Top critically acclaimed movies of 2016

Tamil cinema has been rapidly evolving over the last few years and moving towards more content based stories rather than commercial entertainers. 2016 has been bountiful when it comes to quality cinema as many small budget films managed to enthral audiences with their unique concepts. We have drawn up a list of a few critically acclaimed films this past year that you need to watch if you haven't done so already…

Visaranai

The Vetrimaaran directed film has been the highlight of the year. The gritty crime thriller received numerous accolades for portraying police brutality and corruption in the current legal system. Thanks to the realistic and hard-hitting nature of the movie, it managed to grab three National Awards and was even selected to represent India at the Oscars, but sadly did not make the cut on the final nominee's list. Overall, this brutal masterpiece is a must watch.

24

It is very rare that a big budget movie provides commercial value and receives critical acclaim at the same time. Suriya’s ‘24’ managed to do both. The science fiction movie followed the story of a time travelling watch which falls in Suriya’s hands. What begins as a lighthearted flick, turns into a serious revenge drama, as Suriya soon discovers dark secrets from his past. The best part about this film is the use of brains over brawns and its unconventional ending. ‘24’ is a delight for both audience and critics alike.

Uriyadi

‘Uriyadi’ deals with a very important social evil still prevalent in Tamil Nadu, which is caste based politics. High on blood, violence and realism this film will definitely shock and appal you. The major reason the film received such acclaim is the realistic fights which were more brutal than entertaining. Vijaykumar, who wrote, directed and starred in the crime thriller, was also praised for maintaining the rawness and creating thus creating a more powerful impact in the film. ‘Uriyadi’ is one of those low budget films that went under the radar but deserves to be applauded.

Iraivi

Karthik Subbaraj is known for making off-beat films and he delivered once again with ‘Iraivi’. The neo-noir film revolves around three men and three women in their lives who suffer a great deal of pain due to abuse and negligence. The slow pace of the film helped the audience soak in the setting and the characters well. Another reason why ‘Iraivi’ was such a hit among the critics was because of impressive performances from the entire cast, particularly SJ Suryah, whose portrayal of an abusive, drunk and struggling director literally revived his acting career.

Joker

Raju Murugan, who has already impressed everyone with ‘Cuckoo’, had another card up his sleeve. His political satire film ‘Joker’ is an amazing movie that addresses the basic problems that our society still faces, including lack of toilets in villages. The best part of the movie is that it addresses these issues in a very humorous and non-preachy manner. The protagonist of the story, who considers himself to be the President of India, seems like a madman, but in the end, he makes you question the credibility of the current political system.

Aandavan Kattalai

This Vijay Sethupathi starrer is a masterstroke from director M.Manikandan. This filmmaker has a knack for subtlely delivering his message while entertaining his audience with lighthearted comedy. He pulled off something similar with ‘Aandavan Kattalai’, where Vijay plays Gandhi, a man obsessed with going to London. He struggles to get his passport and visa but he is determined to get there by any means necessary. While the film is a genuine comedy at heart, it brilliantly addresses the Indian obsession with going abroad and making money.

Ammani

Veteran actress Lakshmy Ramakrishnan forayed into direction once again with the drama film ‘Ammani’. It deals with the delicate concept of independence for parents post-retirement without depending on their children for monetary support. Lakshmy beautifully played the character of Salamma, who is still providing for her family including two grown and incompetent sons, a daughter and a grandson. By the end of the film, the message of financial and emotional independence for old people is quite admirable, and it manages to deliver it without even sounding at tad bit preachy.