Goundamani and Senthil

Goundamani and Senthil
Years active	1983–2003
Genres	Slapstick, comedy
Notable works and roles	Vaidehi Kathirunthal , Karakattakkaran , Gentleman
Former members	Goundamani Senthil

Goundamani and Senthil were an Indian comedic duo who were popular in Tamil cinema in the 1980s and 1990s. The duo was active for twenty years. After the mid-2000s, they started acting in films separately and less frequently with Goundamani notably becoming a hero in the mid-2010s while Senthil continued to act in supporting roles.

Career

Starting in the 1980s, Goundamani and Senthil emerged as a notable comedic duo and were compared with Laurel and Hardy. Their jokes involved a senior-junior chemistry with Goundamani taking on the former roles and Senthil taking the latter role. Much of their comedy was "loud" and ended with Senthil being insulted for his dimwitted characters. Many films ran at the box office simply due to this duo's comedic tracks, making them a staple of 1980s and 1990s Tamil films. ^{[1] [2]}

Notable comedic sequences

• In Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), a woman with a basket comes to the All-in-All Azhagu Raja roadside shop (owned by Goundamani) asking for a petromax light. After hearing this, Senthil runs off. Goundamani in response asks' "Petromax lightey venumaa?" (Do you want only the petromax light?) and reprimands the woman saying that he cannot sell the light to people with baskets. ^{[3] [4]}
• In Karakattakkaran (1989), Senthil goes to buy two bananas for one rupee. ^[5] When he returns to Goundamani with one of the two bananas after eating the other one, Goundamani asks him where the other banana is, and Senthil replies to him by saying that the other banana is this one. ^[6] This scene is dubbed as the vazhapazham (transl. banana) scene. ^[7] In the same film, there is another comedy scene involving the troupe members pushing the Chevrolet Impala, where Goundamani's character says that this is the car owned by cinema actress Soppana Sundari. ^[8] Curious Senthil asks a question in Goundamani's ear, which triggers him to slap Senthil repeatedly, asking, "Adhu yenda enna paathu andha kelvi keta?" (Why did you ask me that question?) ^[9] Furious with Senthil for asking him and not the other members, Goundamani reveals the question when Ramarajan asks why Goundamani is hitting Senthil repeatedly; the question Senthil asked Goundamani was, "Car-ah namma vachirukkurom, indha car-ah vachirundha Soppana Sundari-ya ippa yaaru vachirukkaanga?" (We have the car that once belonged to Soppana Sundari. Now, who keeps Soppana Sundari?) ^[10]
• In Chinna Gounder (1992), Senthil keeps questioning Goundamani like a village vingnani (transl. scientist) on random things, making him angry and prompting him to kick Senthil away. One such scene involves Senthil asking why river water tastes good while the same water tastes salty when it reaches the sea. He also asks about the terminology for fruits, such as why tender mango is called maangaai and ripe mango is called maambazham, while tender coconut is called ilani (இளநீ) and coconut is called thengaai. Goundamani responds sarcastically saying "Nee sonna vaakkiyatha, Thanjavur kovil kalvettu-la vetti vachittu, pakkathula nee utkanthukka, unakku pinnaala vara santhathigal atha paathu padichu, thelivaa nadanthukkuvaanga" (You should engrave the words you spoke on the Tanjore temple walls and sit beside it, so the future generations coming after you will read it and live wisely). In another scene, Senthil claims to have found the reason for the term "Pul thadukki bayilvan" while holding a grass. He breaks its blade and says it's half, then breaks it again and says it's a quarter. Goundamani responds by taking another grass, breaking it, and saying it's arai (½) while slapping Senthil, then breaks it further and says it's kaal (¼) before kicking him, prompting Senthil to run away. In a different scene, Senthil asks about hair terminology, wondering why facial hair can't be called muga mudi like head hair is called thalai mudi. Later, when both of them see Suganya and Manorama arguing, Senthil becomes frightened by Manorama's teeth when she smiles. Goundamani teases Manorama, saying "Aattha, nee sirikkaatha aattha, kuzhanthai payappududhu!" (Maa! Please don't smile, kid is frightened!) ^{[11] [9]}
• In Gentleman (1993), Senthil argues with Goundamani and argues that Goundamani shouldn't look down at him because he passed 7th standard and Goundamani failed to get an SSLC. Senthil argues that passing is better than failing although Goundamani is indeed smarter than him. Senthil says, "Less tension, more work. More work, less tension!" ^{[12] [13]}
• In Jaihind (1994), Goundamani plays Head Constable Kottaisamy, who gets into trouble due to Senthil's character. Senthil appears in Goundamani's dreams, causing him to unwittingly harm himself or others. ^[14]

