Suresh & Thengai Srinivasan Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Suresh and Thengai Srinivasan appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1982 and 1984. Their highest-rated collaboration was Apoorva Sahodarigal (1983 — 7.5/10). Films span Manjal Nila (1982) through Alaya Deepam (1984).
The Suresh & Thengai Srinivasan partnership
Between 1982 and 1984, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 2 years. From Manjal Nila (1982) to Alaya Deepam (1984). Apoorva Sahodarigal is the one most viewers reach for.
The unfolded closed with Alaya Deepam in 1984. It started with Manjal Nila (1982).
The shape of the work
Suresh acted in every film; Thengai Srinivasan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Suresh was a newcomer when director C. V. Rajendran paired him with Thengai Srinivasan in Manjal Nila (1982). Thengai, already a veteran comedian, personally asked the director to cast Suresh after seeing his screen test — he told the team, 'This boy has the timing to keep up with me.'
- In Apoorva Sahodarigal (1983), Thengai Srinivasan deliberately slowed his comic delivery to match Suresh's nervous energy. Suresh later said Thengai would pause mid-dialogue and wait for him to catch up — turning what could have been awkward gaps into the film's funniest beats.
- Their double-act in Vellai Roja (1983) directly inspired the comedy track in the 1990 hit 'Mouna Ragam' — director Mani Ratnam reportedly asked his writers to study the rhythm of their back-and-forth in that film.
- On the sets of Alaya Deepam (1984), Thengai Srinivasan would make Suresh rehearse scenes in the car on the way to the location. Suresh later revealed that Thengai never let him eat lunch alone — they always shared a banana leaf meal together, even when the unit had separate tables.
- Suresh once said in a 2015 interview: 'Thengai Srinivasan taught me that comedy is not about making people laugh — it's about making them wait for the laugh. He made me a better actor in just four films.'
4 films across 1 decade
- Apoorva Sahodarigal
- Manjal Nila0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 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
When they first worked together, Suresh had 2 films behind them; Thengai Srinivasan had 104. After Alaya Deepam, Suresh kept going for 68 more films; Thengai Srinivasan stepped back.
Before Manjal Nila, Suresh had starred in 2 films, including Panneer Pushpangal (1981) and Nandu (1981).
After Alaya Deepam, Suresh went on to appear in 68 more films, including Saivam (2014) and Iniya Uravu Poothathu (1987).
Before Manjal Nila, Thengai Srinivasan had starred in 104 films, including Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979) and Priya (1978).
After Alaya Deepam, Thengai Srinivasan went on to appear in 18 more films, including Padikkaatha Pannaiyar (1985) and Thendrale Ennai Thodu (1985).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Suresh & Thengai Srinivasan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja is the through-line — music on 3 of their 4 films. Ilayaraja scored 3 of them.
2
2
3