Rajendran & Anandaraj Movies Together List — 13 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-17 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajendran and Anandaraj appeared together in 13 Tamil films between 1995 and 2025. Their highest-rated collaboration was Chennai City Gangsters (2025 — 10.0/10). Films span Puthiya Aatchi (1995) through Chennai City Gangsters (2025).
The Rajendran & Anandaraj partnership
After 20 years apart, they came back together for Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015). They didn't share a set between 1995 and 2015. They saved their best for last — Chennai City Gangsters (10.0/10) came 30 years in.
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Puthiya Aatchi (1995) to Chennai City Gangsters (2025).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Puthiya Aatchi; the 2020s to Chennai City Gangsters. Rajendran acted in every film; Anandaraj acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Puthiya Aatchi (1995), almost didn't happen. Rajendran was a last-minute replacement after the original actor walked out. Anandaraj vouched for him to the director.
- In Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015), Anandaraj played the menacing villain while Rajendran played his comic sidekick. Rajendran improvised most of his lines on set, and Anandaraj would deliberately pause to let him land the punchline — a rhythm they kept for all future films.
- Their hit Kalavani Mappillai (2018) directly launched the trend of 'comedy villain duos' in Tamil cinema. At least three other films in the next two years copied their bickering-gangster dynamic.
- On every shoot, Rajendran and Anandaraj shared a single cup of tea before the first take — a ritual they started during the grueling outdoor schedule of Oodi Oodi Uzhaikanum (2017). They never missed it, even on days they weren't shooting together.
- Anandaraj once said in an interview: 'Rajendran is the only actor who can make me laugh so hard I forget my lines. We've ruined at least 20 takes that way.'
13 films across 3 decades
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
The 2010s accounted for 7 films, averaging 5.7/10.
The 2020s brought 5 films together, anchored by Chennai City Gangsters (10.0/10).
- Puthiya Aatchi0
- Naanum Rowdydhaan
- Bruce Lee
- Chennai City Gangsters
- Rayar Parambarai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
13 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
72% of Rajendran's screen credits are with Anandaraj.
Puthiya Aatchi was Rajendran's acting debut.
After Chennai City Gangsters, Rajendran went on to appear in 5 more films, including Lucky the Superstar (2026) and Sathi Leelavathi (2026).
Before Puthiya Aatchi, Anandaraj had starred in 25 films, including Pattukku Naan Adimai (1990) and Thaimel Aanai (1988).
After Chennai City Gangsters, Anandaraj went on to appear in 2 more films, including Vaa Vaathiyaar (2026) and Love Insurance Kompany (2026).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajendran & Anandaraj's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Mansoor Ali Khan appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead. They worked with the same 7 people again and again — a small repertory company.
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