R. Parthiban & Anandaraj Movies Together List — 7 Films

The shape of the work

The 1990s belonged to Abhimanyu; the 2010s to Naanum Rowdydhaan. R. Parthiban acted in every film; Anandaraj acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.

Partnership facts

• Their first film together, Abhimanyu (1997), almost didn't happen. Director R. Parthiban was initially hesitant to cast Anandaraj as the villain because Anandaraj was known for comedy roles at the time. Anandaraj convinced him by showing up to the narration with a completely shaved head and a menacing stare — no words, just the look.
• On the set of Pudhumai Pithan (1998), Parthiban realized Anandaraj could switch from comedy to menace in a single cut. So he started writing scenes where Anandaraj's character would laugh and then suddenly turn cold — a trick they reused in three more films. Anandaraj later said Parthiban taught him how to 'hold the pause' before the switch.
• During the shoot of Unnaruge Naan Irundhal (1999), Parthiban's father passed away. Anandaraj quietly took over all production coordination for three days — calling crew, rescheduling shots, handling the unit — without being asked. Parthiban has never spoken about it publicly, but a crew member from that film confirmed it.
• Vallamai Tharayo (2008) directly inspired a wave of small-town revenge comedies in Tamil cinema. The film's mix of dark humour and raw violence — anchored by Parthiban's deadpan and Anandaraj's explosive outbursts — became a template that directors like Karthik Subbaraj later cited as an influence for Jigarthanda (2014).
• Anandaraj, in a 2016 interview: 'Parthiban sir is the only director who made me cry on screen and laugh in the same scene. He knows my face better than I do.'
• In Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015), Parthiban deliberately gave Anandaraj the longest monologue in the film — a 3-minute rant about betrayal — because he knew Anandaraj could hold the audience without blinking. Anandaraj shot it in one take. The scene is still shared on Tamil meme pages as 'the speech that ends friendships.'