Selected filmography

• Note: Only films that feature Goundamani and Senthil comedy tracks are listed. Any film that features both of them in separate scenes are omitted.

Year	Title	Goundamani Role	Senthil Role	Notes and Ref.
1983	Malaiyoor Mambattiyan	'Silk' Singaram	Bullet
	Aanandha Kummi	Villager	Karuvaaya
1984	Naan Paadum Paadal	Surya Kumar	Laundryman
	Neram Nalla Neram	Villager	Roadside restaurant owner
	Vaidehi Kathirunthal	All-in-All Azhagu Raja	Komutti Thalaiya
1985	Rajathi Rojakili	Soora Thevar	Patta Sombu
	Mannukketha Ponnu	Vishamurukki Veluchamy	Ammavasai
	Kanni Rasi	Gopikrishna	Lakshmipathi's friend
	Udaya Geetham	Balaji	Senthil
	Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri	Kuppusamy	Naakuthuruthi
	Anbin Mugavari	Villagers
	Idaya Kovil	Logidhasan Bhagavathar	Logidhasan Bhagavathar's assistant
	Karaiyai Thodadha Alaigal	Barbers
	Marudhani	School Teacher	Dingu
	Thendral Thodatha Malar
	Geethanjali	Horse owner
1986	Karimedu Karuvayan	Villagers
	December Pookal	Mestri Mayilsamy	Senthil Kumaran
	Rasigan Oru Rasigai
	Dharma Pathini	"Podhuppani" Ponnusaami	Ponnusaami's sidekick
	Maragatha Veenai	School headmaster	School clerk
	Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum
	Piranthaen Valarnthaen	Raja
	Mannukkul Vairam	Esakki	Sembattai
	Paadum Paravaigal			A comedy track was reshot for this Tamil dubbed version of Anveshana (1985).
1987	Ninaive Oru Sangeetham	Chinnukaruppandevar	Gundulingam
	Idhu Oru Thodar Kathai
1989	Anbu Kattalai
	Karakattakkaran	'Thavil Vidhwan' Thangavelu	Naadhas	[15]
	Manasukketha Maharasa
	Enga Ooru Mappillai	Villagers
	Ninaivu Chinnam	Kundalakesi
	Pen Puthi Mun Puthi
	Raaja Raajathan
	Thangamana Raasa	Subaiya (Subramani)	Alagusundaram
	Mundhanai Sabatham
1990	Paattali Magan	Dharmadi Dharmalingam
	Paattukku Naan Adimai
	Thangathin Thangam
	Neengalum Herothan	Pavadaikanth
	Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga	'Suthi' Josiyar
	Periya Idathu Pillai
	Madurai Veeran Enga Saami	'Balloon' Kandasamy	Balusamy
	Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu	Captain Tamil Arasu	Tamil Arasu's assistant
	Patanathil Petti
	Puthu Paatu	Palanisamy	Muthu
	Namma Ooru Poovatha	'Everything' Ekambaram	Ekabaram's sidekick
1991	Naadu Adhai Naadu
	Naan Pudicha Mappillai	Thandavarayan	Konaiyan
	En Rasavin Manasile	Pannaiyar
	Adhikari
	Marikozhundhu	Building constructor	Building constructor's assistant
	Cheran Pandiyan	Mechanic Manikkam	Thangam
	Vaidehi Kalyanam	Pachamuthu	Thangamuthu
	Oorellam Un Paattu
	Thambi Oorukku Pudhusu
	Thalattu Ketkuthamma	Rasaiya's uncle	Pulipandi
	Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu
	Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum	Dharmalingam	Villager
1992	Chinna Gounder	Vellai	Ammavasai
	Pandithurai	Mayilsamy	Chola
	Thilagam	Singamuthu
	Chinna Thayee	Villagers
	Periya Gounder Ponnu	Palanisamy
	Sivantha Malar	Maaran
	Thanga Manasukkaran	Guitarist	Sundal
	Therku Theru Machan	Villagers
	Chinnavar
	Chinna Pasanga Naanga	'Kuwait' Govind	Villager
	Oor Mariyadhai	'Miner' Mahadevan
	Idhuthanda Sattam	Karuppan
	Thaali Kattiya Raasa	Tea stall owner	Tea stall employee
	Magudam	Thanni Samy	Manasthan	[16]
	Pattathu Raani	Jalagandeswaran	Rayappan
	David Uncle	Kavundar	Panniraj
	Onna Irukka Kathukanum	Sudalai	Pichumani (Beggar Bell)
	Villu Pattukaran	Appakannu	Thangappan
