Romantic thrillers bring together the emotional depth of love stories and the pulse-pounding intensity of suspense—making them a perfect watch for those who love both genres. Tamil cinema has delivered some iconic entries in this category, combining gripping storytelling with unforgettable characters.
Here are five Tamil romantic thrillers that you can stream right now on OTTplay Premium.
1️⃣ Ghajini (2005)
Directed by AR Murugadoss, Ghajini stars Suriya, Asin, and Nayanthara. The plot centers around a soft-spoken businessman suffering from short-term memory loss, who is determined to take revenge for the brutal murder of his lover.
Ghajini went on to become a career-defining film for both Asin and Suriya. It was later remade in Hindi with Aamir Khan, but the original remains a Tamil classic.
2️⃣ Nesippaya (2025)
This new-age romantic thriller, directed by Vishnuvardhan, marks the debut of Akash Murali and stars Aditi Shankar in the female lead. The story follows a couple who breaks up over differences, only for the woman to get entangled in a crime after relocating to Portugal. Her ex must now race against time to rescue her.
The film also features Sarathkumar, Prabhu, Khushbu, and Kalki Koechlin in key roles.
3️⃣ Mynaa (2010)
Set in the mountains of rural Tamil Nadu, this critically acclaimed film tells the story of a man in love with his childhood sweetheart Mynaa, and the unforeseen events that land him under police custody.
Directed by Prabhu Solomon, the film stars Vidharth and Amala Paul, and was a major commercial success, cementing Amala Paul’s rise in the Tamil film industry.
4️⃣ Manmadhan (2004)
This romantic psychological thriller, directed by AJ Murugan, features Simbu in a dual role as twin brothers. One brother turns into a charming serial killer, targeting women he believes are immoral.
The cast includes Jyothika, Goundamani, Sindhu Tolani, Atul Kulkarni, and Santhanam. A box office hit, Manmadhan was later remade in Kannada as Madana, and the character even got a nostalgic nod in Venkat Prabhu’s Goa.
5️⃣ Kaadhal Kondein (2003)
This film marked Dhanush’s breakout performance, playing Vinod, an emotionally complex orphan who becomes obsessed with his classmate. His unrequited love takes a dark psychological turn.
Directed by Selvaraghavan, and co-starring Sonia Agarwal, Kaadhal Kondein touches on themes like childhood trauma, mental health, friendship, and sacrifice, making it a cult classic in Tamil cinema.