Madrasapattinam, Ponniyin Selvan and more - Stream these 6 Tamil period drama films on OTT

Captain Miller, starring Dhanush, is running successfully in theatres near you! If you liked Dhanush’s epic performance in the period film, don't forget to check out these Tamil period dramas on OTT

Tamil period drama films

Tamil cinema has seen only a handful of period dramas, but most of the epic dramas have been highly appreciated by the audiences. From Arya-starrer Madrasapattinam which revolved around the British era to Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus period war drama Ponniyin Selvan franchise, Tamil cinema has a lot of options in this epic genre to enthrall audiences. As Dhanush’s British period era film Captain Miller soars high at the box office, let's look at some of the best period drama films served by Kollywood that you can stream on OTT platforms now!

Madrasapattinam

Streaming on MX player

Directed by AL Vijay, the film is set in the 1900s during the British era. The film, starring Arya and Amy Jackson, follows the young daughter of an English governor who falls in love with a local Indian boy. One of the most beloved period films in Tamil cinema, Madrasapattinam received huge acclaim upon its release. The film was credited for its impressive storyline and visual representation of the British era. AL Vijay perfectly captured the essence of the period through this love story which was enhanced by GV Prakash Kumar’s soulful musical composition.

Ponniyin Selvan 1 (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan 2 (2023)

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

The Ponniyin Selvan series, directed by legendary director Mani Ratnam, is a two-part film based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s Tamil novel by the same name. The film narrates the story about the power struggle during the Chola rule between AD 900 and 950. The film boasts of a stellar star cast, featuring Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Jayaram, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj, Prabhu, R Sarathkumar, R Parthiban, Rahman, Lal and Vikram Prabhu. The film was lauded for its aesthetically pleasing performances of the lead actors and for its narration. Although the film received criticism for changing parts of the original story, the movie was well received by audiences and critics alike. With music rendered by AR Rahman, this magnum opus is a must-watch for period drama lovers!

Kochadaiiyaan (2014)

Streaming on Jio Cinemas

This Soundarya Rajinikanth directorial, starring Rajinikanth, marked the Tamil debut of Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone. The 3D animated period action film revolves around an 8th-century warrior who is on a quest to avenge the death of his benevolent father, a respected warrior in their kingdom. The protagonist seeks revenge against the envious ruler, who was responsible for the wrongdoing. The film, with the screenplay penned by K S Ravikumar, unfortunately, failed to impress the audience and became a huge failure at the box office. However, the star cast and the never-seen-before animated period film makes it an interesting watch in the comfort of your homes!

Captain Miller movie review: Dhanush delivers a powerful performance in this solid drama

Aravaan (2012)

Streaming on Zee5

This epic historical drama, directed by Vasanthabalan, narrates the story set in the 18th century. Starring Aadhi, Dhansika, Archana Kavi and Pasupathy, the film follows a group of people who steal from the wealthy to provide food and shelter for their tribe. Although the film was lauded for the music and for the performances of the lead actors, the movie performed moderately at the box office. Many viewers noted that the film captured the right essence of the 18th century and is a must-watch film.

Yaathisai (2023)

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

The 2023 film, helmed by Dharani Rasendran, features Shakthi Mithran, Seyon Rajalakshmi, Samar and Vaidhegi Amarnat in the lead roles. The movie’s dialogues penned by Dharani herself, were written in old Tamil. The movie narrated the story of both the oppressor and the oppressed, where Kothi, a man from the Einar clan, goes on a mission to revolt against the Pandiyas, headed by Ranadheera Pandiyan. Despite being criticised for its historical inaccuracies, the film managed to break the stereotype about period dramas needing to have a high budget and top actors for it to succeed.

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