Vijayakanth & Rajesh Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vijayakanth and Rajesh appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1984 and 2002. Their highest-rated collaboration was Ramana (2002 — 4.8/10). Films span Kuzhandhai Esu (1984) through Ramana (2002).
The Vijayakanth & Rajesh partnership
After 16 years apart, they came back together for Ramana (2002). They didn't share a set between 1986 and 2002. From Kuzhandhai Esu (1984) to Ramana (2002).
It started with Kuzhandhai Esu (1984). The played out closed with Ramana in 2002.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Manakanakku; the 2000s to Ramana. Vijayakanth acted in every film; Rajesh acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Vijayakanth was already a star when he agreed to do Kuzhandhai Esu (1984) with debutant director Rajesh. Rajesh had to wait months for a slot in Vijayakanth's calendar. The actor finally gave him a single continuous 20-day block — and Rajesh shot the entire film in that window.
- On the set of Manakanakku (1986), Rajesh realized Vijayakanth could switch from intense action hero to comic timing in one cut. So he wrote a scene where Vijayakanth's character has to argue with a mirror — no dialogue, just expressions. That single take became the film's most talked-about moment.
- Ramana (2002) was the film that convinced Vijayakanth he could carry a vigilante justice theme solo. He went on to make a string of similar films in the 2000s, directly inspired by the audience response to Rajesh's screenplay.
- Rajesh once said in an interview: 'Vijayakanth doesn't act. He reacts. I just had to put the right person in front of him and he'd give me gold.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 2 films, averaging 3.4/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.8/10.
- Manakanakku
- Kuzhandhai Esu0
- Ramana
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 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
Before Kuzhandhai Esu, Vijayakanth had starred in 17 films, including Parvayin Marupakkam (1982) and Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981).
After Ramana, Vijayakanth went on to appear in 17 more films, including Thennavan (2003) and Engal Anna (2004).
Before Kuzhandhai Esu, Rajesh had starred in 9 films, including Thanneer Thanneer (1981) and Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982).
After Ramana, Rajesh went on to appear in 21 more films, including Autograph (2004) and Dharma Durai (2016).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vijayakanth & Rajesh's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Vijayakanth & Rajesh's films together
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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