Srikanth & K. A. Thangavelu Movies Together List — 5 Films

The shape of the work

Srikanth acted in every film; K. A. Thangavelu acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• Srikanth was a newcomer when director K. Balachander cast him opposite Thangavelu in Vietnam Veedu (1970). Thangavelu, already a veteran comedian, personally asked Balachander to give the young actor more screen time after seeing his first take.
• In Anbu Thangai (1974), Thangavelu deliberately slowed down his comic timing to match Srikanth's naturalistic style. Srikanth later said Thangavelu would whisper cues to him mid-scene, turning their exchanges into a live improv loop.
• During the shoot of Vani Rani (1974), Thangavelu would bring homemade snacks for the entire crew every Friday. Srikanth once joked that he signed the film just for Thangavelu's murukku.
• Their double-act in Then Sindhudhe Vaanam (1975) was so popular that the film's producer immediately greenlit a spin-off comedy track for them in his next project, Avan Oru Sarithiram (1976). That film became a sleeper hit and revived Thangavelu's career after a slump.
• Srikanth once told a magazine: 'Thangavelu sir taught me that comedy is not about making people laugh — it's about making them forget they're watching a film.'
• In Avan Oru Sarithiram (1976), Thangavelu insisted on rewriting their shared dialogue to give Srikanth the punchlines. He told the director: 'Let the young man get the laughs. I'll set him up.'