Before Karthi's Japan, watch 5 Tamil heist films on OTT

Tamil actor Karthi is gearing up for his upcoming release, Japan, which is directed by Raju Murugan. This is the actor's 25th film and is a heist comedy. The movie is inspired by the life of robber Tiruvarur Murugan, who has been involved in some big jewellery thefts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Ponniyin Selvan star plays a notorious thief named Japan in the film who gives the cops a run for their money. The film is slated to hit theatres on November 10. 

Looking forward to watching Karthi’s heist comedy? Can't wait for November 10? You're in luck, for we have listed 5 iconic Tamil movies in the heist/caper genre that you can watch right now on OTT.

Sathuranga Vettai (2014)

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

H Vinoth's directorial debut, Sathuranga Vettai, is a distinctive heist film that explores the inherent nature of conmen and their victims. The story revolves around Gandhi Babu (Natarajan Subramaniam), a con artist who successfully executes numerous high-profile scams. The heist thriller maintains a balance between tension and humour, employing satire as a tool to stimulate the audience's intellect. The movie also stars Natarajan and Ishaara Nair in lead roles, while Ponvannan, Ilavarasu, and Piraisoodan have supporting roles.

Guru (1980)

Streaming on: MX Player

A classic Tamil heist starring Kamal Haasan, Guru follows the life of Ashok (Kamal), who is a modern-day Robin Hood who goes by the name Guru. Directed by IV Sasi, this bilingual film ran successfully for 365 days in theatres. The film also stars Sridevi as the female lead, while MN Nambiar, Muthuraman and Mohan Babu play supporting roles. This star-studded action adventure isn’t exactly a heist movie, but it did feature Haasan in an outlandish costume as a justice seeker and do-gooder.

Mankatha (2011)

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

Venkat Prabhu directed this cult favourite film starring Ajith, which went on to become one of the most celebrated films in the star's career. Mankatha is considered to be one of the best heist thrillers in Tamil cinema. The film is about corrupt suspended police inspector Vinayak Mahadevan (Ajith), who promises to help a group of youngsters loot Rs 500 crore that belongs to a gangster. The film was praised for the actor's performance and the racy screenplay, making it one of the best heist films in Tamil cinema.

Thiruda Thiruda (1993)

Streaming on: MX Player

Another gem from Mani Ratnam’s filmography, Thiruda Thiruda, which was released in 1993, was completely different from his usual romantic films. His take on the caper genre with the Prashanth and Anand starrer became a huge hit for its comedy and captivating action sequences. The movie revolves around two small-time thieves, Kathir (Anand) and Azhagu (Prashanth), who find themselves entangled in a money trail left behind by an international con operation in India. Their lives take a turn when they rescue Rasathi (Heera) from a suicide attempt, leading them to be on the move constantly. They are joined by Chandrelekha (Annu Agarwal), a pop star with a significant link to the stolen money trail. The film was co-written by Ram Gopal Varma and the music was scored by AR Rahman.

Also read: Japan 2023: Release date, trailer, plot, cast, budget, behind the scenes, OTT partner and more 

Aaranya Kandam (2012)

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

One of the greatest films of Tamil cinema, Aaranya Kandam, marked the directorial debut of Thiagarajan Kumararaja. The movie revolves around Singaperumal (Jackie Shroff), an ageing gangster who is losing his power and influence. He attempts to outsmart his long-time rival Gajendran with a clever plan and also plans to eliminate Pasupathy (Sampath). Meanwhile, Singaperumal's mistress, Subbu (Yasmin Ponappa), fed up with his mistreatment, decides to escape with his trusted associate, Sappai (Ravi Krishna). The film's story unfolds as a series of unexpected and chaotic events that take place over the course of the next 24 hours. The neo-noir film is regarded as one of the top heist picks from Tamil films.

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