Best dark & gritty Tamil movies on ZEE5 in India
By the KyaDekhu team · Updated · Availability for India from JustWatch, ratings from IMDb
78 movies on ZEE5 in India match this list, with an average IMDb rating of 6.1. Ranked by vote-weighted IMDb rating and popularity; showing the top 30.
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1. Anniyan (2005)
Movie · Tamil · 3h 1m · U · Action, Drama · IMDb 8.4 (27.2K votes)
TwistyDark & grittyVisually stunningEdge-of-seat
Unable to tolerate society's injustices and devastated by rejection from the woman he loves, a meek lawyer develops a split personality: one side a vengeful vigilante killer punishing evildoers, the other a dashing playboy capable of winning her heart. Complications arise when the three sides begin to collide.
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2. Vikram Vedha (2017)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 27m · UA · Action, Thriller · IMDb 8.2 (56.4K votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatVisually stunningFast-paced
A notorious gangster Vedha surrenders himself to encounter specialist Vikram whom he challenges every step of the way by narrating his life events in the form of riddles that needs to be solved in order to capture him.
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3. Kaththi (2014)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 47m · U · Action, Drama · IMDb 8.1 (33.5K votes)
Edge-of-seatVisually stunningTwistyDark & gritty
Kathiresan aka Kaththi, a criminal, escapes from the Kolkata prison and comes to Chennai, where he comes across his doppelganger Jeevanandham, fighting for his life after being shot at by unknown men. Kathir decides to pass off as Jeeva and make away with a lump sum amount but once he realizes who Jeeva really is, Kath
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4. Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016)
Movie · Tamil · 1h 46m · UA · Thriller, Action · IMDb 8.1 (19.4K votes)
TwistyCold & detachedEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
A former cop looks back on the case which left him disabled and forced him to quit the force.
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5. Viduthalai: Part I (2023)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 26m · A · Action, Thriller · IMDb 8.1 (12.3K votes)
TwistyMatureVisually stunningEdge-of-seat
Kumaresan, a police constable, gets recruited for an operation implanted to capture Perumal Vaathiyar, who leads a separatist group dedicated to fighting against the authorities for committing atrocities against innocent village women in the name of police interrogations.
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6. Mersal (2017)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 41m · UA · Thriller, Action · IMDb 7.5 (42.8K votes)
TwistyVisually stunningFast-pacedEdge-of-seat
A few individuals in the medical profession are murdered or kidnapped, and the cop investigating the case suspects a doctor and arrests him. But is he the one who is behind these crimes? And why are they being committed?
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7. Sivaji: The Boss (2007)
Movie · Tamil · 3h 9m · U · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.6 (24.4K votes)
Visually stunningDark & gritty
A wealthy engineer arrives in India with the mission of serving the nation and investing in the country's welfare but is met with strong opposition from corrupt officials and politicians. After being faced with insurmountable hardships, he decides to take drastic measures.
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8. Master (2021)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 59m · UA · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.4 (92.0K votes)
Visually stunningDark & grittyEdge-of-seatMature
An alcoholic professor is sent to a juvenile school, where he clashes with a gangster, who uses the children of the school for criminal activities.
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9. Nerkonda Paarvai (2019)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 38m · UA · Drama, Action · IMDb 7.7 (11.5K votes)
Dark & grittyMatureEdge-of-seat
When three young women are harassed and implicated in a crime they didn't commit, a bipolar lawyer sets out to help them clear their names and prove it to everyone that a woman's consent matters.
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10. Viduthalai: Part II (2024)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 52m · A · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.5 (18.5K votes)
MatureEdge-of-seatDark & grittyTwisty
Troubles worsen for Kumaresan after the capture of Perumal, and soon he is confronted with having to make a choice between performing his duties as a police constable, or taking a stand for what is right.
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11. I (2015)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 50m · UA · Thriller, Action · IMDb 7.4 (26.1K votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
A deformed hunchback kidnaps a bride and holds her hostage while his connection to her and his targets is revealed in a series of flashbacks that unfold as he starts seeking revenge.
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13. Irumbu Thirai (2018)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 40m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.6 (6.4K votes)
Edge-of-seatDark & gritty
Kathiravan, a major in the Indian army with anger management issues, is compelled by circumstances to borrow a loan from a bank with false documents. When the entire money in the account vanishes, Kathiravan tries to track down the scamsters, and it leads him to White Devil, a master hacker.
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14. Billa (2007)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 10m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.3 (8.8K votes)
Edge-of-seatTwistyVisually stunningFast-paced
The intertwined stories of an international Don in Malaysia, David Billa, chased by the cops, an Indian police officer, a woman who wants to avenge the death of her brother, and a lowly thief, Velu who shares with Billa, an unusual connection.
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15. Kurangu Bommai (2017)
Movie · Tamil · 1h 46m · UA · Action, Crime · IMDb 7.8 (2.5K votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
An honest driver tries to find the owner of a bag, supposedly containing money to fund the marriage of the man’s daughter, not realising that it was used by his own father to move a stolen idol.
