Sundaram | Jai, Asin, Rathi | Romantic drama; Asin's debut | | Aandan Adimai | T. P. Gajendran | Napoleon, Devayani, Vadivelu | Drama | | Kunguma Pottu Gounder | Ezhil | Karthik, Meena, Devayani | Rural romance | | Super Police | K. Murali Mohan Rao | Vijayakanth, Simran, Rambha | Action | | Krishna Krishna | K. S. Gopalakrishnan | Murali, Kausalya, Radhika | Devotional drama | | Nageshwari | M. S. Madhu | Ramki, Roja, Nagesh | Horror/thriller | | Seerivarum Kaalai | S. S. Chandran | Sathyaraj, Roja, Ravali | Action | | Vinnukum Mannukum | S. A. Chandrasekhar | Sathyaraj, Karthik, Devayani | Drama |
: A low-budget, critically acclaimed project that prioritized script-driven narrative over star power, representing the indie spirit of early 2000s Kollywood. Action, Masala, and Rural Dramas 2001 tamil movies list exclusive
: Directed by Thangar Bachan, this poignant romantic drama starred Parthiban, Devayani, and Nandita Das. The film beautifully captured the essence of childhood love and adult compromise, winning widespread critical acclaim and the National Film Award for Best Regional Film (Tamil).
Vikram showcased his extraordinary acting caliber once again in Kasi , directed by Vinayan. A remake of the Malayalam film Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum , Vikram played a blind village singer who supports his ungrateful family. His brilliant, physically demanding performance won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Tamil) and proved he could balance commercial stardom with intense method acting. 4. Dum Dum Dum
No is complete without honoring the comedy tracks. While 2001 lacked the "Goundamani-Senthil" peak, it introduced the solo dominance of Vadivelu . Ajith Kumar delivered one of the most physically
: Dheena and Friends both released during this period, competing for the top spot and eventually becoming year-toppers.
Several films in 2001 redefined commercial success, solidifying the star power of their leads and introducing narratives that would dictate industry trends for years to follow.
: A remake where Vikram played a blind man, widely considered one of his most versatile performances. including the evergreen track "Vaseegara."
The year 2001 was a transformative era for Tamil cinema, witnessing the emergence of legendary monikers like "Thala" for Ajith Kumar and the rise of blockbuster debuts such as A.R. Murugadoss's Dheena . From intense psychological thrillers like Aalavandhan to the commercial success of Friends , this exclusive list highlights the top-grossing films and critical milestones of the year.
Dhill officially cemented Vikram’s status as a commercial mass hero. Propelled by Vidyarthi's terrifying performance as "Encounter" Shankar and Vidyasagar's adrenaline-pumping music, this action-thriller set a new template for fast-paced commercial entertainers. Director: Thirupathisamy Cast: Captain Vijayakanth, Isha Koppikar
Vidyasagar delivered immensely popular, soulful melodies for films like Poovellam Un Vaasam and Dhill , striking a perfect balance between classical Indian melodies and foot-tapping commercial beats.
: Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon in his directorial debut, this film became a cult classic. It introduced audiences to the "Chocolate Boy" avatar of Madhavan and featured a legendary soundtrack by Harris Jayaraj, including the evergreen track "Vaseegara."