Nagesh & R. Thyagarajan Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Nagesh and R. Thyagarajan appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 1974 and 1980. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979 — 7.5/10). Films span Vellikizhamai Viradham (1974) through Anbukku Naan Adimai (1980).
The Nagesh & R. Thyagarajan partnership
Between 1974 and 1980, they barely worked apart — 5 films in 6 years. For 6 years, a Nagesh–R. film arrived almost every year. They saved their best for last — Thaayillamal Naan Illai (7.5/10) came 5 years in.
From Vellikizhamai Viradham (1974) to Anbukku Naan Adimai (1980). The spanned closed with Anbukku Naan Adimai in 1980.
The shape of the work
The 1970s account for 80% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Thaayillamal Naan Illai; the 1980s to Anbukku Naan Adimai. Nagesh acted in every film; R. Thyagarajan directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
5 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 4 films together, anchored by Thaayillamal Naan Illai (7.5/10).
The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.5/10.
- Thaayillamal Naan Illai
- Vellikizhamai Viradham0
- Anbukku Naan Adimai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 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
When they first worked together, Nagesh had 177 films behind them; R. Thyagarajan had 0. After Anbukku Naan Adimai, Nagesh kept going for 55 more films; R. Thyagarajan stepped back.
Before Vellikizhamai Viradham, Nagesh had starred in 177 films, including Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) and Major Chandrakanth (1966).
After Anbukku Naan Adimai, Nagesh went on to appear in 55 more films, including Kadhal Kondein (2003) and Cheran Pandiyan (1991).
Vellikizhamai Viradham was R. Thyagarajan's directorial debut.
After Anbukku Naan Adimai, R. Thyagarajan went on to direct 13 more films, including Apoorva Sahodarigal (1983) and Nalla Naal (1984).


Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Nagesh & R. Thyagarajan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Major Sundarrajan is the through-line — cast on 5 of their 5 films. Major Sundarrajan appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead.
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