Vivek & Karthik Movies Together List — 7 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-17 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vivek and Karthik appeared together in 7 Tamil films between 1995 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nandhavana Theru (1995 — 6.5/10). Films span Nandhavana Theru (1995) through Muthuramalingam (2017).
The Vivek & Karthik partnership
After 16 years apart, they came back together for Muthuramalingam (2017). They didn't share a set between 2001 and 2017. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Nandhavana Theru (1995) to Muthuramalingam (2017). It started with Nandhavana Theru (1995).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Nandhavana Theru; the 2010s to Muthuramalingam. Vivek acted in every film; Karthik acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Vivek was a struggling comedian when Karthik cast him in Nandhavana Theru (1995). That film gave Vivek his first real break as a solo comedy track — before that, he was just doing side roles.
- In Sandhitha Velai (2000), Karthik deliberately slowed down his comic timing to match Vivek's rapid-fire delivery. The result? A scene where they trade one-liners back and forth — still a fan favourite on YouTube clips.
- Their pairing in Ullam Kollai Poguthae (2001) directly inspired director S. J. Suryah to cast them together again in Lovely (2001) — same year, same duo, but a completely different tone. That back-to-back release made them a recognised comedy pair for a hot minute.
- After Lovely (2001) bombed, Karthik and Vivek didn't speak for nearly 15 years. They only patched things up when a mutual friend forced them to meet for Muthuramalingam (2017). Vivek later said they hugged it out before the first shot.
- Vivek once said in an interview: 'Karthik was the only hero who let me take the punchline. He knew I needed the last laugh to build my career.'
7 films across 3 decades
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.8/10.
The 2000s accounted for 3 films, averaging 3.2/10.
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.8/10.
- Nandhavana Theru
- Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga
- Ullam Kollai Poguthae
- Sandhitha Velai
- Muthuramalingam
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
7 films across 22 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, Vivek had 19 films behind them; Karthik had 76.
Before Nandhavana Theru, Vivek had starred in 19 films, including Kalikaalam (1992) and Innisai Mazhai (1992).
After Muthuramalingam, Vivek went on to appear in 10 more films, including Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir (2023) and Dharala Prabhu (2020).
Before Nandhavana Theru, Karthik had starred in 76 films, including Nallavanuku Nallavan (1984) and Alaigal Oivathillai (1981).
After Muthuramalingam, Karthik went on to appear in 3 more films, including Methagu 2 (2022) and Dev (2019).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vivek & Karthik's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva scored 3 of them. Manivannan appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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