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1987 Tamil Movies List !full! Jun 2026
| Film | Director | Music Director | Hit Songs | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | S. A. Chandrasekhar | Ilaiyaraaja | "Yennullil Yengo" – classic love duet. | | Mouna Ragam | Mani Ratnam | Ilaiyaraaja | Technically Dec 1986 release, but ran through 1987. Changed urban romance. | | Kalamellam Unn Madiyil | R. Sundarrajan | Ilaiyaraaja | Family melodrama; mother-sentiment blockbuster. |
Released during Diwali, Manithan was a quintessential Rajinikanth vehicle directed by S. P. Muthuraman. While the story focused on a lawyer fighting for justice—a theme common in 80s cinema—it was Rajinikanth’s style and charisma that carried the film. It was a commercial success and proved that the "Superstar" label was well-deserved. 1987 tamil movies list
The 1987 Tamil movies list boasts an impressive array of films that have stood the test of time. Many of these movies have been re-released or remade over the years, a testament to their enduring appeal. The influence of these films can still be seen in contemporary Tamil cinema, with many modern filmmakers citing them as inspirations. | Film | Director | Music Director |
| Film | Lead Actor | Director | Music | Significance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Kamal Haasan | Mani Ratnam | Ilaiyaraaja | Classic. Inspired by The Godfather ; won National Award for Best Actor. Explores Bombay underworld. | | Velaikaran | Rajinikanth | S. P. Muthuraman | Ilaiyaraaja | Blockbuster. Social drama about an engineer fighting union corruption. Hit songs: "Naan Autokaaran." | | Manathil Urudhi Vendum | Kamal Haasan, Suhasini | K. Balachander | Ilaiyaraaja | Psychological thriller. A rare female-centric script with Kamal in a supporting, cunning role. | | Oorkavalan | Rajinikanth | Mani Ratnam | Ilaiyaraaja | Action drama. Rajini plays a slum dweller protecting a witness. | | Kadhal Parisu | Kamal Haasan | S. A. Chandrasekhar | Ilaiyaraaja | Romantic drama. Noted for Kamal’s portrayal of an introverted man. | | Cooliekkaran | Rajinikanth | S. P. Muthuraman | Ilaiyaraaja | Worker vs. capitalist drama. Moderate success. | | | Mouna Ragam | Mani Ratnam |
Time magazine [14]. The year saw a mix of gritty crime dramas, family narratives, and path-breaking technical experiments. Major Highlights and Cult Classics Nayakan : Directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan , this film is inspired by the life of Bombay don Varadarajan Mudaliar [5, 25]. It is celebrated for its technical expertise and path-breaking execution [5, 16]. Vedham Pudhithu : Directed by Bharathiraja, this film starred Sathyaraj and Amala and tackled themes of caste and religion through a powerful narrative [24]. Velaikkaran : A major commercial success starring Rajinikanth , it solidified his box-office dominance during the late 80s [3]. Poovizhi Vasalile : A thriller directed by Fazil, starring Sathyaraj and Baby Sujitha, which became a significant hit for its unique storytelling. Wikipedia Show more Notable Releases by Genre Genre Film Key Cast/Crew Crime Drama Nayakan Kamal Haasan, Saranya Drama/Social Vedham Pudhithu Sathyaraj, Amala Action/Commercial Manithan Rajinikanth, Rubini Comedy Drama Rettai Vaal Kuruvi Mohan, Raadhika, Archana Thriller Poovizhi Vasalile Sathyaraj, Karthika Romance Paruva Ragam V. Ravichandran, Juhi Chawla Complete 1987 Movie List (Alphabetical Selections) The Wikipedia list of Tamil films of 1987 includes over 100 releases. Notable titles include: A-I
The year 1987 stands as a pivotal moment in Tamil film history. It represents the twilight of the "MGR-era" (M. G. Ramachandran, former Chief Minister and superstar, was ailing) and the solidification of new power hierarchies. This paper provides a detailed, annotated list of Tamil films released in 1987, categorizing them by genre, star power, and cultural impact. It analyzes how the industry balanced commercial formulas with emerging technological trends (stereo sound,特效) and political undercurrents following the death of MGR in December 1987.
