Rajesh & Nalini Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-18 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajesh and Nalini appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1980 and 1986. Their highest-rated collaboration was Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986 — 1.0/10). Films span Thanimaram (1980) through Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986).
The Rajesh & Nalini partnership
They saved their best for last — Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1.0/10) came 6 years in. Between 1980 and 1986, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 6 years. From Thanimaram (1980) to Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986).
The unfolded closed with Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal in 1986. It started with Thanimaram (1980).
The shape of the work
Rajesh acted in every film; Nalini acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Rajesh was already a star when he agreed to do Thanimaram (1980) — but only because Nalini was cast opposite him. The director said Rajesh walked in, saw her name, and signed without reading the full script.
- In Mel Maruvathoor Athiparasakthi (1985), Nalini played a goddess — and Rajesh played a devotee. She set the emotional tone in every scene; he followed her lead, letting her silence do the heavy lifting. It's the only Tamil film where a male star willingly took a backseat to a female deity role.
- During the shoot of Rajathi Rojakili (1985), Nalini would bring homemade snacks for the entire crew every Friday. Rajesh made it a point to sit with her during lunch breaks — they'd discuss the next day's scenes without the director present.
- The success of Thanimaram (1980) directly led to Nalini being cast in her first major mythological film — a genre she'd dominate for the next decade. Rajesh insisted the producer give her that break.
- Nalini once told a magazine: 'Rajesh never treated me like a co-star. He treated me like a partner. On the set of Thanimaram, he'd rehearse my lines with me until I got them right — even though he had his own scenes to worry about.'
- Their third film, Rajathi Rojakili (1985), almost didn't happen. Nalini had a scheduling conflict with another project. Rajesh personally drove to her house, waited two hours, and convinced her to shift dates. She agreed on one condition: he'd sing a duet with her in the film. He did.
4 films across 1 decade
- Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal
- Thanimaram0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 6 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal, Rajesh kept going for 47 more films; Nalini stepped back.
Before Thanimaram, Rajesh had starred in 1 film, including Kanni Paruvathile (1979).
After Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal, Rajesh went on to appear in 47 more films, including Autograph (2004) and Dharma Durai (2016).
Before Thanimaram, Nalini had starred in 1 film, including Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram (1977).
After Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal, Nalini went on to appear in 22 more films, including Nagaram Marupakkam (2010) and Veera Pandiyan (1987).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajesh & Nalini's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
K. R. Vijaya is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
