Sivaji Ganesan & C. V. Rajendran Movies Together List — 14 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Sivaji Ganesan and C. V. Rajendran appeared together in 14 Tamil films between 1968 and 1984. Their highest-rated collaboration was Galatta Kalyanam (1968 — 7.5/10). Films span Galatta Kalyanam (1968) through Vazhkai (1984).
The Sivaji Ganesan & C. V. Rajendran partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1973 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. For 16 years, a Sivaji–C. film arrived almost every year.
Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.5 and 7.5. From Galatta Kalyanam (1968) to Vazhkai (1984).
The shape of the work
The 1970s account for 64% of everything they made together. The 1960s belonged to Galatta Kalyanam; the 1980s to Thyagi. Sivaji Ganesan acted in every film; C. V. Rajendran directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- C. V. Rajendran was a first-time director when he cast Sivaji Ganesan in Galatta Kalyanam (1968). The actor was already a legend. Rajendran later admitted he was terrified to give Sivaji directions on set — so Sivaji walked up to him after the first shot and said, 'Don't treat me like a superstar. Treat me like your actor.' That broke the ice for 14 films.
- Rajendran figured out early that Sivaji's biggest strength was his voice modulation. So in films like Raja (1972) and Thyagi (1982), he deliberately wrote long, single-take monologues — sometimes two pages of dialogue — knowing Sivaji would nail them in one go. No other director pushed him that hard on vocal range.
- Their film Sangili (1982) directly inspired the 1990s trend of 'double role' action films in Tamil cinema. Before Sangili, double roles were mostly comic or mythological. Rajendran and Sivaji made it gritty and commercial. Every double-action film from the 90s — including Kamal Haasan's projects — owes a nod to this one.
- On every single film set, Rajendran would personally bring Sivaji a cup of filter coffee at exactly 4 PM. No assistant. No intern. He said it was the only way to get Sivaji to sit still for the next shot. This ritual lasted 16 years, through all 14 films.
- C. V. Rajendran once told a magazine: 'Sivaji Ganesan could make even a bad director look good. But with me, he made sure I never became a bad director. He would rehearse with me at home before every film — just the two of us, reading lines like students.'
14 films across 3 decades
The 1960s brought 1 film together, anchored by Galatta Kalyanam (7.5/10).
The 1970s brought 9 films together, anchored by Raja (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 4 films together, anchored by Thyagi (7.5/10).
- Galatta Kalyanam
- Raja
- En Magan
- Thyagi
- Sandhippu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
14 films across 16 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
61% of C. V. Rajendran's screen credits are with Sivaji Ganesan. When they first worked together, Sivaji Ganesan had 63 films behind them; C. V. Rajendran had 1. After Vazhkai, Sivaji Ganesan kept going for 36 more films; C. V. Rajendran stepped back.
Before Galatta Kalyanam, Sivaji Ganesan had starred in 63 films, including Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) and Karnan (1964).
After Vazhkai, Sivaji Ganesan went on to appear in 36 more films, including Padikkaatha Pannaiyar (1985) and Naam (1985).
Before Galatta Kalyanam, C. V. Rajendran had directed 1 film, including Anubavam Pudhumai (1967).
After Vazhkai, C. V. Rajendran went on to direct 8 more films, including Pudhiya Theerpu (1985) and Chinnappadass (1989).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Sivaji Ganesan & C. V. Rajendran's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
M. S. Viswanathan is the through-line — music on 12 of their 14 films. M. S. Viswanathan scored 12 of them. They worked with the same 7 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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