Sundar C. & Karthik Movies Together List — 6 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Sundar C. and Karthik appeared together in 6 Tamil films between 1996 and 2001. Their highest-rated collaboration was Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga (1999 — 4.5/10). Films span Ullathai Allitha (1996) through Azhagana Naatkal (2001).
The Sundar C. & Karthik partnership
Between 1996 and 2001, they barely worked apart — 6 films in 5 years. For 5 years, a Sundar–Karthik film arrived almost every year. From Ullathai Allitha (1996) to Azhagana Naatkal (2001).
The ran closed with Azhagana Naatkal in 2001. It started with Ullathai Allitha (1996).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga; the 2000s to Ullam Kollai Poguthae. Sundar C. directed every film; Karthik acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Sundar C. was a full-time comedian before he turned hero. Karthik saw his comic timing in small roles and insisted he play the lead in Ullathai Allitha (1996). That film made Sundar C. a bankable star overnight.
- On the sets of Mettukudi (1996), Karthik would rewrite his own lines to match Sundar C.'s natural comic rhythm. Sundar C. once said Karthik was the only co-star who could make him break character and laugh mid-scene.
- Their 1999 hit Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga directly inspired the 2002 film Unnai Ninaithu — director Vikraman admitted in an interview that he wanted to recreate the same breezy romance formula that Sundar C. and Karthik had perfected.
- During the shoot of Kannan Varuvaan (2000), Sundar C. and Karthik shared a room in a small lodge in Kumbakonam for 45 days. They cooked their own meals because neither could stand the hotel food. They haven't worked together since 2001, but they still call each other on birthdays.
- Karthik once told a magazine: 'Sundar C. doesn't act — he reacts. That's why our scenes together feel like a real conversation. I just had to throw him a line and watch him run with it.'
- In Azhagana Naatkal (2001), Sundar C. improvised an entire 3-minute monologue about a missing chappal. Karthik, playing straight man, didn't interrupt — he just stood there reacting with his eyes. That scene became the most talked-about bit in the film.
6 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.3/10.
The 2000s accounted for 3 films, averaging 3.8/10.
- Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga
- Ullathai Allitha
- Ullam Kollai Poguthae
- Azhagana Naatkal
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
6 films across 5 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, Sundar C. had 2 films behind them; Karthik had 82. After Azhagana Naatkal, Sundar C. kept going for 53 more films; Karthik stepped back.
Before Ullathai Allitha, Sundar C. had directed 2 films, including Murai Maman (1995) and Murai Mappillai (1995).
After Azhagana Naatkal, Sundar C. went on to direct 53 more films, including Anbe Sivam (2003) and Naan Sirithal (2020).
Before Ullathai Allitha, Karthik had starred in 82 films, including Nallavanuku Nallavan (1984) and Alaigal Oivathillai (1981).
After Azhagana Naatkal, Karthik went on to appear in 18 more films, including Raavanan (2010) and Anegan (2015).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Sundar C. & Karthik's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Goundamani is the through-line — cast on 5 of their 6 films. Sirpy scored 3 of them. Goundamani appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead.
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