Nagesh & S. A. Ashokan Movies Together List — 10 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Nagesh and S. A. Ashokan appeared together in 10 Tamil films between 1963 and 1973. Their highest-rated collaboration was Iru Malargal (1967 — 7.5/10). Films span Panathottam (1963) through Engal Thai (1973).
The Nagesh & S. A. Ashokan partnership
For 10 years, a Nagesh–S. film arrived almost every year. Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.8 and 7.5. From Panathottam (1963) to Engal Thai (1973).
Adhey Kangal (1967, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Iru Malargal is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1960s account for 70% of everything they made together. The 1960s belonged to Iru Malargal; the 1970s to Deivam. Nagesh acted in every film; S. A. Ashokan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Panathottam (1963), was a gamble. Director M. A. Thirumugam cast Nagesh as the lead comedian and Ashokan as the villain — but the two had never shared a frame before. The film's success made them a go-to pair for comedy-villain dynamics.
- In Iru Malargal (1967), Nagesh and Ashokan played brothers — one comic, one serious. Nagesh would deliberately flub his lines to make Ashokan break character, and Ashokan would retaliate by delivering his dialogues in a deadpan monotone, forcing Nagesh to improvise harder. The director kept the camera rolling through these unscripted moments.
- Their 1967 film Adhey Kangal introduced a young actress named Jayalalithaa in a supporting role. The film's success gave her the visibility to land her first lead role the same year. Nagesh and Ashokan's pairing indirectly helped launch one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars.
- On the sets of Ragasiya Police 115 (1968), Nagesh and Ashokan had a running bet: whoever laughed first during a scene had to buy the other a coffee. Ashokan claimed he never lost once — because Nagesh couldn't keep a straight face when Ashokan did his signature slow-blink stare.
- Ashokan once said in a 1980s interview: 'Nagesh would make me laugh so hard on set that the director would yell at me. But when the camera rolled, he was the only actor who could make me forget I was acting.'
10 films across 2 decades
The 1960s brought 7 films together, anchored by Iru Malargal (7.5/10).
The 1970s accounted for 3 films, averaging 6.8/10.
- Iru Malargal
- Adhey Kangal
- Deivam
- Raman Thediya Seethai0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
10 films across 10 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
53% of S. A. Ashokan's screen credits are with Nagesh. After Engal Thai, Nagesh kept going for 106 more films; S. A. Ashokan stepped back.
Before Panathottam, Nagesh had starred in 3 films, including Annai (1962) and Policekaran Magal (1962).
After Engal Thai, Nagesh went on to appear in 106 more films, including Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1976) and Apoorva Raagangal (1975).
Before Panathottam, S. A. Ashokan had starred in 5 films, including Paavai Vilakku (1960) and Indira En Selvam (1962).
After Engal Thai, S. A. Ashokan went on to appear in 4 more films, including Sisubalan (1974) and Thunive Thunai (1976).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Nagesh & S. A. Ashokan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
M. S. Viswanathan is the through-line — music on 6 of their 10 films. M. S. Viswanathan scored 6 of them. They worked with the same 6 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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