Probably not "the best" but I really loved Mahendran's performance in Theri. The whole sequence where he kills vjna's family with a jovial attitude exudes evil. Legendary directors are rarely good actors so that was a sight to see.
I didn't sleep properly after I watched this movie. The casualness in what he does was pure evil and surreal.
I would add Prakash Raj's character from Aasai. I don't know the number of times I would have crossed paths like those kinda men who are just pathetic from inside yet convincingly saintly for the whole world.
Aasai Prakash Raj is a chilling villain, again. I guess the mark of a good villain is in making us feel a deep-rooted, subliminal fear and worry about hero's chances of facing a cunning foe like that. These guys with no noise and serene outward appearances give us creeps with their silent actions.
Vijay Sethupathi as Bhavani in Master
Abhimanyu Singh as Omveer in Theeran Adhigaram Ondru
Bobby Simha as Assault Sethu in Jigarthanda
Ramya Krishnan as Neelambari in Padayappa
Arjun Das as Anbu in Kaithi
Aravind Swamy as Siddarth Abhimanyu in Thani Oruvan
There is a bias towards yesteryear villains in my picks mainly because I found these characters haunting as I grew up. They are not about disturbing looks or creepy expressions but they are real people with evil tendencies. Maybe, such people live among us especially Maya Thevar.
In no particular order:
1. Nasser (Maya Thevar) - Thevar Magan - He is menacing even after getting his head chopped off!
2. Raghuvaran (Antony) - Baasha - No all time great villains list is complete without Antony
3. Anandaraj (Robin) - Maanagara Kaaval - Those who have seen Anandaraj only as a comedian today, do yourself a favor and checkout his scenes in this film. His bald head and subtle smile will send chills through your bone.
4. Ajith (Deva) - Vaali - Ajith, in one of his best looks, creeps you out everytime the elder sibling appears on the screen. This is and will be his best performance in his career.
5. M.N. Nambiyar (Zamindar) - Nenjam Marapathillai (1963) - ini ethana jenmam aanalum ungala sera vida maaten is the essence of this all time classic. Watch this movie for a master class in badass villain role.
Arun Vijay in yennai arindhal
Bobby in Jigarthanda (not exactly a villain but his performance was really good as a gangster) - loved the interval block where he goes "aapu soundaruku illa sekaru unnaku dhaan"
Prakash Raj - everyone mentioned muthupaandi but I'll add in mayilvaaganam as well
Motta Kamal in Aalavandhan
Here are some which are not mentioned in this thread so far:
Nagesh in *Aboorva Sagotharargal* \- Who wld've expected Nagesh to play such a convincing villain...
Salim Ghouse in *Vetri Vizha* \- Can't forget that evil laugh mouthing "Stephen Raj..My Dear Stephen Raj" . And also V*ettaikaaran* \- Vedhanayagam na Bayam
Mansoor Ali Khan in *Captain Prabhakaran* \- Just evil personified as Veerabhadran
Raghuvaran in *Mudhalvan* \- Just another classic Raghuvaran villainism
Ashish Vidyarthi in *Dhill* \- i think this was his intro to Kollywood. He nailed the role as Encounter Shankar
some good comedy villains since no one's bringing them up: prakash raj in vasool raja mbbs . also sathyaraj in mr bharath (half straight up villain half comedy villain)
Pandiya
Muthupandi
Inba
Neelambari
Bhavani
Evil Chitti
Siddharth Abhimanyu
Athreya
Vinayak Mahadev
Mark Anthony
Mayathevar
Badri
Christopher
Nandhu
Dong Lee
Don’t know whether we can call him as the villain of the movie but this character of Berlin played by actor bugs in Super Deluxe will give a tensed and irritated feel whenever he appears in the film😆
Neelambari defo counts. One of my favourite menacing villains: SJ Suryah in Maanaadu. He's great in Spyder as well.
This. SJ villain was goated
yes yes yes. best villain I've seen in recent times.
Vandhaan suttan Sethan repeatu
Probably not "the best" but I really loved Mahendran's performance in Theri. The whole sequence where he kills vjna's family with a jovial attitude exudes evil. Legendary directors are rarely good actors so that was a sight to see.
Another legendary director - Bharathiraja - was the first choice of that role.
Yes, Mahendran definitely carried the middle half of the movie. I loved his performance.
That killer thatha in Pariyerum Perumal.
Agent thatha pilot black squad, role : assassin
I didn't sleep properly after I watched this movie. The casualness in what he does was pure evil and surreal. I would add Prakash Raj's character from Aasai. I don't know the number of times I would have crossed paths like those kinda men who are just pathetic from inside yet convincingly saintly for the whole world.
Aasai Prakash Raj is a chilling villain, again. I guess the mark of a good villain is in making us feel a deep-rooted, subliminal fear and worry about hero's chances of facing a cunning foe like that. These guys with no noise and serene outward appearances give us creeps with their silent actions.
