Rajinikanth & S. P. Muthuraman Movies Together List — 24 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajinikanth and S. P. Muthuraman appeared together in 24 Tamil films between 1977 and 1992. Their highest-rated collaboration was Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979 — 8.3/10). Films span Aadu Puli Attam (1977) through Pandiyan (1992).
The Rajinikanth & S. P. Muthuraman partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1981 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. For 15 years, a Rajinikanth–S. film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3) at one end, Sri Raghavendra (3.8) at the other. From Aadu Puli Attam (1977) to Pandiyan (1992).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai; the 1990s to Athisaya Piravi. Rajinikanth acted in every film; S. P. Muthuraman directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Muthuraman didn't want to cast Rajinikanth in their first film Aadu Puli Attam (1977). He thought the then-villain actor couldn't pull off a lead role. Producer K. Balaji forced the pairing. Rajini later thanked Balaji for that push.
- Muthuraman shot Rajini's scenes in single takes. He told Rajini: 'You do your magic, I'll just roll the camera.' That trust let Rajini improvise his signature style — the cigarette flip, the slow-motion walk — which became his trademark in Murattu Kaalai (1980).
- Their 1979 film Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai launched a trend: the 'age-spanning' Tamil film. It showed Rajini from 20 to 60 years old. Every major star in the 80s — Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth — tried their own version of this gimmick within two years.
- Muthuraman never called Rajini by his screen name. On set, he always addressed him as 'Shivaji' — Rajini's birth name. Rajini said it kept their relationship grounded, not star-struck. They remained close even after their last film Pandiyan (1992).
- Muthuraman deliberately cast Rajini against soft, non-glamorous heroines like Sujatha and Saritha. He believed Rajini's raw energy needed a calming presence on screen, not another loud performer. That contrast made their romantic scenes in Priya (1978) and Nallavanuku Nallavan (1984) work.
24 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 4 films together, anchored by Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (8.3/10).
The 1980s brought 18 films together, anchored by Nallavanuku Nallavan (7.8/10).
The 1990s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.1/10.
- Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
- Priya
- Nallavanuku Nallavan
- Kazhugu
- Athisaya Piravi
- Pandiyan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
24 films across 15 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
41% of Rajinikanth's screen credits are with S. P. Muthuraman. After Pandiyan, Rajinikanth kept going for 33 more films; S. P. Muthuraman stepped back.
Before Aadu Puli Attam, Rajinikanth had starred in 2 films, including Apoorva Raagangal (1975) and Moondru Mudichu (1976).
After Pandiyan, Rajinikanth went on to appear in 33 more films, including Robot (2010) and Petta (2019).
Before Aadu Puli Attam, S. P. Muthuraman had directed 14 films, including Kalangalil Aval Vasantham (1976) and Mayangukiral Oru Madhu (1976).
After Pandiyan, S. P. Muthuraman went on to direct 1 more film, including Thottil Kuzhandhai (1995).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajinikanth & S. P. Muthuraman's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja is the through-line — music on 20 of their 24 films. Ilayaraja scored 20 of them. They worked with the same 18 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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