Vadivelu & Radha Ravi Movies Together List — 15 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vadivelu and Radha Ravi appeared together in 15 Tamil films between 1992 and 2017. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sivalinga (2017 — 7.7/10). Films span Deiva Vaakku (1992) through Sivalinga (2017).
The Vadivelu & Radha Ravi partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. They saved their best for last — Sivalinga (7.7/10) came 25 years in. The work is uneven: Sivalinga (7.7) at one end, Deiva Vaakku (2.5) at the other.
From Deiva Vaakku (1992) to Sivalinga (2017). Sangamam (1999, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Sangamam; the 2010s to Sivalinga. Vadivelu acted in every film; Radha Ravi acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Vadivelu was a struggling mimicry artist when Radha Ravi spotted him at a stage show and recommended him to director for 'Ezhai Jaathi' (1993). That film became Vadivelu's first credited role.
- In 'Tenaliraman' (2014), Radha Ravi played the straight-laced king while Vadivelu improvised most of his comic lines on set. Radha Ravi later said he had to fight hard not to laugh during takes, which made the scenes feel more alive.
- Radha Ravi personally mentored Vadivelu during the early 90s, teaching him dialogue delivery and timing. They remained close off-screen, with Vadivelu often referring to Radha Ravi as 'anna' (elder brother) on set.
- Their 1995 film 'Chellakannu' was one of the earliest Tamil comedies to pair a senior character actor with a rising comedian in a buddy dynamic — a template later copied by films like 'Winner' (2003) and 'Vasool Raja MBBS' (2004).
- Radha Ravi once said in an interview: 'Vadivelu doesn't need a script. He just needs a situation. I just stand there and let him do his magic.'
15 films across 3 decades
The 1990s brought 8 films together, anchored by Sangamam (7.5/10).
The 2000s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.3/10.
The 2010s brought 3 films together, anchored by Sivalinga (7.7/10).
- Sangamam
- Muthu
- Friends
- Vanna Thamizh Pattu
- Sivalinga
- Tenaliraman
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
15 films across 25 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
71% of Vadivelu's screen credits are with Radha Ravi. When they first worked together, Vadivelu had 1 films behind them; Radha Ravi had 47. After Sivalinga, Radha Ravi kept going for 42 more films; Vadivelu stepped back.
Before Deiva Vaakku, Vadivelu had starred in 1 film, including Aatha Un Koyilile (1991).
After Sivalinga, Vadivelu went on to appear in 5 more films, including Maareesan (2025) and Naai Sekar (2022).
Before Deiva Vaakku, Radha Ravi had starred in 47 films, including Thanneer Thanneer (1981) and Vazhga! Valarga! (1987).
After Sivalinga, Radha Ravi went on to appear in 42 more films, including Ratsasan (2018) and Server Sundaram (2020).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vadivelu & Radha Ravi's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva scored 4 of them. They worked with the same 7 people again and again — a small repertory company. Vijayakumar appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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