Top 10 Actors of Tamil Cinema 2024 (Male)

Top 10 Actors of Tamil Cinema 2024 (Male)

1. Sivakarthikeyan (Amaran)

Be it with the physique transformation required to play the various stages of an army man, or the nuanced expressions required to portray a high EQ yet relatable personality, Sivakarthikeyan hit it out of the park, stunning as Major Mukund Varadarajan in Amaran. The biopic film provided Sivakarthikeyan with a career-defining role, and the actor deservingly sits at No: 1 by pulling it off to the optimum. 

2. Karthi (Meiyazhagan)

Karthi pulled such a performance in Meiyazhagan that it makes everyone believe that the actor was cookie-cut for the role. Be it the no-inhibitions nature or the lively presence, the rural slang of Tamil or the amusing innocence, it is difficult to imagine anyone else play Urulai, who was the heart and soul of the movie. 

3. Vikram (Thangalaan)

With Thangalaan, Vikram has once again demonstrated that his efforts are limitless, when it comes to showcasing different makeovers, or changes in body language and facial expressions. With a beast of a performance as the titular character, who is fear and fury in equal measures, Vikram sits at No: 3 of best actors of Tamil cinema in 2024.  

4. Vijay Sethupathi (Maharaja)

There is no two doubts about the fact that Vijay Sethupathi is a seasoned actor, and that Maharaja is another feather to his proverbial hat. Not a single tune was out of place in Vijay Sethupathi’s performance as a middle aged man who with an obvious ulterior motive seeks the police’s help to find his missing metal dustbin.

However the ease with which Vijay Sethupathi does not reveal what this motive is purely with his act, helping maintain the suspense of the story, is what makes his performance praise worthy. 

5. Dhanush (Raayan)

Dhanush gave two serious performances in 2024 with Captain Miller, and Raayan, and both films showcased the actor’s display of subtle range of emotions. With Raayan however, Dhanush’s lead character was consistently focussed, and Dhanush also being the writer, director of the movie might have contributed to the same. 

6. Dinesh (Lubber Pandhu)

Dinesh appeared in two author-backed roles this year with J Baby and Lubber Pandhu. While the physique alteration to play a middle class man in J Baby was commendable, with Lubber Pandhu Dinesh took it one step further with his efficient body language and a convincing look set to portray the middle age Gethu. 

Dinesh’s performance as the cricket-blind personality was a standout performance in the Lubber Pandhu ensemble.

7. Arvind Swami (Meiyazhagan)

3 years after playing the powerful MGR, Arvind Swami was back in Tamil as the protagonist of Meiyazhagan. If Karthi was the heart and soul of the film, Arvind Swami was the film by himself. In a hero-protagonist synergy, Arvind Swami ensured to capture the audience with the vulnerability, the angst, and even minute body languages representing the situations of his character. Arulmozhi Varman is arguably one of Arvind Swami’s career-best performances.  

8. Manikandan (Lover)

Lover was a step away for actor Manikandan, whom the Tamil cine audience is used to seeing in only morally ideal roles. The fine line between one half of a toxic relationship and evil, was treaded with smarts by Manikandan’s performance, and for pulling of a character that is not easy to play, Manikandan holds a spot in the best actors of Tamil cinema, 2024. 

9. Harish Kalyan (Lubber Pandhu)

Much like Meiyazhagan, Lubber Pandhu this year had not one but two complementing performances from the lead actors. If Dinesh as Gethu was the fire, Harish as Anbu was the fuel. Lubber Pandhu Anbu was a swoon-worthy portrayal by Harish Kalyan. Ironically, Anbu is also Harish Kalyan’s best looking character yet, despite appearing a shade or two darker than his original skin colour. 

10. Soori (Garudan)

At a time when Tamil cinema hasn’t yet reeled from the stunning transformation of Soori from comedy to serious lead acting, Soori followed up Viduthalai: Part 1 with intense portrayals in Kottukaali, Garudan, and Viduthalai: Part 2 this year. 

Soori especially stood out with Garudan in 2024, for he had a melting presence expressing both the innocence and rage-y attitude. Making his performances stand out among multi-starrers seems to come easy for Soori, and one cannot help but look forward to seeing more lead portrayals from the actor.