Kamal Haasan & Santhana Bharathi Movies Together List — 11 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Kamal Haasan and Santhana Bharathi appeared together in 11 Tamil films between 1987 and 2022. Their highest-rated collaboration was Anbe Sivam (2003 — 8.2/10). Films span Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu (1987) through Vikram (2022).
The Kamal Haasan & Santhana Bharathi partnership
After 9 years apart, they came back together for Anbe Sivam (2003). Their work runs across 5 decades of Tamil cinema. They didn't share a set between 1994 and 2003.
From Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu (1987) to Vikram (2022). Eenadu (2009, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu; the 2020s to Vikram. Kamal Haasan producer in some, actor in others.
Partnership facts
- Santhana Bharathi was an assistant to K. Balachander when Kamal Haasan spotted him. Kamal handpicked him to direct 'Guna' (1991) because he wanted a no-nonsense technician who wouldn't be intimidated by his own star power.
- On 'Mahanadi' (1994), Kamal wrote the script but deliberately let Santhana Bharathi control the set. Kamal later said he needed a director who could say 'no' to him — and Santhana Bharathi was the only one who did, consistently.
- 'Nammavar' (1994) introduced a then-unknown actor named R. Parthiban in a supporting role. Parthiban later credited this film as his big break — a direct result of Kamal and Santhana Bharathi casting him together.
- After 'Nammavar', the duo didn't speak for nearly 20 years. They reunited only in 2016 for 'Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum' — a small film Kamal produced and Santhana Bharathi directed, shot in just 18 days.
- Kamal once said about Santhana Bharathi: 'He is the only director who made me act like a normal human being on screen. No heroism, no gimmicks — just a man.'
11 films across 5 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.3/10.
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.4/10.
The 2000s brought 4 films together, anchored by Anbe Sivam (8.2/10).
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.5/10.
The 2020s brought 1 film together, anchored by Vikram (8.1/10).
- Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu
- Michael Madana Kama Rajan
- Nammavar
- Anbe Sivam
- Unnaipol Oruvan
- Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum
- Vikram
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
11 films across 35 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
61% of Santhana Bharathi's screen credits are with Kamal Haasan. When they first worked together, Kamal Haasan had 122 films behind them; Santhana Bharathi had 2.
Before Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu, Kamal Haasan had starred in 122 films, including Enakkul Oruvan (1984) and Enakkul Oruvan (1984).
After Vikram, Kamal Haasan went on to appear in 5 more films, including Kalki 2898 AD (2024) and Amaran (2024).
Before Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu, Santhana Bharathi had starred in 2 films, including Panneer Pushpangal (1981) and Needhiyin Nizhal (1985).
After Vikram, Santhana Bharathi went on to appear in 5 more films, including Aaromaley (2025) and Madharaasi (2025).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Kamal Haasan & Santhana Bharathi's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Delhi Ganesh appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead. Ilayaraja scored 3 of them.
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