Nagesh & K. V. Mahadevan Movies Together List — 38 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Nagesh and K. V. Mahadevan appeared together in 38 Tamil films between 1961 and 1977. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thiruvilaiyadal (1965 — 8.6/10). Films span Thayilla Pillai (1961) through Sri Krishna Leela (1977).
The Nagesh & K. V. Mahadevan partnership
1964 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 16 years, a Nagesh–K. film arrived almost every year. Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.5 and 8.6.
From Thayilla Pillai (1961) to Sri Krishna Leela (1977). Kungumam (1963, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1960s account for 66% of everything they made together. The 1960s belonged to Thiruvilaiyadal; the 1970s to Vietnam Veedu. Nagesh acted in every film; K. V. Mahadevan scored all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
38 films across 2 decades
The 1960s brought 25 films together, anchored by Thiruvilaiyadal (8.6/10).
The 1970s brought 13 films together, anchored by Vietnam Veedu (7.5/10).
- Thiruvilaiyadal
- Thillaanaa Mohanambal
- Vietnam Veedu
- Vani Rani
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
38 films across 16 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
36% of Nagesh's screen credits are with K. V. Mahadevan. After Sri Krishna Leela, Nagesh kept going for 68 more films; K. V. Mahadevan stepped back.
Thayilla Pillai was Nagesh's acting debut.
After Sri Krishna Leela, Nagesh went on to appear in 68 more films, including Kadhal Kondein (2003) and Cheran Pandiyan (1991).
Before Thayilla Pillai, K. V. Mahadevan had starred in 17 films, including Padikkadha Medhai (1960) and Sivagami (1960).
After Sri Krishna Leela, K. V. Mahadevan went on to appear in 19 more films, including Deviyin Thiruvilaiyadal (1982) and Alludugaru (1990).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Nagesh & K. V. Mahadevan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
They worked with the same 22 people again and again — a small repertory company. Sivaji Ganesan appears alongside them in 10 films — practically a third lead.
10
8
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
43
33
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
22
2
22
22
2
22
22
22
222
3222Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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