Nassar & Shanmugarajan Movies Together List — 9 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Nassar and Shanmugarajan appeared together in 9 Tamil films between 2004 and 2021. Their highest-rated collaboration was Saivam (2014 — 7.7/10). Films span Virumaandi (2004) through Thalaivii (2021).
The Nassar & Shanmugarajan partnership
2014 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Virumaandi (2004) to Thalaivii (2021).
Anniyan (2005, 7.6/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Saivam is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 2000s belonged to Virumaandi; the 2020s to Thalaivii. Nassar acted in every film; Shanmugarajan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Nassar didn't just act in Dindigul Sarathy (2008) — he co-wrote the script. Shanmugarajan was a debutant director, and Nassar essentially hand-held him through the writing process, shaping the film's rural comedy from scratch.
- On the set of Veeram (2014), Shanmugarajan let Nassar improvise entire stretches of dialogue. The actor's natural timing turned a supporting role into the film's most quoted comic relief — especially the line about 'thayir saadam' that fans still repeat.
- Shanmugarajan has said in interviews that Nassar never once asked for a script advance or a signed contract for any of their three films. They worked entirely on a handshake — a trust the director called 'unbelievable' for a newcomer.
- Shanmugarajan once told a local magazine: 'Nassar sir didn't treat me like a director. He treated me like a son. He'd correct my shot divisions without making me feel small.'
- Sila Samayangalil (2017) was Shanmugarajan's first film without a major star — and Nassar agreed to play a supporting role for free, just to help the director get a producer. The film eventually launched a new composer, Ghibran, into the Tamil mainstream.
9 films across 3 decades
The 2000s brought 4 films together, anchored by Virumaandi (7.6/10).
The 2010s brought 4 films together, anchored by Saivam (7.7/10).
The 2020s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.7/10.
- Virumaandi
- Anniyan
- Saivam
- Veeram
- Thalaivii
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
9 films across 17 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
69% of Shanmugarajan's screen credits are with Nassar. When they first worked together, Nassar had 78 films behind them; Shanmugarajan had 0. After Thalaivii, Nassar kept going for 41 more films; Shanmugarajan stepped back.
Before Virumaandi, Nassar had starred in 78 films, including Anbe Sivam (2003) and Mugam (1999).
After Thalaivii, Nassar went on to appear in 41 more films, including 10th Class Diaries (2022) and 800 (2023).
Virumaandi was Shanmugarajan's acting debut.
After Thalaivii, Shanmugarajan went on to appear in 4 more films, including Merry Christmas (2024) and Witness (2022).








Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Nassar & Shanmugarajan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Nassar & Shanmugarajan's films together
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