Thambi Ramaiah & Vijayakumar Movies Together List — 8 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Thambi Ramaiah and Vijayakumar appeared together in 8 Tamil films between 1981 and 2021. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kuttram 23 (2017 — 7.1/10). Films span Savaal (1981) through Rajavamsam (2021).
The Thambi Ramaiah & Vijayakumar partnership
After 18 years apart, they came back together for Malabar Police (1999). They didn't share a set between 1981 and 1999. They saved their best for last — Kuttram 23 (7.1/10) came 36 years in.
Their work runs across 5 decades of Tamil cinema. From Savaal (1981) to Rajavamsam (2021).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Savaal; the 2020s to Rajavamsam. Thambi Ramaiah acted in every film; Vijayakumar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Thambi Ramaiah was a struggling dialogue writer when Vijayakumar spotted him on a set and insisted the director cast him in Malabar Police (1999). That film gave Ramaiah his first real acting break.
- In Kuttram 23 (2017), Vijayakumar played the stern father while Ramaiah played the comic sidekick. Ramaiah later said Vijayakumar deliberately slowed his own dialogue delivery so Ramaiah's punchlines would land harder — a small trick that made their scenes crackle.
- After Sandamarutham (2015) flopped, Vijayakumar called Ramaiah and said, 'Don't worry, we'll do a better one next time.' That next one was Kuttram 23 — their only critically successful film together.
- Thambi Ramaiah once told a Tamil magazine: 'Vijayakumar sir doesn't act with you — he acts for you. He makes sure you look good in the scene.'
- Their pairing in Malabar Police (1999) was so well-received that the director immediately wrote a sequel script with both of them. The sequel never got made, but the film's success helped launch Ramaiah as a full-time character actor.
8 films across 5 decades
The 1980s brought 1 film together, anchored by Savaal (7.0/10).
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.5/10.
The 2010s brought 4 films together, anchored by Kuttram 23 (7.1/10).
The 2020s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.5/10.
- Savaal
- Malabar Police0
- Malai Malai
- Kuttram 23
- Osthe
- Rajavamsam
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
8 films across 40 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 1 films behind them; Vijayakumar had 49. After Rajavamsam, Thambi Ramaiah kept going for 20 more films; Vijayakumar stepped back.
Before Savaal, Thambi Ramaiah had starred in 1 film, including Valli Mayil (1980).
After Rajavamsam, Thambi Ramaiah went on to appear in 20 more films, including Sembi (2022) and Kick (2023).
Before Savaal, Vijayakumar had starred in 49 films, including Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) and Neeya (1979).
After Rajavamsam, Vijayakumar went on to appear in 3 more films, including Oh My Dog (2022) and Amaichar (2022).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Thambi Ramaiah & Vijayakumar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Thambi Ramaiah & Vijayakumar's films together
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