AR Murugadoss's directorial debut; it earned Ajith the moniker "Thala". Madhavan, Reema Sen
Several films released in 2001 went on to become cult classics or significant commercial successes:
To give you an exclusive, comprehensive look, here is a structured breakdown of the key notable movies released in 2001, categorized by their primary genre and impact: The Box Office Blockbusters 2001 tamil movies list exclusive
(Vijay, Bhumika Chawla) – Highly successful sports action drama.
| Opening | Title | Director | Cast | Music Director | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Apr 13 | | Azhagam Perumal | R. Madhavan, Jyothika, Kalpana | Karthik Raja | | Apr 13 | Little John | Singeetham Srinivasa Rao | Bentley Mitchum, Jyothika, Prakash Raj | A. R. Rahman | | Apr 13 | Seerivarum Kaalai | Ramarajan | Ramarajan, Abitha, Sukanya | S. A. Rajkumar | | Apr 20 | Ninaikkatha Naalillai | A. L. Raja | R. Parthiban, Rahman, Devayani, Kaveri | Deva | | Apr 27 | Kasi | Vinayan | Vikram, Khushbu, Kavya Madhavan | M. G. Radhakrishnan | | May 4 | Krishna Krishna | K. R. | Murali, Kausalya, Devayani | S. A. Rajkumar | | May 11 | En Iniya Pon Nilavae | S. V. S. Kumar | Murali, Devayani, Priyanka Trivedi | Deva | | May 11 | Kunguma Pottu Gounder | K. S. Giri | Karthik, Devayani, Meena | Deva | | May 18 | Vinnukkum Mannukkum | Rajakumaran | R. Sarathkumar, Vikram, Khushbu, Devayani | Deva | | May 25 | Nila Kaalam | K. S. | Murali, Roja, Suvalakshmi | Deva | | May 25 | Piriyadha Varam Vendum | K. S. Ravikumar | Prashanth, Isha Koppikar, Simran | Deva | | Jun 8 | Vadugapatti Mappillai | K. S. Giri | Arun Pandian, Mumtaj, Manorama | Deva | | Jun 15 | Minnale | Gautham Menon | R. Madhavan, Reema Sen, Abbas, Nagesh | Harris Jayaraj | | Jun 15 | Poovellam Un Vaasam | Ezhil | Ajith Kumar, Jyothika, Kausalya | Yuvan Shankar Raja | | Jun 22 | Asathal | Janakiraman | Karthik, Mumtaj, Devayani | Deva | | Jun 22 | Nageswari | A. S. M. | R. Parthiban, R. Sarathkumar, Roja | Deva | | Jun 29 | Vinnukkum Mannukkum | Rajakumaran | R. Sarathkumar, Vikram, Khushbu, Devayani | Deva | AR Murugadoss's directorial debut; it earned Ajith the
(Ajith Kumar, Vasundhara Das) – Vigilante thriller addressing social injustice. Romantic & Social Dramas
: Starring Prashanth and Jyothika, with a highly popular soundtrack composed by A.R. Rahman (reusing tunes from his Hindi film Thakshak ). Summary of Major 2001 Tamil Releases Movie Title Music Director Key Highlight Friends Vijay, Suriya, Devayani Ilaiyaraaja Iconic comedy tracks Dheena Ajith Kumar, Suresh Gopi, Laila A.R. Murugadoss Yuvan Shankar Raja Birth of the "Thala" persona Minnale Madhavan, Reemma Sen Gautham Vasudev Menon Harris Jayaraj Urban romantic classic Aanandham Mammootty, Murali, Abbas N. Lingusamy S.A. Rajkumar Celebrated family drama Citizen Ajith Kumar, Meena, Vasundhara Das Saravana Subbiah Socially conscious thriller Badri Vijay, Bhumika Chawla P.A. Arun Prasad Ramana Gogula Energetic sports drama Dumm Dumm Dumm Madhavan, Jyothika Azhagam Perumal Karthik Raja Charming wedding-themed rom-com Aalavandhan Kamal Haasan, Raveena Tandon Suresh Krissna Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Pioneering psychological thriller Nandha Suriya, Laila, Rajkiran Yuvan Shankar Raja Gritty, career-defining drama Kasi Vikram, Kavya Madhavan Ilaiyaraaja Award-winning acting performance Legacy of the Year 2001 Madhavan, Jyothika, Kalpana | Karthik Raja | |
Directed by A. Boyas, this youth-centric romantic comedy starred Prashanth and Mumtaj. It capitalized on the prevailing trend of vibrant, music-heavy college romances of the early 2000s, finding favor with younger audiences. Action, Masala, and Rural Dramas
(Vikram, Laila) – Action blockbuster that redefined mass cinema.
Starring Ajith Kumar and Jyothika, this family drama directed by Ezhil explored the thin line between deep family friendship and romance. It was a wholesome family entertainer that performed remarkably well, praised for its clean humor, emotional depth, and Vidyasagar's soothing music. 4. Chocolat
