Kamal Haasan & Sarath Babu Movies Together List — 7 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Kamal Haasan and Sarath Babu appeared together in 7 Tamil films between 1978 and 2001. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978 — 7.5/10). Films span Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978) through Aalavandhan (2001).
The Kamal Haasan & Sarath Babu partnership
After 15 years apart, they came back together for Aalavandhan (2001). They didn't share a set between 1986 and 2001. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978) to Aalavandhan (2001). Nizhal Nijamagiradhu is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Nizhal Nijamagiradhu; the 2000s to Aalavandhan. Kamal Haasan acted in every film; Sarath Babu acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Kamal Haasan personally recommended Sarath Babu for a key role in Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (1978) after the director struggled to find the right actor. That film became their first together.
- In Salangai Oli (1983), Kamal played a deaf-mute dancer while Sarath Babu played his supportive friend. Sarath Babu later said Kamal would rehearse entire scenes in sign language with him off-camera, so their silent exchanges felt natural.
- Sarath Babu was a regular guest at Kamal's home during the 1980s. Kamal's mother would cook Sarath's favourite biryani whenever he visited, and the two would stay up discussing scripts until 3 AM.
- Sarath Babu once said in an interview: 'Kamal doesn't just act with you — he acts through you. He makes you raise your own game without you even noticing.'
- Their 1983 film Sattam was one of the earliest Tamil films to feature a split-screen climax where both actors had to perfectly sync their fight choreography. That technique later became a staple in Tamil action cinema.
- In Aalavandhan (2001), Kamal played twin brothers — one violent, one gentle. Sarath Babu played the psychiatrist treating both. Kamal deliberately changed his performance tempo in scenes with Sarath, using him as an anchor to keep the twins distinct.
7 films across 3 decades
The 1970s brought 2 films together, anchored by Nizhal Nijamagiradhu (7.5/10).
The 1980s accounted for 4 films, averaging 3.4/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.9/10.
- Nizhal Nijamagiradhu
- Nool Veli0
- Manakanakku
- Saranam Ayyappa0
- Aalavandhan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
7 films across 23 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 38 films behind them; Sarath Babu had 1.
Before Nizhal Nijamagiradhu, Kamal Haasan had starred in 38 films, including Padhinaru Vayadhiniley (1977) and Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974).
After Aalavandhan, Kamal Haasan went on to appear in 36 more films, including Anbe Sivam (2003) and Vikram (2022).
Before Nizhal Nijamagiradhu, Sarath Babu had starred in 1 film, including Pattina Pravesam (1977).
After Aalavandhan, Sarath Babu went on to appear in 33 more films, including Shirdi Sai (2012) and Por Thozhil (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Kamal Haasan & Sarath Babu's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Kamal Haasan & Sarath Babu's films together
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