V. S. Raghavan & Sivaji Ganesan Movies Together List — 11 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
V. S. Raghavan and Sivaji Ganesan appeared together in 11 Tamil films between 1970 and 1985. Their highest-rated collaboration was Vietnam Veedu (1970 — 7.5/10). Films span Vietnam Veedu (1970) through Naam (1985).
The V. S. Raghavan & Sivaji Ganesan partnership
For 15 years, a V.–Sivaji film arrived almost every year. Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.5 and 7.5. From Vietnam Veedu (1970) to Naam (1985).
Padikkaatha Pannaiyar (1985, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Vietnam Veedu is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 64% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Vietnam Veedu; the 1980s to Thyagi. V. S. Raghavan acted in every film; Sivaji Ganesan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Sivaji Ganesan personally requested V. S. Raghavan for the role of the villain in 'Vietnam Veedu' (1970). Raghavan was a stage actor with almost no film experience at that point. Sivaji saw him in a play and insisted the director cast him. That film became their first together.
- In 'Vetrikku Oruvan' (1979), Sivaji deliberately slowed down his dialogue delivery during their confrontation scene. He told Raghavan off-camera: 'You take your time. I'll follow your rhythm.' Raghavan's measured, theatrical pauses became the anchor of that scene. Sivaji adjusted his entire performance to match him.
- On the sets of 'En Magan' (1973), Raghavan would arrive two hours before his call time just to watch Sivaji rehearse. Sivaji noticed and started inviting him to run lines together before the director arrived. They did this for every film after that — a private pre-shoot ritual nobody else was part of.
- The success of their pairing in 'Thyagi' (1982) directly led to a wave of films where the hero and villain shared equal screen time and complex moral arguments. Before this, Tamil villain roles were mostly one-note. After 'Thyagi', directors started writing layered antagonists specifically for Raghavan's style.
- V. S. Raghavan once said in an interview: 'Sivaji made me a star. But he never let me feel like a supporting actor. On set, he treated me like his co-star. That is rare in this industry.'
- In 'Padikkaatha Pannaiyar' (1985), Raghavan improvised a line during a heated argument scene. Sivaji broke character and laughed — the take was unusable. But the director kept the improvisation in the final cut because Sivaji insisted: 'That line is better than anything we wrote.'
11 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 4 films together, anchored by Vietnam Veedu (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 7 films together, anchored by Thyagi (7.5/10).
- Vietnam Veedu
- Vetrikku Oruvan
- Thyagi
- Padikkaatha Pannaiyar
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
11 films across 15 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
39% of V. S. Raghavan's screen credits are with Sivaji Ganesan. When they first worked together, V. S. Raghavan had 10 films behind them; Sivaji Ganesan had 80. After Naam, Sivaji Ganesan kept going for 28 more films; V. S. Raghavan stepped back.
Before Vietnam Veedu, V. S. Raghavan had starred in 10 films, including Iru Kodugal (1969) and Pattanathil Bhootham (1967).
After Naam, V. S. Raghavan went on to appear in 7 more films, including Magizhchi (2010) and Kamaraj (2004).
Before Vietnam Veedu, Sivaji Ganesan had starred in 80 films, including Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) and Karnan (1964).
After Naam, Sivaji Ganesan went on to appear in 28 more films, including Mudhal Kural (1992) and Mannukkul Vairam (1986).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of V. S. Raghavan & Sivaji Ganesan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Major Sundarrajan is the through-line — cast on 8 of their 11 films. M. S. Viswanathan scored 5 of them. They worked with the same 7 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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