Breakout talents of Tamil cinema in 2024: From Anna Ben and Preity Mukhundhan to Pari Elavazhagan and Jenson Dhivakar

From Anna Ben and Preity Mukhundhan to Pari Elavazhagan and Jenson Dhivakar here are the breakout talents of Tamil cinema in 2024

Like every other year in Tamil cinema, 2024 had a slew of content-driven films that were not only heart-warming watches but were also fuelled by some terrific performances — some from debutants and a lot from those who got a shot at the spotlight after years of perseverance. What sets this year apart is, with most of the big-ticket releases that relied on star power to fill the seats and set the cash registers ringing turning out to be a far cry from what was expected, the comparatively “smaller” films doubled as a saviour of the industry with many of them featuring some career-defining characters.

Here are some of the talents (in alphabetical order) who we believe broke the ceiling by either making a dream debut or by essaying a role that catapulted them to the next league in 2024.

After amassing a dream filmography in Malayalam, including films like Kumbalangi Nights, Helen and Kappela, Anna Ben made her Telugu debut with the big-budget Kalki 2898 AD and starred in the Tamil film Kottukkaali this year. The latter, directed by PS Vinothraj, saw her as “the adamant girl” whose relationship with a man from the oppressed community prompts her family to believe she’s possessed, needing an exorcism. With just one dialogue throughout the 100-minute runtime, Anna conveys the angst and pain of a lone woman struck down by patriarchy and misogyny.

Actor Ismath Banu, seen in a minor role in Asuran, had her best year yet in 2024 with multiple releases. In Veppam Kulir Mazhai, the young actor played the lead character Pandi who, along with her husband, has to face societal pressure for failing to conceive a child. Ismath wonderfully captures the trepidation of a woman unsure of how to navigate choppy waters in Veppam Kulir Mazhai and incidentally, turns into a compadre for Keerthy Suresh whose character finds herself in similar waters in Raghu Thatha. Ismath was also seen as a small but explosive role in J Baby earlier this year.

YouTuber-turned-actor Jenson Dhivakar, who turned heads with his satirical character in the hit Tamil series Ayali, made a big splash with Lubber Pandhu. True to his character’s name — Kozhandhai — Jensor single-handedly ups the ante as the right hand of Gethu, standing by him through thick and thin. Can’t wait to see more of him soon!

Lollu Sabha Maaran is a familiar figure in Tamil cinema, having been a constant presence in Santhanam’s films (he’s brilliant in A1). But it’s this year’s J Baby that showcased the actor him in. As expected, Maaran aced the comedy portions, but it was in the warm and tender emotional sequences in which Maaran showed his true acting prowess, especially when working with a veteran like Urvashi, who was also stellar in the film.

In an occurrence that happens probably once in a blue moon, Pari Elavazhagan made both his acting and directing debut with this year’s Jama and pulled off both roles impeccably. As the only member of a Therukoothu troupe who has never played a male character, Pari touches upon several topics such as social stigma, hierarchical systems and oppression. It’s something to see his character Kalyanam rise above them all with his unconditional love for people and the art that looks after him.