Actor-Director Pairs

A good director can bring out the best in any actor and a good actor delivers his best irrespective of the director. But it is undeniable that some actors and directors share a chemistry that associates them closest with each other and drives both of them to give their best. Rediff has taken a look at some popular director-actor pairs in Hollywood. Here are a few pairs from Tamil cinema over the years.

Sivaji – Bhimsingh
Its been a while since I’ve seen a movie from this combination but I know enough to know that the pair created quite a few classics and blockbusters(Paasamalar, Paavamannippu, Paarthaal Pasi Theerum, etc.) that have had an enduring effect. It is a well-known fact that all their movies started with ‘Pa’ and my parents, who were avid fans of this pair, have said that Sivaji’s new ‘look’ in each film was as eagerly looked forward to as the film itself.

Nagesh - KB
While KB introduced and then groomed several stars, his association with Nagesh has given us some real gems. While he fully exploited Nagesh as a comedian in movies like Bhama Vijayam, he brought to the fore the actor in him in movies like Neerkumizhi and Edhirneechal.

Trivia question: Has KB used Nagesh in any of his later movies? I don't remember seeing Nagesh in later movies like Avargal and Moondru Mudichu or newer movies like Sindhu Bhairavi and Punnagai Mannan. Did the pair have a falling-out?

Rajni – S.P.Muthuraman
This pair pretty much redefined the term ‘masala film’ in Tamil cinema. They churned out blocbuster after blockbuster during the 80s and films like Murattu Kaalai and Nallavanukku Nallavan played a key part in Rajni’s meteoric rise during that time. They shared good chemistry and have even tried offbeat, non-formulaic films like Aarilirundhu Arubadhu Varai.

Satyaraj - Manivannan
Manivannan has been behind Satyaraj’s gradual rise from supporting actor to villain to anti-hero to hero in Tamil cinema. His Nooraavadhu Naal gave us the unforgettable image of Satyaraj with tonsured head and round glasses while 24 Mani Neram made Satyaraj a bonafide villain with some of his most delicious one-liners to date. Their Amaidhippadai, made after Satyaraj made the transition to hero, reminded us that no one could play the bad guy quite as well as Satyaraj.

Sarathkumar-K.S.Ravikumar
These two have shared a truly symbiotic relationship. Sarath's flagging career has been restored a few times by timely hits like Naattaamai and Natpukkaaga while those hits helped KSR truly become a sought-after, A-list director who was the first choice of even Rajni and Kamal.

Madhavan - Manirathnam
After Karthik and Arvind Swamy, Manirathnam gave Tamil girls another reason to cheer, with Madhavan. He introduced him as a typical teenybopper hero in Alaipaayudhe but has since then showcased him more as an actor than heartthrob. To Maddy’s credit, he has not shied away from playing either a dad of 3 kids(Kannathil Muthamittaal) or a bad guy(Aaydha Ezhuthu) when Mani has asked him to.