Sivaji Ganesan & A. P. Nagarajan Movies Together List — 13 Films

The shape of the work

The 1960s account for 85% of everything they made together. The 1960s belonged to Thiruvilaiyadal; the 1970s to Rajaraja Cholan. Sivaji Ganesan acted in every film; A. P. Nagarajan directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• Nagarajan didn't want Sivaji for 'Thiruvilaiyadal'. He thought the actor's star image would distract from the devotional story. Sivaji convinced him by agreeing to do the film without any salary — just a profit share. That film became a monster hit and changed both their careers.
• On the sets of 'Navarathri' (1964), Nagarajan would write dialogues the night before and hand them to Sivaji at 6 AM. Sivaji would memorize them in one take. No retakes. No rehearsals. That's how they shot nine different roles in one film — each with a distinct voice and walk.
• Because of 'Thillaanaa Mohanambal' (1968), a whole generation of Tamil kids started learning Bharatanatyam and nadaswaram. The film single-handedly revived interest in classical dance and music in Tamil Nadu. Schools started offering classes based on the scenes Sivaji and Nagarajan shot together.
• Nagarajan never called Sivaji by his name. He always addressed him as 'Thalaivar' (leader) — even in private. Sivaji, in turn, would stand up whenever Nagarajan entered the room. They never had a single argument in 11 years of working together.
• Sivaji once said: 'Nagarajan didn't direct me. He just placed a mirror in front of my soul and asked me to act.' He said this at a public event in 1974, a year after their last film together.
• In 'Rajaraja Cholan' (1973), Nagarajan deliberately cast Sivaji against his usual loud, expressive style. He made him play the emperor with minimal dialogue and long, silent stares. Sivaji later admitted it was the hardest role Nagarajan ever gave him — and the one he was most proud of.