	Natchathira Nayagan	'Detective' Thiruvasagam	Thiruvasagam's assistant
1993	Koyil Kaalai	Ramasamy	Villager
	Rakkayi Koyil	Singaram	Barber
	Manikuyil		Chinna Gounder
	Ejamaan	Vellaiyangiri	Azhagiri
	Maharasan	Govindan	Sangu Pillai
	Amma Ponnu		Nallathambi
	Uthama Raasa	Ondippulithevar	Vellayathevan
	Ponnumani	Naachi	Villager
	Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda	Ravi's Father	Mohana's husband
	Band Master	Mani	Albert
	Dharma Seelan	Aarusamy	Dindigul Sahayam
	Gentleman	Mani	Babloo
	Thalattu	Goundar	Goundar's brother-in-law
	Dhuruva Natchathiram
	Chinna Jameen	Thalaiyari Mama	Vellasamy
	Kattabomman	'Supervisor' Subramani	Pazhani
	Rojavai Killathe	David	T.V.Thandavarayan
1994	Sethupathi IPS	Muthaiya	Alagappan
	Rajakumaran	Marusamy	Postman
	Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana	'Anjatha Singam' Marugupandi	Rahim
	Seeman	Dawali
	Jai Hind	Kottaisamy	Kottaisamy's dream and DIG
	Rasigan	Ekambaram	Kapooram
	Mettupatti Mirasu	Gounder	Villager
	Sathyavan	Kiruba	Mani
	Thai Maaman	Rasappan's uncle	Villager
	Jallikattu Kaalai	Aarusamy	Punnakku
	Nattamai	Kaali Muthu and Mangalam	Thanga Muthu
	Periya Marudhu	Sudalai	Azhaguraman
	Nila		Dinku
	Thaai Manasu	Chokkalingam	Sakkarai
1995	Naan Petha Magane	K. D. Varadarajan
	Veluchami	Kathavarayan	Kannan
	Muthu Kaalai	Pattayakarar
	Muthukulikka Vaariyala	Kondakara Annachi	Mandaikaarar
	Raja Enga Raja	Raja
	Coolie	Periyasamy/Velusamy/Madasamy	Ponnusamy/Munusamy/Munusamy's son
	Karnaa	Khalnayak	Driver
	Lucky Man	Yamadharmarajan	Chitragupta
	Chinna Vathiyar	Astrologer	Astrologer's friend
	Murai Maman	Perusu	Chinna Thambi
	Thamizhachi	Villangam	Villager
	Marumagan	Govindsamy
	Thedi Vandha Raasa	Albert Kothandam	Selvam
	Nadodi Mannan	Ponnusamy
	Periya Kudumbam	Post Master	Postman Dhandapani
	Mr. Madras	Govindsamy	Ponnusamy
	Ragasiya Police	Ponnurangam	Harichandran
	Maa Manithan	Mr. Dinar / Vettiyan
	Murai Mappillai	Ramesh	Suresh
Mannai Thottu Kumbidanum	Desingu	Tyre (Rajadhi Raja Raja Maarthanda Raja Gambeera Raja Kulothunga Kathavaraya Krishna Kamaraj)
1996	Coimbatore Mappillai	Gopal	White
	Parambarai	Karuppusamy	Kanayiram
	Ullathai Allitha	'Great' Vasu	Viswanathan's manager
	Maha Prabhu	Sethu	Vicky
	Nattupura Pattu	Kattamuthu	Chinna Karuppan
	Indian	Subbaiah	Panneerselvam	Senthil reprises his role in Sathyam (2008).
	Pudhu Nilavu	Taxi Driver
	Katta Panchayathu	Toddy man	Chinna Thambi
	Avathara Purushan	'Pickpocket' Periyasamy
	Poovarasan	Govind	Samuthiram
	Parivattam
	Senathipathi	Kathavarayan	Veera Bahu
	Gnanapazham	Aarthi's brother	Azhagu
1997	Nesam	Narasimman	Thanikachalam
	Pudhayal
	Vallal	Sithappu	Azhagan
	Aahaa Enna Porutham	Villager	Jack-an-Jill
	Janakiraman	Villagers
	Rettai Jadai Vayasu	Vijay's uncle	Pangali
1998	Aval Varuvala	Dhandapani	Michael Jackson
	En Uyir Nee Thaane	'Bullet' Jackie	Nicolas
	Bhagavath Singh
1999	Suriya Paarvai	Raj Bharath / Nattamai	Pichai Perumal / Sundaram
	Ethirum Puthirum	Auto Driver	Eshwar
	Azhagarsamy	Villagers
2000	Veeranadai	Ulagavaayan	Villager
	Kannan Varuvaan	Thannirmalai/Athiyapatham/Ezhumalai	Sooravali
	Kannaal Pesavaa	Clinton	Nelson Mandela
2001	Vedham	Govindsamy
	Samuthiram	Ramanathan	M. Dharmaraj
	Azhagana Naatkal	Ranjith	Mahali
2002	Samasthanam	Selvam	Mani
2003	Chokka Thangam	Muthu's uncle	Servant
	Yes Madam	Ganesh Kumar	Arvind Swamy