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16. Kolamavu Kokila (2018)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 20m · UA · Comedy, Thriller · IMDb 7.3 (4.1K votes)
Fast-pacedTwistyEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
A young woman takes up drug peddling to make money for the treatment of her mom, who has cancer.
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17. 8 Thottakkal (2017)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 25m · U · Thriller, Action · IMDb 7.5 (2.6K votes)
Fast-pacedDark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detached
A cop’s pistol gets stolen and even as the search for it gets underway, it ends up in the hands of someone who uses it to rob a bank.
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18. Naan (2012)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 15m · G · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 7.6 (2.1K votes)
Cold & detachedTwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seat
An ex-convict forges signature of a deceased medical student to get enrolled in a medical college. He kills his roommate by accident in a dispute and fears that his identity will be revealed.
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19. Sethupathi (2016)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 1m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.1 (3.7K votes)
Dark & grittyCold & detachedEdge-of-seat
Sethupathi, an inspector, investigates the murder of a cop and finds that Vaathiyar, a big shot, is responsible for the killing. He arrests Vaathiyar, but an unfortunate incident that has a connection to the case he is investigating, puts his career in jeopardy.
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20. Kavan (2017)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 40m · U · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.1 (3.1K votes)
Dark & gritty
A budding journalist passionate about ethical, noble, hard-hitting journalism understands the more flourishing ghetto of sensationalism & news fabrication that the Entertainment TV Channel he belongs to, thrives on. When caught in a dilemma of whether to hold for a while or rise in protest, a situation forces him t
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21. Sarkar (2018)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 44m · UA · Action, Drama · IMDb 6.7 (24.2K votes)
Dark & grittyCold & detachedVisually stunningEdge-of-seat
NRI corporate Sundar Ramasamy comes to India to vote, only to learn that his vote has already been cast. While he reclaims his right legally, it also sets in motion a chain of events that eventually lead to him entering the political fray, trying to change the system.
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22. Bommai Nayagi (2023)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 3m · Drama · IMDb 7.6 (801 votes)
MatureDark & grittyStraightforward
Velu, who works in a tea shop, fights for justice for his 9-year-old daughter, who has been subjected to sexual assault by two influential upper-caste men during a festive season.. However, when he realizes that people he trusts wanted to cover this up, he decides to fight for justice with the help of his Marxist-leani
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23. Uriyadi 2 (2019)
Movie · Tamil · 1h 59m · U · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.0 (1.0K votes)
Dark & grittyEdge-of-seat
A young man struggles for justice for the victims who are affected by the chemical plant leakage which lead to many deaths in the village.
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24. Kodiyil Oruvan (2021)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 29m · UA · Action, Drama · IMDb 6.7 (2.4K votes)
Dark & gritty
An IAS aspirant, who lands in Chennai to fulfill his mother's wish, gets into trouble with a local councillor and his men, leading to a power struggle.
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26. Meaghamann (2014)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 19m · U · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 6.8 (883 votes)
TwistyEdge-of-seatCold & detachedDark & gritty
A cop Arul (Arya) is on an undercover mission to capture the underworld don Jothi (Ashutosh Rana) who runs a smuggling mafia in Goa. When both Arul and his friend Chandra (Ramanna) plans to arrest Jothi, things go haywire and the rest of the story tells us whether Arul completes his mission by playing a mind game.
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27. Kaalidas (2019)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 6m · UA · Action, Crime · IMDb 6.6 (1.7K votes)
TwistyDark & gritty
A cop, who suffers from family issues, takes up a peculiar suicide case. The plot thickens as similar cases get reported within a span of a few days.
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28. Thiruttu Payale 2 (2017)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 30m · UA · Thriller, Action · IMDb 6.6 (1.0K votes)
MatureCold & detachedDark & grittyTwisty
The life of a surveillance specialist turns topsy-turvy when a womanizer starts blackmailing his wife. The former tries to nab him using his power and expertise in technology
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29. Kirumi (2015)
Movie · Tamil · 1h 44m · UA · Thriller, Action · IMDb 7.0 (457 votes)
Dark & grittyEdge-of-seat
Kathir, a carefree young man, becomes a police informer like his neighbour Prabhakar, and begins to get too close with inspector Soundarapandian, despite the warnings of the latter. It is only when he tries to ride on an ego clash between Soundarapandian and Mathiarasu, a rival inspector, that he realizes he's become a
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30. Parasakthi (2026)
Movie · Tamil · 2h 43m · U/A 16+ · History, Drama · IMDb 6.5 (8.5K votes)
Visually stunningEdge-of-seatDark & gritty
In a time of civil disobedience in the erstwhile Madras state, a ruthless intelligent officer turns up with a duty to track down rebels. Chezhian and his brother Chinndurai are of different personalities, one a hardworking fireman, the other a rebel. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues as Chezhian is forced to abando
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