Vijay & S. J. Surya Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vijay and S. J. Surya appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 2000 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Mersal (2017 — 7.7/10). Films span Kushi (2000) through Mersal (2017).
The Vijay & S. J. Surya partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Nanban (2012). They didn't share a set between 2000 and 2012. From Kushi (2000) to Mersal (2017).
Mersal is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Kushi (2000).
The shape of the work
The 2000s belonged to Kushi; the 2010s to Mersal. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Kushi (2000), was the breakthrough that turned both Vijay and S. J. Surya into mainstream stars — Vijay went from a struggling actor to a bankable hero, and Surya went from a supporting actor to a leading man and director.
- In Kushi (2000), the scene where Vijay's character tries to impress S. J. Surya's character with a fake English accent — and Surya deadpans back in flawless English — is still quoted by Tamil audiences as one of the funniest comedic exchanges of the 2000s.
- Mersal (2017) was their third collaboration and became a blockbuster, grossing over ₹250 crore worldwide — making it the highest-grossing film either of them had been part of together.
- S. J. Surya once said about working with Vijay in Nanban (2012): 'He is the only actor who made me forget I was acting. We didn't even rehearse — we just looked at each other and the scene happened.'
- In Nanban (2012), the remake of 3 Idiots, Vijay and S. J. Surya played college friends — and their on-screen chemistry was so natural that fans still debate whether their real-life friendship was the reason the film felt more authentic than the original Hindi version.
- After Kushi (2000), S. J. Surya directed Vijay in two more films — but the pair never worked together again after Mersal (2017), making their three-film collaboration a closed chapter that fans still wish would reopen.
3 films across 2 decades
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.3/10.
The 2010s brought 2 films together, anchored by Mersal (7.7/10).
- Kushi
- Mersal
- Nanban
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 17 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
Before Kushi, Vijay had starred in 28 films, including Vetri (1984) and Rasigan (1994).
After Mersal, Vijay went on to appear in 6 more films, including Master (2020) and Leo (2023).
Before Kushi, S. J. Surya had starred in 3 films, including Vaali (1999) and Aasai (1995).
After Mersal, S. J. Surya went on to appear in 16 more films, including Jigarthanda Double X (2023) and Jigarthanda Double X (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vijay & S. J. Surya's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Sathyan is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
2
2
