The Best Tamil Film Performances of 2025

2025 was a weird year for Kollywood; tentpole star vehicles disappointed, while the mid-budget comedies, romances and family dramas succeeded in keeping the theatres (and the streamers) pleased. Few traditional leading actors managed to pass the year unscathed; it was instead the less-heralded supporting and ensemble casts that walked away with the most plaudits. 

In no particular order, here are a few memorable performances from the year that was, which kept audiences — as well as the box-office — invested. 

Pasupathy (Bison)

It is to Pasupathy’s credit that, even though he turned in a powerhouse showing as another father figure leading his protégé to sporting honour a few years back in Sarpatta Parambarai, at no point does his Velusamy in Bison evoke memories of the imperious Vaathiyar. Clearly a Ranjith and Mari favourite, Pasupathy plays the doting, proud yet worried father to pitch-perfection here, ably complementing Dhruv’s physical, thriving act. The broad-shouldered actor is at his best in many of the scenes where he cowers with suppressed rage before his oppressors; you feel the same anger, the same fear, and finally, the same sense of triumph.

Vadivelu (Maareesan)

Much was expected from this reunion of the Maamannan combo, and while Fahadh Faasil is as dependable as ever, it is Vadivelu as Velan who subverts all expectations and owns every frame he is in. The legendary comedian, now excelling in his new avatar as a character artist, pulls out all the stops to keep us guessing on Velan’s motives until the big reveal at the end. But it’s not all dark and mysterious; traces of vintage Vadivelu also seep through in many of the early portions that amuse us to no extent, and also leave us a little nostalgic to see more of the Vaigai Puyal in the coming years.

Shanthipriya and Anjali Sivaraman (Bad Girl)

Indian cinema’s best mother-daughter duo this year was in Varsha Bharath’s directorial debut, brought to life by two dazzling performances from Anjali Sivaraman (in just her second feature film) and Shanthipriya (returning to Tamil screens after three decades). In many ways, Bad Girl was an intertwined coming-of-age journey for both the women in the family, as they spend their lives trying to understand, love and live with each other, slowly trying to break the shackles of unspoken patriarchal and generational trauma. The fact that Shanthipriya’s hard-nosed Sundari is a teacher in Ramya’s school adds to the fun and drama, and finally, when they both reconcile, it’s a thing of absolute delight. 

Geetha Kailasam (Angammal)

Geetha Kailasam had as prolific a year as ever, but after playing innumerable mothers over the last few years — and expertly so — she turned lead protagonist in the drama Angammal, with a role that truly befitted her talents. An adaptation of Perumal Murugan’s short story Kodithuni, Angammal traces a conflict between a mother and her younger son, when the latter demands that she wear a blouse to impress his prospective in-laws. Playing an elderly widow struggling to adapt to changing times and society, Kailasam is fantastic in the titular role, as she elevates the film from being just another slice-of-drama into a moving, poignant portrait of what it means to hold onto one’s sense of individuality.

Sarathkumar (3BHK and Dude)

Another Tamil cinema ‘hero’ who has now reinvented himself as an actor of substance, Sarathkumar makes a serious case to be one of the most versatile on-screen dads today with his two memorable roles this year, as different as they may be. While his Bose in Vaanam Kottatum (2020) remains a personal favourite, Sarath plays both the scheming, casteist Athiyamaan in Dude as well as the gentle, longing Vasudevan in 3BHK with consummate ease, being the scene-stealing father in both outings. At the age of 71, the remarkably fit star is charting a career blueprint that several of his contemporaries could, and should, take note of.

Dulquer Salmaan (Kaantha)

The period drama Kaantha flatters to deceive at times, but Dulquer Salmaan pulls off the complex character of TK Mahadevan in riveting style. Caught in a battle of egos with his mentor (a naturally fab Samuthirakani) while fighting his own demons of insecurity as a superstar actor, Salmaan is terrific throughout the narrative that eventually shifts towards an investigative thriller. It’s a shame that audiences this year will remember his cameo as the Odiyan Charlie in the blockbuster Lokah Chapter 1 from 2025 more, as DQ truly delivers his career’s finest work in Kaantha.

Suriya (Retro)

No matter how absurd the source material may be, Suriya brazenly gives it his all — as was evident in Karthik Subbaraj’s Retro — implicitly trusting his director. Karthik Subbaraj’s ambitious epic thriller went to places (literally) nobody saw coming, but even the most outlandish of scenes were somehow papered together thanks to Suriya’s no-holds-barred commitment to his character of Paari. Be it the viral 'Kanimaa' song, the extensive action sequences, or the long-drawn romance portions, Suriya turns in another humdinger of a performance, using his powerful eyes to stunning effect.

Special mentions:

Pradeep Ranganthan proved he was no flash in the pan with successive hits in Dragon and Dude, becoming the breakout new-age Tamil cinema star that genuinely nobody saw coming. Elsewhere, Vikram in Veera Dheera Sooran turned in another highlight, while Sasikumar, Simran and the entire cast of Tourist Family collectively warmed our hearts; meanwhile, Ajith Kumar hammed it up 1000x in Good Bad Ugly — we haven’t seen him having such a jolly good time in forever!