Pushpalatha & Thengai Srinivasan Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Pushpalatha and Thengai Srinivasan appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1973 and 1984. Their highest-rated collaboration was Urimai Kural (1973 — 7.5/10). Films span Urimai Kural (1973) through Ninaivugal (1984).
The Pushpalatha & Thengai Srinivasan partnership
Remarkably even — every film rates between 6.5 and 7.5. From Urimai Kural (1973) to Ninaivugal (1984). Vetrikku Oruvan (1979, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
Urimai Kural is the one most viewers reach for. The ran closed with Ninaivugal in 1984.
The shape of the work
The 1970s account for 67% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Urimai Kural; the 1980s to Sakalakala Vallavan. Pushpalatha acted in every film; Thengai Srinivasan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Pushpalatha was a rising star when she was paired with Thengai Srinivasan for the first time in 'Vetrikku Oruvan' (1979). The director, K. Shankar, specifically wanted a fresh comic duo — he saw Srinivasan's deadpan timing and Pushpalatha's natural energy as a perfect mismatch that would crackle on screen.
- In 'Sakalakala Vallavan' (1982), Thengai Srinivasan deliberately slowed down his delivery to let Pushpalatha's rapid-fire reactions land. He told the crew he was 'playing the straight man so she could steal every scene' — and she did, turning their banter into the film's most replayed comedy track.
- During the shoot of 'Ninaivugal' (1984), Pushpalatha was going through a personal crisis. Thengai Srinivasan quietly arranged for her to stay at his home for two weeks, telling the unit she was 'helping his wife with cooking.' They never spoke about it publicly, but the film's producer later confirmed it.
- Pushpalatha once said in a 1990s interview: 'Thengai Srinivasan taught me that comedy is not about making faces — it's about making the other person look good. He would whisper cues to me during takes, and I'd just react. That's why our scenes worked.'
- Their comic pairing in 'Vetrikku Oruvan' (1979) directly inspired director S. P. Muthuraman to cast them again in 'Sakalakala Vallavan' (1982). That film's success then led to a wave of 'hero-comedian vs heroine-comedienne' double acts in Tamil cinema through the mid-80s — a trend that started with these two.
6 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 4 films together, anchored by Urimai Kural (7.5/10).
The 1980s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.5/10.
- Urimai Kural
- Dharma Yuddham
- Sakalakala Vallavan
- Ninaivugal0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 11 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Ninaivugal, Thengai Srinivasan kept going for 18 more films; Pushpalatha stepped back. By the time of Urimai Kural, both already had careers — Pushpalatha with 19 films, Thengai Srinivasan with 20.
Before Urimai Kural, Pushpalatha had starred in 19 films, including Pazhani (1965) and Arunagiri Nadhar (1964).
After Ninaivugal, Pushpalatha went on to appear in 1 more film, including Poo Vaasam (1999).
Before Urimai Kural, Thengai Srinivasan had starred in 20 films, including Annai Velankanni (1971) and Rickshawkaran (1971).
After Ninaivugal, Thengai Srinivasan went on to appear in 18 more films, including Padikkaatha Pannaiyar (1985) and Thendrale Ennai Thodu (1985).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Pushpalatha & Thengai Srinivasan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
V. K. Ramasamy is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 6 films. V. K. Ramasamy appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead. Ilayaraja scored 3 of them.
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