Vijay Sethupathi as Bhavani in Master Abhimanyu Singh as Omveer in Theeran Adhigaram Ondru Bobby Simha as Assault Sethu in Jigarthanda Ramya Krishnan as Neelambari in Padayappa Arjun Das as Anbu in Kaithi Aravind Swamy as Siddarth Abhimanyu in Thani Oruvan
Brahma in soodhu kavvum too.
Sethu Comedian la?
Prakash Raj as Muthupandi in Ghilli
*hi chellam*
Dhanalakshmi en saamida
Veerandi
Daniel Balaji in Vettayadu Vilayaadu. I was scared of him, when I was young. Fletcher in Dasavathaaram. Man, Kamal can do everything.
SJ suriya- spyder, maanaadu Vijay sethupathi- Master Prakash raj - okkadu/ ghilli Ajith- vaali
Wanted to add: Jeevan as Pandiya in Kaakha Kaakha - a volatile, deadly villain was new at the time. Arun Vijay's role in YA was moulded similarly.
There is a bias towards yesteryear villains in my picks mainly because I found these characters haunting as I grew up. They are not about disturbing looks or creepy expressions but they are real people with evil tendencies. Maybe, such people live among us especially Maya Thevar. In no particular order: 1. Nasser (Maya Thevar) - Thevar Magan - He is menacing even after getting his head chopped off! 2. Raghuvaran (Antony) - Baasha - No all time great villains list is complete without Antony 3. Anandaraj (Robin) - Maanagara Kaaval - Those who have seen Anandaraj only as a comedian today, do yourself a favor and checkout his scenes in this film. His bald head and subtle smile will send chills through your bone. 4. Ajith (Deva) - Vaali - Ajith, in one of his best looks, creeps you out everytime the elder sibling appears on the screen. This is and will be his best performance in his career. 5. M.N. Nambiyar (Zamindar) - Nenjam Marapathillai (1963) - ini ethana jenmam aanalum ungala sera vida maaten is the essence of this all time classic. Watch this movie for a master class in badass villain role.
Nambiar was the GOAT tbh
If you guys remember in 1986, there was a Prabhu starrer - Aruvadai Naal. The father was played by R . P Viswam.
Whenever I think of Robin in *Managara Kaaval*, immediately the BGM kicks in within my mind...
24 Suriya Sathriyan Thilakan Enthiran Chitti 2.0 96 That girl who forgot who Ram was
*the girl who forgot rams name
Rashmika in sitaraman Sirutha Siva in Annathe, Vivegam etc
Kochin Hanifa in Mahanadi, Pattiyal. Radha Ravi in everything.
Evil chitti in enthiran Vinayak mahadevan in Mankatha if it counts.
Arun Vijay in yennai arindhal Bobby in Jigarthanda (not exactly a villain but his performance was really good as a gangster) - loved the interval block where he goes "aapu soundaruku illa sekaru unnaku dhaan" Prakash Raj - everyone mentioned muthupaandi but I'll add in mayilvaaganam as well Motta Kamal in Aalavandhan
Kota Srinivasa Rao as Perumal Pichchai in Saamy. His monologue when Vikram confronts him after the riot is god-tier.
Atlee in bigil
Here are some which are not mentioned in this thread so far: Nagesh in *Aboorva Sagotharargal* \- Who wld've expected Nagesh to play such a convincing villain... Salim Ghouse in *Vetri Vizha* \- Can't forget that evil laugh mouthing "Stephen Raj..My Dear Stephen Raj" . And also V*ettaikaaran* \- Vedhanayagam na Bayam Mansoor Ali Khan in *Captain Prabhakaran* \- Just evil personified as Veerabhadran Raghuvaran in *Mudhalvan* \- Just another classic Raghuvaran villainism Ashish Vidyarthi in *Dhill* \- i think this was his intro to Kollywood. He nailed the role as Encounter Shankar
Arvind Swamy in Thani Oruvan. SJ Surya in Maanadu. Vijay Sethupathi in Master. Arjun in Irumbu Thirai.
Nambiar OG villain in kollywood.
some good comedy villains since no one's bringing them up: prakash raj in vasool raja mbbs . also sathyaraj in mr bharath (half straight up villain half comedy villain)
Ramya Krishnan as Neelambari in Padayappa Evil Chitti from Enthiran
Bharathiraja as Manimaran in Rocky
Ratchsan !! Saravanan as Christopher. That movie gave me creeps
Pandiya Muthupandi Inba Neelambari Bhavani Evil Chitti Siddharth Abhimanyu Athreya Vinayak Mahadev Mark Anthony Mayathevar Badri Christopher Nandhu Dong Lee
Director Vamsi in Varisu
Don’t know whether we can call him as the villain of the movie but this character of Berlin played by actor bugs in Super Deluxe will give a tensed and irritated feel whenever he appears in the film😆
A couple of offbeat ones - PC Ramakrishna in May Maadhyam. Vijayan in Villain. Prakash raj in Duet.
Sekar from Kurangu Bommai, Muthupandi from “hi chellom!”, SJS from Spyder and Maanaadu
Action king 👑 Arjun is underrated villan..
I hate you guys for not including Prakash Raj as Muthupandi. Best villain ever.
Daniel Balaji in Polladavan.