Kamal Haasan & Nagesh Movies Together List — 20 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Kamal Haasan and Nagesh appeared together in 20 Tamil films between 1972 and 2022. Their highest-rated collaboration was Apoorva Raagangal (1975 — 8.3/10). Films span Kanna Nalama (1972) through Pattampoochi (2022).
The Kamal Haasan & Nagesh partnership
After 14 years apart, they came back together for Pattampoochi (2022). They didn't share a set between 2008 and 2022. 1979 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months.
Their work runs across 5 decades of Tamil cinema. From Kanna Nalama (1972) to Pattampoochi (2022).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Apoorva Raagangal; the 2020s to Pattampoochi. Kamal Haasan acted in every film; Nagesh acted in all of them.
Partnership facts
- Kamal was just 17 when he first shared screen space with Nagesh in 'Kanna Nalama' (1972). Nagesh was already a comedy legend. Kamal later said he was terrified to even stand next to him.
- In 'Panchathanthiram' (2002), Nagesh played a stammering lawyer. Kamal, who wrote the script, deliberately gave him long, rapid-fire dialogues. Nagesh delivered them without a single retake. The crew applauded.
- Nagesh was a heavy drinker and often showed up late. Kamal never complained. Instead, he would quietly rehearse Nagesh's lines with the assistant director so the scene was ready the moment Nagesh arrived.
- Their 1996 film 'Avvai Shanmughi' — where Kamal played a woman and Nagesh played her sidekick — directly inspired the Bollywood hit 'Chachi 420'. Kamal later directed the Hindi remake himself.
- Kamal once said: 'Nagesh didn't just make me laugh. He taught me timing. Every pause, every blink — he knew exactly when to do it.'
- After Nagesh's health declined in the 2000s, Kamal quietly paid for his medical bills. He never spoke about it publicly. Nagesh's family confirmed it years later.
20 films across 5 decades
The 1970s brought 8 films together, anchored by Apoorva Raagangal (8.3/10).
The 1980s accounted for 3 films, averaging 5.9/10.
The 1990s accounted for 5 films, averaging 5.7/10.
The 2000s brought 3 films together, anchored by Vasool Raja MBBS (7.3/10).
The 2020s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.5/10.
- Apoorva Raagangal
- Thaayillamal Naan Illai
- Apoorva Sagodharargal
- Natchathiram0
- Michael Madana Kama Rajan
- Avvai Shanmughi
- Vasool Raja MBBS
- Dasavathaaram
- Pattampoochi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
20 films across 50 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
65% of Kamal Haasan's screen credits are with Nagesh. When they first worked together, Kamal Haasan had 6 films behind them; Nagesh had 142.
Before Kanna Nalama, Kamal Haasan had starred in 6 films, including Annai Velankanni (1971) and Kalathur Kannamma (1960).
After Pattampoochi, Kamal Haasan went on to appear in 5 more films, including Kalki 2898 AD (2024) and Amaran (2024).
Before Kanna Nalama, Nagesh had starred in 142 films, including Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) and Major Chandrakanth (1966).
After Pattampoochi, Nagesh went on to appear in 3 more films, including Kaantha (2025) and Ellam Mela Irukuruvan Paathuppan (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Kamal Haasan & Nagesh's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja scored 5 of them. Manorama appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 14 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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