Thambi Ramaiah & Sarath Kumar Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Thambi Ramaiah and Sarath Kumar appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 2014 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nimirndhu Nil (2014 — 7.1/10). Films span Nimirndhu Nil (2014) through Adangathey (2017).
The Thambi Ramaiah & Sarath Kumar partnership
From Nimirndhu Nil (2014) to Adangathey (2017). Nimirndhu Nil is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Nimirndhu Nil (2014).
The shape of the work
Thambi Ramaiah acted in every film; Sarath Kumar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Thambi Ramaiah was the one who convinced Sarath Kumar to play the villain in Nimirndhu Nil (2014). Sarath initially refused, saying he only did hero roles. Ramaiah told him, 'You'll be the hero of the villain role.' That film became Sarath's first negative role in 20 years.
- In Sandamarutham (2015), Thambi Ramaiah wrote all his own dialogues on set. Sarath Kumar would then rewrite his own lines to match Ramaiah's rhythm. They never rehearsed together — they just fed off each other's energy in the first take. The director said it was like watching a tennis match.
- Because of their pairing in Nimirndhu Nil, director S. J. Surya cast both of them again in Adangathey (2017). That film directly launched the career of actor Ashwin Kumar, who played their son. Ashwin has said in interviews that working opposite these two was his 'film school'.
- During the shoot of Adangathey (2017), Thambi Ramaiah and Sarath Kumar shared a room in a lodge near the set. Every night, Ramaiah would make Sarath listen to old MGR songs and explain the comedy timing. Sarath later said, 'I learned more about acting in those nights than in 30 years of cinema.'
- Sarath Kumar said about Thambi Ramaiah: 'He is the only actor who can make me laugh and cry in the same scene. I told him, if you ever write a script, I will act for free.' That script never came, but they did three films together anyway.
3 films across 1 decade
- Nimirndhu Nil
- Sandamarutham
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 3 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Thambi Ramaiah had 45 films behind them; Sarath Kumar had 88. After Adangathey, Thambi Ramaiah kept going for 42 more films; Sarath Kumar stepped back.
Before Nimirndhu Nil, Thambi Ramaiah had starred in 45 films, including Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi (2006) and Saattai (2012).
After Adangathey, Thambi Ramaiah went on to appear in 42 more films, including Sembi (2022) and Kick (2023).
Before Nimirndhu Nil, Sarath Kumar had starred in 88 films, including Cheran Pandiyan (1991) and Ayya (2005).
After Adangathey, Sarath Kumar went on to appear in 20 more films, including Peranbu (2019) and Por Thozhil (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Thambi Ramaiah & Sarath Kumar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
G. V. Prakash Kumar is the through-line — music on 2 of their 3 films.
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