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Gone are the days when critically acclaimed films are not considered to be commercially viable. The year 2015 blurred the line of distinction between the critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
Internationally acclaimed Kaaka Muttai was just as successful as SS Rajamouli’s mega-budget Baahubali: The Beginning.
Here are Tamil cinema's top five films.
Kaaka Muttai
Debutant director M Manikandan’s Kaaka Muttai not only won the National Award but also created waves across the globe. The film exposed the class divide and the arrogance and hypocrisy of a society that couldn’t care less for its underprivileged.
Periya Kaaka Muttai and Chinna Kaaka Muttai are two slum children, who dream of eating pizza.
The ingenuity of the kids as they scrounge and save every penny makes you smile, but also forces you to reflect on the injustice of it all.
Iyshwarya Rajesh, who plays their troubled mother and Shanthi Mani, the grandmother, are characters that make you forget you are watching a performance.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation.
Also Read: 'What if slum children craved for pizza? What would they do?'
Baahubali: The Beginning
S S Rajamouli scripted a new page in the history of South Indian cinema with his historical epic Baahubali, a Tamil/Telugu bilingual that shattered box office records.
The breathtaking visuals of the fantasy kingdom atop the majestic waterfalls with its larger-than-life characters and elaborate battle scenes simply stunned the viewers.
Telugu actors Prabhas and Rana Daggubati became national stars overnight. The film was simultaneously dubbed and released in Malayalam and Hindi and Baahubali became the first non-Hindi film to gross over 100 crore.
Read the review here
O Kadhal Kanmani
After the debacle of Kadal, Mani Ratnam made a spectacular comeback with a romantic masterpiece called O Kadhal Kanmani.
Set in Mumbai, the film is a refreshing take on modern day romance and live-in relationships. Malayalam actors Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen received much acclaim for their spontaneity and charm in the film.
Outstanding camerawork by PC Sreeram and AR Rahman’s background score enhanced the experience, making O Kadhal Kanmani one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
Papanasam
Jeethu Joseph's 2013 Malayalam blockbuster Drishyam has been successfully remade into four other languages -- Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi.
The Tamil version Papanasam, starring Kamal Haasan, was also directed by Jeethu Joseph. Kamal took a huge risk reprising the role made memorable by Mohanlal in the original, but it seems to have paid off splendidly.
Papanasam was Kamal’s only hit in 2015, which saw the release of two other films, Uttama Villain and Thoongavanam.
Kuttram Kadithal
Director Bramma’s Kuttram Kadithal narrates a highly poignant tale of a young teacher wracked with guilt over a beating of a student that results in a tragedy.
The entire film revolves around this one incident and how it affects everyone connected with it.
Theater artiste Radhika Prasidhha plays the teacher, who is haunted by her mistake and is slowly growing crazy with fear of retribution.
Besides winning several international accolades, the film also won the National Award for Best Tamil film 2015.