Bharathiraja & Napoleon Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Bharathiraja and Napoleon appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1991 and 1993. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993 — 8.2/10). Films span Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991) through Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993).
The Bharathiraja & Napoleon partnership
From Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991) to Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993). Nadodi Thendral (1992, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Kizhakku Cheemayile is the one most viewers reach for.
The played out closed with Kizhakku Cheemayile in 1993. It started with Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991).
The shape of the work
Bharathiraja directed every film; Napoleon acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Bharathiraja didn't discover Napoleon. But he gave him his first real break. Before 'Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu' (1991), Napoleon was a stage actor and a bit player. Bharathiraja cast him as the male lead opposite Khushbu, and that film made Napoleon a star in Tamil cinema.
- Bharathiraja wrote Napoleon's dialogue in a raw, rustic dialect that no other director dared to give him. In 'Kizhakku Cheemayile' (1993), Napoleon's character speaks in a thick village slang. That performance is still considered his career-best. The director pushed him to drop all his stage polish and talk like a real farmer.
- The success of 'Kizhakku Cheemayile' (1993) directly led to a wave of rural-themed Tamil films in the mid-90s. It proved that a hardcore village drama with no urban stars could be a blockbuster. Directors like Cheran and Bala have cited this film as an influence on their own work.
- Bharathiraja and Napoleon stayed close even after their three-film run ended. Napoleon has said in interviews that Bharathiraja is like an elder brother to him. They still meet for family functions. The actor once called the director 'the man who taught me how to act without acting.'
- Napoleon once said: 'Bharathiraja sir didn't just direct me. He stripped away all my filmi mannerisms and made me a real actor. After working with him, I could face any director.'
3 films across 1 decade
- Kizhakku Cheemayile
- Nadodi Thendral
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 2 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Kizhakku Cheemayile, Napoleon kept going for 48 more films; Bharathiraja stepped back.
Before Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu, Bharathiraja had directed 26 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Padhinaru Vayadhiniley (1977).
After Kizhakku Cheemayile, Bharathiraja went on to direct 31 more films, including Seethakathi (2018) and Thiruchitrambalam (2022).
Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu was Napoleon's acting debut.
After Kizhakku Cheemayile, Napoleon went on to appear in 48 more films, including Virumaandi (2004) and Sivan (1999).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Bharathiraja & Napoleon's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
B. Kannan is the through-line — cinematography on 3 of their 3 films.
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