Rajendran & Rahul Thatha Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Rajendran and Rahul Thatha appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 2015 and 2021. Their highest-rated collaboration was Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015 — 6.7/10). Films span Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015) through Pei Mama (2021).
The Rajendran & Rahul Thatha partnership
From Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015) to Pei Mama (2021). It started with Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015).
The shape of the work
The 2010s belonged to Naanum Rowdydhaan; the 2020s to Pei Mama. Rajendran acted in every film; Rahul Thatha acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Rahul Thatha was a newcomer when Vignesh Shivan cast him opposite Rajendran in Naanum Rowdydhaan (2015). Rajendran, already a veteran, personally asked the director to give Rahul more screen time — he saw something in the kid.
- In Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma (2019), Rajendran played the straight man to Rahul Thatha's hyperactive comic energy. Rajendran deliberately slowed his delivery in every scene to let Rahul's punchlines land harder — a rhythm they perfected over three films.
- Their hit Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma (2019) directly launched the 'buddy comedy with a twist' trend in small-budget Tamil cinema. At least three low-budget films in 2020-21 tried to copy their odd-couple dynamic — none succeeded.
- On the sets of Pei Mama (2021), Rajendran and Rahul Thatha shared a single vanity van — not because of budget, but because Rajendran insisted. He said it kept Rahul from getting nervous before horror-comedy takes.
- Rahul Thatha once said in an interview: 'Rajendran sir doesn't act with you — he acts for you. He makes sure you look good even if his scene gets cut.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.5/10.
The 2020s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.3/10.
- Naanum Rowdydhaan
- Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma
- Pei Mama
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 6 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Pei Mama, Rajendran kept going for 44 more films; Rahul Thatha stepped back.
Before Naanum Rowdydhaan, Rajendran had starred in 15 films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Naan Kadavul (2009).
After Pei Mama, Rajendran went on to appear in 44 more films, including Chennai City Gangsters (2025) and Vimanam (2023).
Before Naanum Rowdydhaan, Rahul Thatha had starred in 3 films, including Kaththi (2014) and Uzhaikkum Karangal (1976).
After Pei Mama, Rahul Thatha went on to appear in 6 more films, including Kudimahaan (2023) and Theerkadarishi (2023).



Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Rajendran & Rahul Thatha's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Mansoor Ali Khan is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
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