Kamal Haasan & Major Sundarrajan Movies Together List — 17 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Kamal Haasan and Major Sundarrajan appeared together in 17 Tamil films between 1972 and 1985. Their highest-rated collaboration was Apoorva Raagangal (1975 — 8.3/10). Films span Kanna Nalama (1972) through Andha Oru Nimidam (1985).
The Kamal Haasan & Major Sundarrajan partnership
1975 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 13 years, a Kamal–Major film arrived almost every year. The work is uneven: Apoorva Raagangal (8.3) at one end, Uyarndha Ullam (3.6) at the other.
From Kanna Nalama (1972) to Andha Oru Nimidam (1985). Thaayillamal Naan Illai (1979, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue.
The shape of the work
The 1970s account for 76% of everything they made together. The 1970s belonged to Apoorva Raagangal; the 1980s to Andha Oru Nimidam. Kamal Haasan acted in every film; Major Sundarrajan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Kamal Haasan was just 20 when he first shared screen with Major Sundarrajan in 'Cinema Paithiyam' (1975). Sundarrajan, already a veteran, reportedly told the director he'd do the film only if Kamal played his son — he saw something in the kid nobody else did yet.
- In 'Kalyanaraman' (1979), Sundarrajan played the comic sidekick to Kamal's lead. But on set, it was the other way around — Sundarrajan would quietly adjust Kamal's timing, telling him when to pause for a laugh. Kamal later said Sundarrajan taught him 'the rhythm of comedy'.
- After every film wrap, Sundarrajan would take Kamal to a small tea stall near the set and buy him a single cup of tea — they'd share it. Kamal kept this ritual going even after Sundarrajan passed away, ordering one extra cup on the anniversaries of their films.
- Kamal Haasan once said in an interview: 'Major Sundarrajan was the only co-star who could make me forget my lines — because I'd be watching him perform instead of acting myself.'
- Their film 'Aadu Puli Attam' (1977) directly inspired the 2018 Tamil comedy 'Kalakalappu 2' — the double-act template of a smart-mouthed hero and a bumbling older sidekick was born right here, with Sundarrajan's character setting the blueprint for a whole generation of comic sidekicks.
17 films across 2 decades
The 1970s brought 13 films together, anchored by Apoorva Raagangal (8.3/10).
The 1980s accounted for 4 films, averaging 4.0/10.
- Apoorva Raagangal
- Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala
- Andha Oru Nimidam
- Uyarndha Ullam
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
17 films across 13 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Kamal Haasan had 6 films behind them; Major Sundarrajan had 39. After Andha Oru Nimidam, Kamal Haasan kept going for 80 more films; Major Sundarrajan stepped back.
Before Kanna Nalama, Kamal Haasan had starred in 6 films, including Annai Velankanni (1971) and Kalathur Kannamma (1960).
After Andha Oru Nimidam, Kamal Haasan went on to appear in 80 more films, including Indian (1996) and Anbe Sivam (2003).
Before Kanna Nalama, Major Sundarrajan had starred in 39 films, including Major Chandrakanth (1966) and Server Sundaram (1964).
After Andha Oru Nimidam, Major Sundarrajan went on to appear in 17 more films, including Chakravarthy (1995) and Iruvar (1997).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Kamal Haasan & Major Sundarrajan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja scored 7 of them. They worked with the same 15 people again and again — a small repertory company. Manorama appears alongside them in 7 films — practically a third lead.
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7
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