Livingston & Swaminathan Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Livingston and Swaminathan appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 2013 and 2022. Their highest-rated collaboration was Yaaruda Mahesh (2013 — 5.8/10). Films span Yaaruda Mahesh (2013) through Naai Sekar (2022).
The Livingston & Swaminathan partnership
From Yaaruda Mahesh (2013) to Naai Sekar (2022). It started with Yaaruda Mahesh (2013).
The shape of the work
The 2010s belonged to Yaaruda Mahesh; the 2020s to Naai Sekar. Livingston acted in every film; Swaminathan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Livingston was the one who pushed for Swaminathan to play the lead in Yaaruda Mahesh (2013). The director had a different actor in mind, but Livingston insisted Swaminathan had the right comic timing for the role.
- On the sets of Pei Irukka Illaya (2017), Swaminathan would rewrite his own lines on the spot. Livingston let him do it because he knew Swaminathan’s improvisations made the horror-comedy bits land harder. The final script ended up being 40% Swaminathan’s rewrites.
- Naai Sekar (2022) was the first Tamil film to have a dog as the central character in a live-action comedy. That idea came from a late-night conversation between Livingston and Swaminathan after a few drinks — they wanted to do something no one had tried before.
- Livingston and Swaminathan have a standing bet: whoever flubs a line first during a shoot has to buy the other biryani from the nearest stall. Swaminathan has paid for 11 biryanis across their three films. Livingston has paid for 2.
- Swaminathan once said in an interview: 'Livingston doesn't direct actors — he lets them breathe. That's why I keep coming back. He gives me the rope, and I either swing or fly.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.5/10.
The 2020s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.5/10.
- Yaaruda Mahesh
- Pei Irukka Illaya
- Naai Sekar
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 9 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
38% of Swaminathan's screen credits are with Livingston. When they first worked together, Livingston had 68 films behind them; Swaminathan had 3.
Before Yaaruda Mahesh, Livingston had starred in 68 films, including Anjathe (2008) and Kadhalil Vizhunthen (2008).
After Naai Sekar, Livingston went on to appear in 11 more films, including Chennai City Gangsters (2025) and Couple Friendly (2026).
Before Yaaruda Mahesh, Swaminathan had starred in 3 films, including Chikku Bukku (2010) and Chinna Poove Mella Pesu (1987).
After Naai Sekar, Swaminathan went on to appear in 2 more films, including 80's Buildup (2023) and Moon Walk (2026).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Livingston & Swaminathan's professional partnership
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