T. Rajendar & Rajeev Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
T. Rajendar and Rajeev appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1981 and 1986. Films span Rail Payanangalil (1981) through Pookalai Parikatheergal (1986).
The T. Rajendar & Rajeev partnership
Between 1981 and 1986, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 5 years. From Rail Payanangalil (1981) to Pookalai Parikatheergal (1986). The unfolded closed with Pookalai Parikatheergal in 1986.
It started with Rail Payanangalil (1981).
The shape of the work
Never on the same side of the camera — T. Rajendar director, Rajeev actor, across all 4 films. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- T. Rajendar didn't just direct Rajeev in 'Rail Payanangalil' (1981) — he also wrote the script, composed the music, and acted alongside him. Rajeev later said Rajendar literally handed him the role on set, no audition, just a nod.
- In 'Nenjil Oru Ragam' (1982), Rajendar made Rajeev sing a line in the middle of a fight scene. Rajeev hated it, but the off-key moment became the film's most talked-about bit. Rajendar's chaos pushed Rajeev into raw, unpolished performances.
- Their third film 'Ragam Thedum Pallavi' (1982) directly inspired a young director named Balu Mahendra to cast Rajeev in 'Moodupani' (1983). Mahendra said he saw a vulnerability in Rajeev's eyes that only Rajendar's direction had unlocked.
- Rajendar and Rajeev never spoke after 1982. No fight, no fallout — Rajendar just moved on to other actors, and Rajeev never asked why. A mutual friend said Rajeev once shrugged: 'He gave me three films. That's more than most directors give anyone.'
- Rajeev told a magazine in 1985: 'Rajendar doesn't direct you. He throws you into a scene and watches you drown. If you swim, it's a hit. If you sink, it's still a hit because people remember the drowning.'
4 films across 1 decade
- Rail Payanangalil0
- Nenjil Oru Ragam0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 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
After Pookalai Parikatheergal, T. Rajendar kept going for 44 more films; Rajeev stepped back.
Before Rail Payanangalil, T. Rajendar had directed 3 films, including Oru Thalai Ragam (1980) and Vasantha Azhaippugal (1980).
After Pookalai Parikatheergal, T. Rajendar went on to direct 44 more films, including Goli Soda (2014) and Kavan (2017).
Rail Payanangalil was Rajeev's acting debut.
After Pookalai Parikatheergal, Rajeev went on to appear in 21 more films, including Salaam Venky (2022) and Kakkai Siraginilae (2000).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of T. Rajendar & Rajeev's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
T. K. Ramamoorthy is the through-line — music on 2 of their 4 films.
