Because Once the Credits Roll, You Want More
So you sat through Sabdham. The whispers, the eerie silences, that nagging feeling that your headphones were lying to you. Now you’re craving more thrill, right? Lucky for us, Tamil cinema has a whole vault of Tamil suspense thriller movies—and on ZEE5, a bunch of them are just waiting. Here’s a list of ten that scratch different itches: some gritty, some philosophical, some pure popcorn.
1. Identity (2025) – Guess Who’s Who?
Fresh, sharp, and all about masks. Identity plays with memory and deception, pulling you into a world where people aren’t who they claim to be. The tension isn’t just in the “whodunit,” but in the “who are you really?” It’s one of those films where you think you’ve cracked it… only to realize you’re wrong. Twice.
2. Demonte Colony 2 (2024) – Horror Wearing Thriller Clothes
You might tag it “horror,” but honestly? The suspense is what keeps you hooked. Demonte Colony 2: The sequel builds on the cult vibes of the first film and ups the ante. Creaking doors, secrets buried in haunted rooms, survival as the main question. Perfect for a midnight watch—alone, if you’re brave.
3. Viduthalai Part 1 (2023) – Slow Burn That Smolders
Vetrimaaran doesn’t do quick thrills. He does immersive, heavy stories. Here, a cop (Soori) finds himself chasing a rebel leader (Vijay Sethupathi). The forest becomes a character, the politics seep into every frame, and suspense takes a different shape—less about “who killed who,” more about “how deep does this go?”
4. Kathar Basha: Endra Muthuramalingam (2023) – Village Secrets, Rural Tension
Arya headlines this rustic drama where family loyalties, betrayals, and simmering rivalries create the suspense. The tension is earthy—not slick city chases, but silent stares across village courtyards. Thrills that smell like red soil and gunpowder.
5. Master (2021) – Two Titans, One Showdown
Not your textbook suspense, but the thrill is undeniable. JD (Vijay) versus Bhavani (Vijay Sethupathi). A drunk, flawed professor against a cold-blooded gangster. Lokesh Kanagaraj turns it into a long cat-and-mouse chase. The real suspense isn’t “what” will happen—it’s “when will these two collide?”
6. Valimai (2022) – Suspense on Two Wheels
Ajith Kumar as ACP Arjun, chasing biker gangs across highways. Yes, it’s action-heavy. But peel the speed away and you’ve got a thriller built on identity, betrayal, and high-stakes investigation. The bike chases are pulse-racing, but the story threads—family ties, loyalty, crime—keep you guessing.
7. Vikram (2022) – When a Universe Expands
Lokesh Kanagaraj again, this time with Kamal Haasan, Fahadh Faasil, and Vijay Sethupathi sharing screen space. It’s espionage, gangster turf wars, and hidden agendas layered like biryani. Suspense doesn’t just live in the action—it’s in the reveals, the betrayals, the bigger “universe” you didn’t see coming.
8. Vikram Vedha (2017) – Riddles That Twist Morality
A cop (Madhavan) hunts a gangster (Vijay Sethupathi). Simple pitch. But then the gangster starts telling stories—each one twisting the cop’s sense of right and wrong. Every face-off is a philosophical puzzle disguised as a thriller. No wonder it’s still talked about years later.
9. Agilan (2023) – Suspense on the High Seas
Jayam Ravi plays a crane operator caught in a seedy port conspiracy. Smuggling, corruption, power plays—it’s all there. What makes it gripping is the backdrop: the harbour itself becomes a character, with its ships, docks, and shadows hiding more than cargo.
10. Veeramae Vaagai Soodum (2022) – Vigilante Fire
Vishal in full throttle, taking on corruption and injustice. It’s commercial, sure—big fights, fiery dialogues—but underneath, the suspense is real. Who’s behind the crimes? How far will the protagonist go? It’s a film that feeds your inner vigilante.
Why These Thrillers Hit Different
Tamil thrillers work because they don’t stick to one formula. One film might be about ghosts (Demonte Colony 2), another about political rebellion (Viduthalai), another about moral riddles (Vikram Vedha). Yet they all keep you guessing. And that’s what matters.
Also, watching them on ZEE5 means you don’t have to stop at one. Binge a forest rebellion in the afternoon, a biker chase at night, and a haunted house at midnight. Different flavours, same adrenaline.
Closing Thought – After Sabdham, Hit Play Again
Sabdham made you lean in, made you listen. These ten thrillers will do the same in their own ways—some through action, some through whispers, some through dilemmas.
So don’t stop with one. Line them up. Get the popcorn, dim the lights, and let Tamil cinema remind you: suspense is not a genre, it’s a feeling. And once you catch it, you’ll keep chasing.
Bio of Author: Gayatri Tiwari is an experienced digital strategist and entertainment writer, bringing 20+ years of content expertise to one of India’s largest OTT platforms. She blends industry insight with a passion for cinema to deliver engaging, trustworthy perspectives on movies, TV shows and web series.
