The world of Kollywood is constantly churning out movies, ranging from blockbuster hits to those which make you wish you could turn back time just so you hadn’t watched them. After sifting through the long list of offerings this year, here’s my pick of films that are worth the watch in 2013.

Vishwaroopam

Director: Kamal Haasan
Starring: Kamal Haasan, Andrea Jeremiah, Pooja Kumar, and Rahul Bose
Music: Shankar- Ehsaan- Loy
Why it’s worth watching:  Kamal Haasan. The name itself will make you want to watch the film. A legend like Kamal Haasan, directing and acting in his own film, is enough to get anyone excited about it. After a two year gap following Manmadhan Ambu, Kamal Haasan is back with this bilingual thriller. Vishwaroopam is simultaneously being made in Hindi as Vishwaroop. The soundtrack has received extremely positive reviews as well.

Aadhi Bhagavan

Director: Ameer Sultan
Starring: Jayam Ravi, Neetu Chandra
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Why it’s worth watching: After films like “Mounam Pesiyadhe”, “Raam” and “Paruthiveeran”, director Ameer returns with “Aadhi Bhagavan”. Judging by Ameer’s track record, you can have high expectations for this film. At the audio launch of the film’s soundtrack, in Brampton, Jayam Ravi said that Ameer had managed to reinvent him as an actor. Neetu Chandra, who is trained in martial arts, has also done her own stunts for the film. The film was shot over a period of two years with fans eagerly awaiting its release. The wait is finally over!

David

Director: Bejoy Nambiar
Starring: Vikram, Jiiva, Tabu, Lara Dutta, Isha Sharvani
Music:  Anirudh Ravichander, Prashant Pillai, Remo Fernandes, Maatibaani, Bramfatura
Why it’s worth watching: After his successful directorial debut in the Hindi film “Shaitan”, Bejoy Nambiar returns with the Tamil-Hindi bilingual film, “David”. Starring Vikram and Jiiva in the Tamil version, this thriller tells the story of two men with the same name. Fans are already raving about the first single, Kanave Kanave , composed and sung by none other than Anirudh Ravichander himself.

Kadal

Director: Mani Ratnam
Starring: Gautham Karthik, Thulasi Nair, Arjun, Arvind Swamy, Lakshmi Manchu
Music: A. R. Rahman
Why it’s worth watching: After giving us many unforgettable films like “Geethanjali”(Telugu), “Anjali”, “Roja”, “Alaipayuthey” and “Aaytha Ezhuthu”, “Nayagan”, “Bombay”, “Iruvar”, “Thalapathi” and “Kannathil Muthamittal”, it is hard not to look forward to another Mani Ratnam film. Critics and fans alike are already loving the soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman. Currently the soundtrack is #3 on iTunes India chart. The film stars Gautham Karthik, son of Karthik, Thulasi Nair, daughter of Radha and marks the return of actor Arvind Swamy to Tamil Cinema after almost a decade.

Irandam Ulagam

Director: Selvaraghavan
Starring: Arya, Anushka Shetty
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Why it’s worth watching:  Selvaraghavan’s films have always exuded a raw quality that is quite rare to find in cinema. After a string of unique, memorable films like “Kadhal Kondein”, “Yaaradi Nee Mohini”, “Aayirathil Oruvan” and “Mayakkam Enna”, Selvaraghavan is back with “Irandam Ulagam”.  The film faced many challenges in regards to its cast and music director and was reportedly shelved a few times before re-emerging in 2011. Presently the filming is almost complete, simultaneously being made in Telugu as “Brindavanamlo Nandakumarudu”.

Singam II

Director: Hari
Starring: Suriya, Anushka Shetty, Rahman, Hansika Motwani, Santhanam, Vivek
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Why it’s worth watching: Director Hari is back with the sequel to his blockbuster hit, “Singam”. “Singam” was a hit in Tamil and it was subsequently remade in Hindi, Kannada and Bengali. The film will keep the main cast from the first film intact, with a couple of new additions. It’ll be interesting to see if this sequel can live up to, or outdo, its successful predecessor.

Biriyani

Director: Venkat Prabhu
Starring: Karthi, Prasanna, Hansika, Sneha, Premji Amaren, Vaibhav Reddy, Sampath Raj,
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Why it’s worth watching: Featuring an ensemble cast of  Venkat Prabhu’s team with a couple of new additions, this Biriyani is surely something you’ll want to try. After tasting the success of “Chennai 600028”, “Saroja”, “Goa” and the super hit “Mankatha”, Venkat Prabhu latest creation is much anticipated. Whether it’ll be in his light-hearted comedic style or something altogether different (as with Mankatha) remains to be seen!

Other films to keep an eye out for:

Alex Pandian: Karthi, Anushka and Santhanam star in this one. Dubbed in Telugu as Bad Boy, Alex Pandian will be Karthi’s biggest release till date!

Madha Gaja Raja: After Kalakalappu, Sundar C. is back. Starring Vishal, Anjali and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Sundar C. brings us this comedy film.

Kochadaiyaan: Superstar Rajinikanth, Sarathkumar, Deepika Padukone star in Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin’s directorial debut.

Nimirndhu Nil: Samuthirakani, who gave us Naadodigal and Poraali, directs Jayam Ravi and Amala Paul in this film. It’s simultaneously being made in Telugu with Nani in the lead role.

Settai: Remake of the Hindi hit film, Delhi Belly. Starring Arya, Anjali, Santhanam, Premji Amaren, and Hansika Motwani. Directed by R.Kannan.

I: After Enthiran, Shankar brings us I, starring Vikram, Amy Jackson, Santhanam and Suresh Gopi. Music by A.R. Rahman.

Moondru Per Moondru Kaadhal: Director Vasanth brings Arjun, Cheran and Vimal together. With films like Poovellam Kettupar and Satham Podathey under his belt, we can all look forward to this one!

 Images courtesy of IBN Live, Mirchi 9, IndiaGlitz and SurFolks.