Major Sundarrajan & R. Thyagarajan Movies Together List — 7 Films

The shape of the work

The 1970s account for 71% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Thaayillamal Naan Illai; the 1980s to Anbukku Naan Adimai. Major Sundarrajan acted in every film; R. Thyagarajan directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• Major Sundarrajan was a real-life army major before acting. R. Thyagarajan, a director known for devotional films, specifically cast him in 'Thiruvarul' (1975) because he wanted a lead who could bring military discipline to the role of a devotee. Sundarrajan initially refused, saying he wasn't an actor — Thyagarajan convinced him by promising to shoot every scene in one take.
• In 'Murugan Adimai' (1977), Thyagarajan wrote a climactic scene where Sundarrajan had to deliver a 12-minute monologue about faith. Sundarrajan, used to army briefings, insisted on rehearsing it like a drill — standing at attention, no cuts. Thyagarajan let the camera roll uninterrupted. That single take became the film's most talked-about moment.
• Their 1980 film 'Anbukku Naan Adimai' introduced a then-unknown child actor named S. Ve. Shekher in a small role. Shekher later credited this film as his first break, and went on to become a major comedian and director in Tamil cinema. That casting decision was Thyagarajan's, but Sundarrajan personally coached the boy on set.
• On every film set, Sundarrajan would call Thyagarajan 'Sir' — even though he was older and more famous. Thyagarajan, in turn, would salute Sundarrajan before every first shot. They kept this ritual for all four films, never explaining it to the crew.
• R. Thyagarajan once said in a 1984 interview: 'Major Sundarrajan never acted. He just stood there and believed. I just pointed the camera. The devotion was his, not mine.'