Rajinikanth & Thengai Srinivasan Movies Together List — 24 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajinikanth and Thengai Srinivasan appeared together in 24 Tamil films between 1977 and 1986. Their highest-rated collaboration was Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979 — 8.3/10). Films span Aadu Puli Attam (1977) through Maaveeran (1986).
The Rajinikanth & Thengai Srinivasan partnership
1979 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 9 years, a Rajinikanth–Thengai film arrived almost every year. From Aadu Puli Attam (1977) to Maaveeran (1986).
Dharma Yuddham (1979, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 67% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai; the 1980s to Billa. Rajinikanth acted in every film; Thengai Srinivasan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Aadu Puli Attam (1977), almost didn't happen. Director S.P. Muthuraman was hesitant to cast Thengai Srinivasan because he was primarily a comedian in supporting roles. Rajinikanth personally insisted, saying Thengai's timing would balance his own raw energy. That film set the template for their 15-film run.
- In Thillu Mullu (1981), Rajinikanth played a conman who keeps slipping into lies. Thengai Srinivasan played his straight-laced boss. The comedy worked because Thengai never cracked a smile — he set a deadpan anchor while Rajini improvised wildly. Rajini later said Thengai's stillness made him funnier.
- On the sets of Murattu Kaalai (1980), Rajinikanth would often rehearse his lines with Thengai Srinivasan in the makeup room before every scene. Thengai would suggest small pauses and word changes. Rajini trusted his ear for dialogue rhythm so much that he refused to shoot until Thengai gave a thumbs-up.
- Their pairing in Moondru Mugam (1982) directly inspired director K.S. Ravikumar to cast Rajinikanth and a comedian as a double-act in his later films. Ravikumar has said in interviews that the way Thengai played the worried sidekick in that film became the blueprint for the 'hero-comedian' dynamic in 90s Tamil cinema.
- Rajinikanth once said about Thengai Srinivasan: 'He was my safety net. If my dialogue fell flat, he would catch it with a look and make it land. I never felt alone on set when he was there.' He said this during a 2019 tribute event for Thengai's birth anniversary.
24 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 8 films together, anchored by Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3/10).
The 1980s brought 16 films together, anchored by Billa (7.5/10).
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
- Priya
- Billa
- Kazhugu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
24 films across 9 years represents focused partnership.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
31% of Thengai Srinivasan's screen credits are with Rajinikanth. When they first worked together, Rajinikanth had 2 films behind them; Thengai Srinivasan had 50. After Maaveeran, Rajinikanth kept going for 63 more films; Thengai Srinivasan stepped back.
Before Aadu Puli Attam, Rajinikanth had starred in 2 films, including Apoorva Raagangal (1975) and Moondru Mudichu (1976).
After Maaveeran, Rajinikanth went on to appear in 63 more films, including Robot (2010) and Petta (2019).
Before Aadu Puli Attam, Thengai Srinivasan had starred in 50 films, including Annai Velankanni (1971) and Rickshawkaran (1971).
After Maaveeran, Thengai Srinivasan went on to appear in 3 more films, including Krishnan Vandhan (1987) and Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (1987).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajinikanth & Thengai Srinivasan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja is the through-line — music on 17 of their 24 films. Ilayaraja scored 17 of them. They worked with the same 23 people again and again — a small repertory company.
10
6
6
6
5
5
5
4
4
3
3
33
3
3
3
3
33222
2
2
2
2
2
2
22
2
2
22
2
2
2
2
17
4532
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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