Senthil & Sivaji Ganesan Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Senthil and Sivaji Ganesan appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1986 and 1998. Their highest-rated collaboration was Mannukkul Vairam (1986 — 6.8/10). Films span Saadhanai (1986) through En Aasai Rasave (1998).
The Senthil & Sivaji Ganesan partnership
After 11 years apart, they came back together for En Aasai Rasave (1998). They didn't share a set between 1987 and 1998. The work is uneven: Mannukkul Vairam (6.8) at one end, Raja Mariathai (1.0) at the other.
From Saadhanai (1986) to En Aasai Rasave (1998). It started with Saadhanai (1986).
The shape of the work
The 1980s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Mannukkul Vairam; the 1990s to En Aasai Rasave. Senthil acted in every film; Sivaji Ganesan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Sivaji Ganesan personally requested Senthil for Saadhanai (1986) after seeing him in a small comedy role. The director was hesitant — Senthil was still a newcomer — but Sivaji insisted, saying the film needed a fresh face for comic relief.
- In Mannukkul Vairam (1986), Sivaji deliberately slowed his dialogue delivery in scenes with Senthil so the comedian's punchlines would land harder. Senthil later said that Sivaji would pause mid-sentence and give him a tiny nod — that was the cue to jump in.
- On the sets of Raja Mariathai (1987), Sivaji noticed Senthil was nervous about a slapstick sequence. He pulled him aside and said, 'Don't worry about the rating. Just make me laugh.' That film tanked hard (1/10), but Senthil has called it the set where he stopped being afraid of Sivaji.
- En Aasai Rasave (1998) was the last time they worked together. Sivaji's health was already declining, and Senthil later admitted in an interview that he deliberately kept his comedy low-key in that film — because he didn't want to overshadow the legend in what might be his final stretch.
- Senthil once told a Tamil magazine: 'Sivaji sir never treated me like a side actor. He would ask my opinion on his scenes. That's why I gave my best in every film with him — even Raja Mariathai.'
4 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.8/10.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.1/10.
- Mannukkul Vairam
- Saadhanai
- En Aasai Rasave
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 12 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, Senthil had 24 films behind them; Sivaji Ganesan had 205. After En Aasai Rasave, Senthil kept going for 44 more films; Sivaji Ganesan stepped back.
Before Saadhanai, Senthil had starred in 24 films, including Nalla Naal (1984) and Pasi (1979).
After En Aasai Rasave, Senthil went on to appear in 44 more films, including Kanne Kalaimaane (2019) and Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001).
Before Saadhanai, Sivaji Ganesan had starred in 205 films, including Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) and Karnan (1964).
After En Aasai Rasave, Sivaji Ganesan went on to appear in 2 more films, including Mannavaru Chinnavaru (1999) and Pooparika Varugirom (1999).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Senthil & Sivaji Ganesan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Murali is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
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