: Another successful comedy pairing Kamal Haasan and Simran, directed by Moulee.
The year 2002 is fondly remembered by Tamil cinephiles for producing some of the funniest, endlessly rewatchable comedy films in Kollywood history.
: Run , Dhool (Background score in Run was iconic).
, a coming-of-age drama directed by his father, Kasthuri Raja. : Transitioned to leading roles with Mounam Pesiyadhe , starring opposite Suriya. Priyanka Chopra : Made her acting debut in the Tamil film alongside Vijay. Comedy : Actors such as Vivek (in and 2002 tamil movies list
The year 2002 was a significant period for Tamil cinema. It was marked by big box office hits, the emergence of new stars, and critical praise on a global scale. The year featured a variety of stories that continue to resonate with fans, from war dramas like Kannathil Muthamittal to commercial successes such as Ramanaa and Gemini . Top-Grossing Tamil Movies of 2002
In 2002, the Tamil film industry (Kollywood) saw a significant mix of major star-driven releases and critically acclaimed experimental cinema. The year was marked by the massive commercial success of vigilante thrillers and the artistic triumph of war dramas.
grounded audiences with deeply emotional, rustic melodies in Azhagi . : Another successful comedy pairing Kamal Haasan and
To give you a broader snapshot of the year, here is a categorized list of notable releases that defined Kollywood in 2002: Movie Title Manoj Bharathiraja, Richa Pallod Romance / Drama Azhagi Parthiban, Nandita Das, Devayani Thangar Bachan Romantic Drama Pammal K. Sambandam Kamal Haasan, Simran, Abbas K. S. Ravikumar Dhaya Prakash Raj, Meena Senthil Kumar Action / Drama Kannathil Muthamittal Madhavan, Simran, P. S. Keerthana Mani Ratnam War / Drama Gemini Vikram, Kiran Rathod Masala / Action Thamizhan Vijay, Priyanka Chopra Legal Drama / Action Unnai Ninaithu Suriya, Laila, Sneha Romantic Drama Panchatanthiram Kamal Haasan, Simran, Jayaram K. S. Ravikumar Screwball Comedy Youth Vijay, Shaheen Khan Vincent Selva Romance / Comedy Run Madhavan, Meera Jasmine N. Lingusamy Romantic Action Baba Rajinikanth, Manisha Koirala Suresh Krissna Supernatural Action King Vikram, Sneha Prabhu Solomon En Mana Vaanil Jayasurya, Kavya Madhavan Ramanaa Vijayakanth, Simran, Ashima Bhalla A. R. Murugadoss Vigilante Thriller Villain Ajith Kumar, Meena, Kiran Rathod K. S. Ravikumar Action Drama Mounam Pesiyadhe Suriya, Trisha, Nandha Ameer Sultan Romantic Drama April Maadhathil Srikanth, Sneha S. S. Stanley Romance / Drama The Musical Landscape of 2002
| Rank | Film | Release Date | Nett Gross | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | Gemini | 12 July 2002 | ₹70,500,000 | | 2 | Ramana | 21 June 2002 | ₹46,500,000 | | 3 | Run | 20 December 2002 | ₹38,000,000 | | 4 | Youth | 12 April 2002 | ₹32,000,000 | | 5 | Thulluvadho Ilamai | 5 July 2002 | ₹30,000,000 | | 6 | Samasthanam | 9 August 2002 | ₹28,000,000 | | 7 | Pammal K. Sambandam | 5 April 2002 | ₹28,000,000 | | 8 | Baba | 24 May 2002 | ₹26,000,000 | | 9 | Thamizhan | 20 December 2002 | ₹24,000,000 | | 10 | Villain | 21 June 2002 | ₹23,500,000 |
Alli Arjuna , Azhagi , Pammal K. Sambandam , Punnagai Desam , Red . February - April: Vivaramana Aalu , Amaiyappa . , a coming-of-age drama directed by his father,
: Vikram plays a small-time criminal who after falling in love, gives up his life of crime. Murali co-stars as a police officer who guides and inspires Gemini. Shot at AVM Studios and made on a budget of ₹40 million (US$470,000), the film grossed ₹210 million (US$2.5 million), making it the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year. The song "O Podu" became a sensation and revived the struggling industry. The film won three Filmfare Awards and three ITFA Awards.
(2002) - A romantic drama that marked the entry of director Ameer and featured Surya.
Beyond entertainment, a few 2002 films engaged with social issues more directly—poverty, caste tensions, and corruption surfaced as themes woven into personal stories. These works did not always aim for didacticism; instead, social realities emerged organically through character choices, lending some films an understated moral seriousness.
While the film underperformed at the box office relative to its massive expectations and led to Rajinikanth compensating distributors, it remains a pivotal moment in his career. Over the years, Baba has gained a dedicated cult following for its philosophical themes, political undertones, and A. R. Rahman's music. Master Chronological List of Notable 2002 Tamil Movies