Cheran & Murali Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Cheran and Murali appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1997 and 2000. Their highest-rated collaboration was Porkkaalam (1997 — 4.2/10). Films span Porkkaalam (1997) through Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000).
The Cheran & Murali partnership
From Porkkaalam (1997) to Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000). The played out closed with Vetri Kodi Kattu in 2000. It started with Porkkaalam (1997).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Porkkaalam; the 2000s to Vetri Kodi Kattu. Cheran directed every film; Murali acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Cheran was a newcomer when he cast Murali as the lead in Porkkaalam (1997). Murali was already a star. Cheran later said he was nervous directing him on day one.
- In Desiya Geetham (1998), Murali pushed Cheran to write a raw, realistic climax instead of a commercial one. Cheran agreed. That scene became the film's most talked-about moment.
- During Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Murali would sit with Cheran every evening to discuss the next day's shots. They never fought on set. Cheran called it 'the easiest collaboration of my life.'
- Porkkaalam (1997) launched Cheran as a director to watch. Without Murali agreeing to star in it, Cheran might never have made his later breakthrough films like Autograph.
- Cheran once said: 'Murali was the only actor who trusted my vision completely. He never asked for a single change in my script.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.2/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.1/10.
- Porkkaalam
- Desiya Geetham0
- Vetri Kodi Kattu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 3 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, Cheran had 0 films behind them; Murali had 46. After Vetri Kodi Kattu, Cheran kept going for 37 more films; Murali stepped back.
Porkkaalam was Cheran's directorial debut.
After Vetri Kodi Kattu, Cheran went on to direct 37 more films, including Vimanam (2023) and Autograph (2004).
Before Porkkaalam, Murali had starred in 46 films, including Ninaivu Chinnam (1989) and Thanga Manasukkaran (1992).
After Vetri Kodi Kattu, Murali went on to appear in 22 more films, including Raam (2005) and Baana Kaathadi (2010).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Cheran & Murali's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Anandaraj is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
