Livingston & Vijayakanth Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Livingston and Vijayakanth appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1988 and 2006. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sudesi (2006 — 6.5/10). Films span Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988) through Sudesi (2006).
The Livingston & Vijayakanth partnership
After 9 years apart, they came back together for Vanathai Pola (2000). They saved their best for last — Sudesi (6.5/10) came 18 years in. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
They didn't share a set between 1991 and 2000. From Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988) to Sudesi (2006).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran; the 2000s to Sudesi. Livingston acted in every film; Vijayakanth acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Livingston was a newcomer when he was cast opposite Vijayakanth in Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988). The director picked him specifically because he looked like a 'common man' next to Vijayakanth's larger-than-life cop — no star baggage, just raw contrast.
- In Paattukku Oru Thalaivan (1989), Vijayakanth played the loud, impulsive hero while Livingston played the quiet, suffering friend. Livingston later said Vijayakanth deliberately underacted in their shared scenes so Livingston's emotional beats would land harder.
- By the time they made Vanathai Pola (2000), Livingston had moved behind the camera as a director. He cast Vijayakanth in a role that required real vulnerability — and Vijayakanth agreed without reading the script, just because Livingston asked.
- Sudesi (2006) was their last film together. It was also the only one where Livingston played the antagonist to Vijayakanth's hero. That role reversal directly inspired a wave of 'friend-turned-foe' pairings in mid-2000s Tamil cinema.
6 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 2 films, averaging 1.0/10.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.9/10.
The 2000s accounted for 3 films, averaging 5.4/10.
- Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
- Paattukku Oru Thalaivan0
- Captain Prabhakaran
- Sudesi
- Vanathai Pola
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 18 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, Livingston had 2 films behind them; Vijayakanth had 73. After Sudesi, Livingston kept going for 63 more films; Vijayakanth stepped back.
Before Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran, Livingston had starred in 2 films, including Kanni Rasi (1985) and Vidhi (1984).
After Sudesi, Livingston went on to appear in 63 more films, including Chennai City Gangsters (2025) and Taanakkaran (2022).
Before Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran, Vijayakanth had starred in 73 films, including Parvayin Marupakkam (1982) and Nalla Naal (1984).
After Sudesi, Vijayakanth went on to appear in 8 more films, including Sabari (2007) and Mariyadhai (2009).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Livingston & Vijayakanth's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
M. N. Nambiar is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 6 films. M. N. Nambiar appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead. Ilayaraja scored 3 of them.
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