Vaiyapuri & Ezhil Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vaiyapuri and Ezhil appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 2000 and 2025. Their highest-rated collaboration was Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016 — 5.5/10). Films span Pennin Manathai Thottu (2000) through Desingu Raja 2 (2025).
The Vaiyapuri & Ezhil partnership
After 16 years apart, they came back together for Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016). They didn't share a set between 2000 and 2016. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Pennin Manathai Thottu (2000) to Desingu Raja 2 (2025). Their most recent film, Desingu Raja 2, came out in 2025 — the partnership is still active.
The shape of the work
The 2000s belonged to Pennin Manathai Thottu; the 2020s to Yutha Satham. Vaiyapuri acted in every film; Ezhil directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Ezhil cast Vaiyapuri in 'Pennin Manathai Thottu' (2000) after seeing him in a stage play. Vaiyapuri was a theatre actor with zero film experience. Ezhil took a risk that paid off — the film launched Vaiyapuri's comedy career.
- On the sets of 'Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran' (2016), Ezhil let Vaiyapuri improvise most of his dialogue. Vaiyapuri would rewrite his lines the night before, and Ezhil would adjust the scene around them. That's why the comedy feels so natural.
- Ezhil and Vaiyapuri have a standing rule: no phone calls after 9 PM. Vaiyapuri once said in an interview that Ezhil is 'the only director who respects my sleep more than my jokes.' They've kept this boundary for all four films.
- The success of 'Pennin Manathai Thottu' (2000) directly led to Vaiyapuri being cast in 'Friends' (2001) by Siddique. Ezhil recommended him to Siddique after seeing his comic timing on set. That film made Vaiyapuri a household name.
- For 'Yutha Satham' (2022), Ezhil deliberately wrote a serious role for Vaiyapuri — no comedy. Vaiyapuri resisted at first, but Ezhil insisted. The result was Vaiyapuri's first non-comic performance in 22 years. Ezhil pushed him out of his comfort zone.
4 films across 3 decades
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.7/10.
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.5/10.
The 2020s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.5/10.
- Pennin Manathai Thottu
- Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran
- Yutha Satham
- Desingu Raja 2
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 25 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
80% of Ezhil's screen credits are with Vaiyapuri.
Before Pennin Manathai Thottu, Vaiyapuri had starred in 12 films, including Ooty (1999) and Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998).
After Desingu Raja 2, Vaiyapuri went on to appear in 2 more films, including TN 2026 (2026) and Aazhi (2026).
Before Pennin Manathai Thottu, Ezhil had directed 1 film, including Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vaiyapuri & Ezhil's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Robo Shankar is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 4 films. Robo Shankar appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
3
2
2
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
