T. Rajendar & Nalini Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-02 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
T. Rajendar and Nalini appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1983 and 2013. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002 — 4.2/10). Films span Thangaikore Geetham (1983) through Arya Surya (2013).
The T. Rajendar & Nalini partnership
After 19 years apart, they came back together for Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002). They didn't share a set between 1983 and 2002. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Thangaikore Geetham (1983) to Arya Surya (2013). It started with Thangaikore Geetham (1983).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Thangaikore Geetham; the 2010s to Arya Surya. Never on the same side of the camera — T. Rajendar director, Nalini actor, across all 4 films. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- T. Rajendar cast Nalini in 'Thangaikore Geetham' (1983) after seeing her in a small role in another film. He was so sure she was right that he rewrote the female lead's character to match her energy.
- In 'Uyirullavarai Usha' (1983), Rajendar wrote the dialogues in real-time on set. Nalini had to memorize and deliver them within minutes. She later said his rapid-fire writing pushed her to become a sharper actress.
- After 'Uyirullavarai Usha' released, Rajendar and Nalini didn't speak for nearly 25 years. They only reunited for 'Arya Surya' (2013) because their children — Silambarasan and Nalini's daughter — were friends and pushed them to work together again.
- Nalini once told a magazine: 'Rajendar sir doesn't direct actors — he hypnotizes them. On the set of Thangaikore Geetham, I didn't feel like I was acting. I felt like I was living inside his head.'
- The song 'Oru Naal Oru Kanavu' from 'Uyirullavarai Usha' (1983) became a template for Rajendar's later films — he reused its romantic tension structure in at least four of his own directorial projects over the next decade.
- Rajendar insisted Nalini do her own stunts in 'Thangaikore Geetham' (1983) — including a scene where she had to jump into a river. She was terrified of water. He jumped in first to show her it was safe, then shot the scene in one take.
4 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 2 films.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.2/10.
The 2010s accounted for 1 film.
- Thangaikore Geetham0
- Uyirullavarai Usha0
- Kadhal Azhivathillai
- Arya Surya0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 30 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
33% of Nalini's screen credits are with T. Rajendar.
Before Thangaikore Geetham, T. Rajendar had directed 10 films, including Kilinjalgal (1981) and Oru Thalai Ragam (1980).
After Arya Surya, T. Rajendar went on to direct 3 more films, including Goli Soda (2014) and Kavan (2017).
Before Thangaikore Geetham, Nalini had starred in 4 films, including Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) and Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram (1977).
After Arya Surya, Nalini went on to appear in 4 more films, including Saahasam (2016) and Namma Gramam (2014).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of T. Rajendar & Nalini's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Radha Ravi is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
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