M. S. Viswanathan & Kanchana Movies Together List — 10 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
M. S. Viswanathan and Kanchana appeared together in 10 Tamil films between 1966 and 1977. Their highest-rated collaboration was Shanti Nilayam (1969 — 7.6/10). Films span Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966) through Avan Oru Charithiram (1977).
The M. S. Viswanathan & Kanchana partnership
For 11 years, a M.–Kanchana film arrived almost every year. Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.5 and 7.6. From Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966) to Avan Oru Charithiram (1977).
Avan Oru Sarithiram (1976, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Shanti Nilayam is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1970s account for 60% of everything they made together. The 1960s belonged to Shanti Nilayam; the 1970s to Avan Oru Sarithiram. M. S. Viswanathan scored every film; Kanchana acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
10 films across 2 decades
The 1960s brought 4 films together, anchored by Shanti Nilayam (7.6/10).
The 1970s brought 6 films together, anchored by Avan Oru Sarithiram (7.5/10).
- Shanti Nilayam
- Motor Sundaram Pillai
- Avan Oru Sarithiram
- Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
10 films across 11 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
71% of Kanchana's screen credits are with M. S. Viswanathan. After Avan Oru Charithiram, M. S. Viswanathan kept going for 214 more films; Kanchana stepped back.
Motor Sundaram Pillai was M. S. Viswanathan's acting debut.
After Avan Oru Charithiram, M. S. Viswanathan went on to appear in 214 more films, including Thanneer Thanneer (1981) and Ninaithale Inikkum (1979).
Before Motor Sundaram Pillai, Kanchana had starred in 2 films, including Kaadhalikka Neramillai (1964) and Veera Abhimanyu (1965).
After Avan Oru Charithiram, Kanchana went on to appear in 2 more films, including Arjun Reddy (2017) and Needhiya Nyayama (1994).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of M. S. Viswanathan & Kanchana's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Nagesh is the through-line — cast on 7 of their 10 films. They worked with the same 8 people again and again — a small repertory company. Nagesh appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead.
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23Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
