Vijay Sethupathi & S. J. Surya Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vijay Sethupathi and S. J. Surya appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 2006 and 2026. Their highest-rated collaboration was Iraivi (2016 — 7.6/10). Films span Dishyum (2006) through Jailer 2 (2026).
The Vijay Sethupathi & S. J. Surya partnership
After 10 years apart, they came back together for Iraivi (2016). They didn't share a set between 2006 and 2016. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Dishyum (2006) to Jailer 2 (2026). Their most recent film, Jailer 2, came out in 2026 — the partnership is still active.
The shape of the work
The 2000s belonged to Dishyum; the 2020s to Jailer 2. Vijay Sethupathi acted in every film; S. J. Surya acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- For Dishyum (2006), director S. J. Surya cast Vijay Sethupathi in a small role after seeing him struggle as a background extra. Sethupathi later said Surya was the first person to give him a speaking part in a film.
- In Iraivi (2016), S. J. Surya played a volatile, ego-driven filmmaker while Vijay Sethupathi played his calm, morally conflicted friend. Sethupathi deliberately underplayed every scene opposite Surya's outbursts — making Surya's rage feel louder and more uncomfortable.
- Iraivi (2016) directly launched the career of director Karthik Subbaraj's regular composer Santhosh Narayanan as a mainstream force — but the film's emotional core was built entirely on the push-pull between Surya and Sethupathi's characters. Without their tension, the soundtrack wouldn't have landed the way it did.
- After Dishyum, S. J. Surya quietly recommended Vijay Sethupathi for roles in two other directors' projects — including a key supporting part in Sundarapandian (2012) that helped Sethupathi break out of bit roles.
- Vijay Sethupathi once said about S. J. Surya: 'He gave me my first dialogue on screen. I was so nervous I stammered — and he kept the take because he said it looked real.'
3 films across 3 decades
The 2000s brought 1 film together, anchored by Dishyum (7.3/10).
The 2010s brought 1 film together, anchored by Iraivi (7.6/10).
The 2020s accounted for 1 film.
- Dishyum
- Iraivi
- Jailer 2
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 20 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
60% of Vijay Sethupathi's screen credits are with S. J. Surya.
Before Dishyum, Vijay Sethupathi had starred in 2 films, including M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi (2004) and Gokulathil Seethai (1996).
Before Dishyum, S. J. Surya had starred in 11 films, including Naani (2004) and New (2004).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vijay Sethupathi & S. J. Surya's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Vijay Sethupathi & S. J. Surya's films together
