S. S. Rajendran & O.A.K.Thevar Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-02 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
S. S. Rajendran and O.A.K.Thevar appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1962 and 1970. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kungumam (1963 — 7.5/10). Films span Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962) through Ethiroli (1970).
The S. S. Rajendran & O.A.K.Thevar partnership
From Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962) to Ethiroli (1970). Kungumam is the one most viewers reach for. The unfolded closed with Ethiroli in 1970.
It started with Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962).
The shape of the work
The 1960s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 1960s belonged to Kungumam; the 1970s to Ethiroli. S. S. Rajendran acted in every film; O.A.K.Thevar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Rajendran and Thevar first teamed up for Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962) because Thevar, a producer-turned-director, needed a hero who could carry a rural drama. Rajendran was already a stage star, but Thevar bet on him despite industry whispers that his voice was too theatrical for cinema.
- In Kungumam (1963), Thevar deliberately slowed down Rajendran's usual rapid-fire dialogue delivery. Rajendran later admitted that Thevar's direction made him 'act with pauses' for the first time — a shift that won him critical praise.
- Kungumam (1963) was a massive hit that directly inspired a wave of 'family sentiment' films in Tamil cinema through the 1960s. Thevar and Rajendran's combo became the template for the 'brother-sister emotional drama' genre that MGR and Sivaji Ganesan later borrowed from.
- After Ethiroli (1970) flopped, Rajendran and Thevar never spoke again. Thevar felt Rajendran had become too demanding on set; Rajendran thought Thevar's script was outdated. Their fallout was so bitter that neither attended the other's funeral.
- Rajendran once told a magazine in 1964: 'Thevar sir doesn't let me act. He makes me live the scene. That's harder than any dialogue I've memorized.'
4 films across 2 decades
The 1960s brought 3 films together, anchored by Kungumam (7.5/10).
The 1970s accounted for 1 film.
- Kungumam
- Poompuhar
- Ethiroli0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 8 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
67% of O.A.K.Thevar's screen credits are with S. S. Rajendran.
Before Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam, S. S. Rajendran had starred in 11 films, including Kumudam (1961) and Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Maumagale (1961).
After Ethiroli, S. S. Rajendran went on to appear in 6 more films, including Rajali (1996) and Dum (2003).
Before Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam, O.A.K.Thevar had starred in 1 film, including Kuravanji (1960).
After Ethiroli, O.A.K.Thevar went on to appear in 1 more film, including Ganga Gowri (1973).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of S. S. Rajendran & O.A.K.Thevar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Manorama is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 4 films. Manorama appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead. K. V. Mahadevan scored 3 of them.
3
3
3
2
2
3Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
KanchanaMajor Sundarrajan
Sukumari
Sridevi
Venniradai Moorthy
J. Mahendran
Dulquer Salman
Prakash Raj
Selvaraghavan
Sonia Agarwal
M. S. Bhaskar
Mohamaad Ghibran