Rajinikanth & P. Vasu Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-15 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajinikanth and P. Vasu appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1990 and 2008. Their highest-rated collaboration was Chandramukhi (2005 — 7.0/10). Films span Panakkaran (1990) through Kuselan (2008).
The Rajinikanth & P. Vasu partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Chandramukhi (2005). They didn't share a set between 1993 and 2005. They saved their best for last — Chandramukhi (7.0/10) came 15 years in.
From Panakkaran (1990) to Kuselan (2008). Chandramukhi is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Mannan; the 2000s to Chandramukhi. Rajinikanth acted in every film; P. Vasu directed all of them.
Partnership facts
- P. Vasu was a struggling assistant director when Rajinikanth noticed his work on a small film. The superstar personally asked the producer to give Vasu a break as a director. That film was Panakkaran (1990) — their first together.
- On the sets of Mannan (1992), Rajinikanth would rewrite his own dialogues in the morning and show them to Vasu. Vasu never said no — he just adjusted the scene around the new lines. That’s how their rhythm worked: Rajini set the beat, Vasu built the song.
- Chandramukhi (2005) was the film that single-handedly revived the horror-comedy genre in Tamil cinema. After its blockbuster run, at least a dozen imitators popped up in the next two years — all trying to copy the Rajini-Vasu formula of a haunted mansion and a star entrance.
- After Kuselan (2008) flopped, Vasu called Rajinikanth and said he wouldn't direct him again — he felt he'd let the superstar down. Rajini laughed and told him, 'You gave me Chandramukhi. One bad film doesn't erase that.' They never worked together again.
- In Uzhaippali (1993), Rajinikanth insisted on shooting a fight scene in one continuous take — no cuts. Vasu was nervous but let him try. It took 14 takes, but the final shot ran for 3 minutes and 20 seconds. Vasu later said that single scene taught him more about action filmmaking than film school.
6 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.7/10.
The 2000s brought 3 films together, anchored by Chandramukhi (7.0/10).
- Mannan
- Panakkaran
- Chandramukhi
- Kathanayakudu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 18 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
33% of P. Vasu's screen credits are with Rajinikanth. When they first worked together, Rajinikanth had 110 films behind them; P. Vasu had 8.
Before Panakkaran, Rajinikanth had starred in 110 films, including Padhinaru Vayadhiniley (1977) and Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979).
After Kuselan, Rajinikanth went on to appear in 15 more films, including Robot (2010) and Petta (2019).
Before Panakkaran, P. Vasu had directed 8 films, including Panneer Pushpangal (1981) and Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai (1989).
After Kuselan, P. Vasu went on to direct 4 more films, including Sivalinga (2017) and Chandramukhi 2 (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajinikanth & P. Vasu's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Nayantara is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 6 films. Ilayaraja scored 3 of them. Nayantara appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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2Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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