Here’s a well-crafted piece on Tamil cinema in 2021, focusing on how relationships and romantic storylines evolved during that year — balancing commercial expectations with more mature, grounded storytelling.
5. Nenjam Marappathillai – Horror as a Metaphor for Toxic Love
On the stranger end, Selvaraghavan’s Nenjam Marappathillai used horror-fantasy to dissect obsession and revenge. A ghost (Nandita Swetha) haunts her former employer (SJ Suryah) after he abuses and kills her. The film is deliberately unsettling, but its “romantic” core is a critique of possessive love: the ghost’s lingering attachment is both terrifying and tragic. It pushed 2021 Tamil romance into dark, psychological territory rarely explored in mainstream cinema.
7. Kutty Story – Anthology of Love’s Many Forms
This anthology film (on Disney+ Hotstar) featured four segments by different directors, each exploring a facet of romance. The standout was Mounam (directed by Gautham Menon), where a deaf-mute couple communicates through sign language, only to face societal rejection. It was heartbreaking, tender, and innovative — proving that 2021 Tamil cinema was ready to center disabled love stories without pity. Another segment, Thunindhal, dealt with same-sex longing in a conservative household, though it played it safer than some hoped.
3. Putham Pudhu Kaalai 2 (Amazon Prime) – Love During & After Lockdown
The sequel to the pandemic anthology focused on relationships tested by isolation, economic stress, and changing dynamics.
- “Nizhal Thaandi” (Dir. Rajiv Menon): An elderly couple rediscovering romance after decades of mundane marriage. Their storyline is quiet, funny, and deeply moving. A scene where the husband tries to cook for his wife after her surgery became a viral moment for its authenticity.
- “Mugakavasa Mutham” (Dir. Balakrishnan): Two strangers who meet on a dating app during lockdown. Their romance unfolds through video calls and masks, capturing the awkward, hopeful energy of pandemic love.
Key theme: Love is not just for the young. And sometimes, distance makes the heart grow fonder—and more honest.
The Lasting Legacy: From 2021 Anthologies to Today’s Web Series
The success of these Tamil romantic anthologies directly influenced later hits like Vilangu (2022) and Suzhal: The Vortex (2022) to include stronger relationship subplots. More importantly, they proved that Tamil audiences crave emotionally intelligent, messy, realistic love stories – not just glorified ones.
As we look back, Tamil anty 2021 relationships and romantic storylines were not just entertainment. They were a mirror. They showed us that love in Tamil Nadu, in the middle of a pandemic, with all its imperfections, vulnerabilities, and digital hiccups, was still worth telling. And for that, they remain evergreen in the hearts of OTT lovers.
Do you have a favorite Tamil anthology romance from 2021 that we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments – we love debating whether the couple from "Mounam" should have stayed together or not!
Keywords integrated: Tamil anty 2021 relationships and romantic storylines, Tamil anthology romance, OTT Tamil love stories, 2021 Tamil web series, queer Tamil romance, lockdown long-distance Tamil.
1. Annaatthe (2021)
Directed by Siddique, Annaatthe stars Rajinikanth in the lead role as a kind-hearted and generous individual who gets involved in a series of events that test his relationships with his loved ones. The film explores themes of family, friendship, and romance.
2. Kala (2021)
Kala, directed by Yuvan Krishna, is a romantic drama that revolves around the lives of two individuals, played by Vijay Vasanth and Pooja Ramachandran, who fall in love despite their different backgrounds. The film delves into the complexities of relationships and the challenges faced by the couple.
3. Nambiar (2021)
Directed by Priyadarshan, Nambiar stars Suresh Gopi and Nayanthara in lead roles. The film is a romantic comedy-drama that explores the lives of two individuals who fall in love, but their relationship is put to the test when they face various challenges.
4. Mughan (2021)
Mughan, directed by Arivazhagan, is a romantic drama that stars Arjun and Sreeleela in lead roles. The film tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman from a different background, leading to a series of events that test their relationship.
5. Udhayam NH4 (2021)
Directed by Ashwabharathi, Udhayam NH4 stars Rahul Ravindran and Nakshatra in lead roles. The film is a romantic comedy-drama that explores the lives of two individuals who fall in love, but their relationship is put to the test when they face various challenges.
6. Jathi Ratnalu (2021)
Jathi Ratnalu, directed by Anudeep KV, is a romantic comedy-drama that stars Ali Faza and Deepthi Sunaina in lead roles. The film tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman, but their relationship is complicated by his rival.
**7. Thegidi (2021) remake **
Thegidi remake directed by Arivazhagan
Starring Arjun
The movie revolves around Arjun character a event organiser at engineering college where romance blossoms
These films showcase the diversity of Tamil cinema's exploration of relationships and romantic storylines. From action-dramas to romantic comedies, these movies offer a range of perspectives on love, family, and friendship.
Some common themes in Tamil films' relationships and romantic storylines:
- Family values: Many Tamil films emphasize the importance of family and the impact of relationships on family dynamics.
- Love vs. tradition: Some films explore the tension between following one's heart and adhering to traditional expectations.
- Social class differences: Tamil films often highlight the challenges faced by couples from different social classes or backgrounds.
- Friendship and loyalty: The importance of friendship and loyalty in relationships is a common theme in Tamil cinema.
Tamil films offer nuanced and thought-provoking explorations of relationships and romance. These stories not only entertain but also provide insights into the complexities of human relationships.
The Digital Age and the Geography of Loneliness
With lockdowns restricting physical movement, 2021’s romances became acutely aware of screens and distance. “Oh Manapenne!” (a remake of the Hindi hit Queen) and “Jagame Thandhiram” attempted to navigate this, but the most incisive commentary came from “Netrikann” (directed by Milind Rau) and the anthology “Putham Pudhu Kaalai 2” .
Putham Pudhu Kaalai 2, a direct response to the pandemic, featured segments that redefined romance through Zoom calls, masked meetings, and the fear of viral transmission. In one poignant story, two elderly individuals find late-life companionship through a shared love for gardening, their romance blooming in isolation. This storyline rejected the youthful, energetic love of pre-pandemic Tamil cinema and instead celebrated quiet understanding and the courage to love when time is scarce.
Conversely, “Doctor” (directed by Nelson Dilipkumar) offered a dark comedic take on romance. The relationship between Doctor Varun (Sivakarthikeyan) and Padmini (Priyanka Mohan) begins as a transactional rescue mission. Their romantic arc is devoid of traditional songs or longing glances; instead, it is built on mutual respect for each other’s intelligence and a shared goal (rescuing a child). This pragmatic, goal-oriented romance reflected a post-pandemic world where survival and efficiency often supersede emotional indulgence.