Failed comeback

In 2019, a sequel to Karakattakkaran (1989) entered pre-production. However, notably Goundamani was not cast despite Senthil being cast. The film, however, did not reach fruition due to Gangai Amaran's other commitments. ^[17]

Legacy

A similar comedic duo arose in Telugu cinema in the 1990s consisting of Kota Srinivasa Rao and Babu Mohan starting from the film Mamagaru (1991), which was a remake of Naan Pudicha Mappillai (1991). ^{[18] [19] [20]} Kota Srinivasa Rao and Babu Mohan also dubbed for Goundamani and Senthil, respectively, in the Telugu dubbed versions of their films. ^[21]

References

1. Mohan, Ashutosh (2020-03-24). "Top 10 Tamil Films Where Senthil Got The Better Of Goundamani". Film Companion . Retrieved 2025-03-02.
2. Vijiyan, K. N. (30 October 1993). "A movie without direction". New Straits Times . p. 28. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2023– via Google News Archive.
3. "Tamannaah's next with Athe Kangal-fame Rohin Venkatesan titled Petromax; Title look revealed". Cinema Express . 3 July 2019. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
4. "Goundamani Senthil Petromax Light Comedy : Vaidehi Kathirunthal". December 1, 2015 – via YouTube.
5. "வாழைப்பழம் சாப்பிடச் சொன்னா ஏன் சிரிக்கிறீங்க? - மருத்துவர் சொல்லும் முக்கியத் தகவல் #MyVikatan" [Why do you laugh when I tell you to eat a banana? - Important information from the doctor #MyVikatan]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 22 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
6. "Senthil – The Comedy Legend!". Suryan FM (in Tamil). 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
7. "The Word View: That Vazhappazham scene". The Times of India. 2018-04-01.
8. Kabilan, Kannalmozhi (6 January 2021). "Heritage tales on vintage wheels". The New Indian Express.
9. Rajendran, Sowmya (12 May 2020). "Goundamani turns 81: Why his brand of comedy will never get too old". The News Minute.
10. Sundar, Anusha (10 April 2023). "'Soppana Sundari' movie review: A delectable dark comedy that stays true to its genre". The New Indian Express.
11. கண்ணன், சுரேஷ் (8 September 2022). "சின்னக் கவுண்டர்: "இந்தப் படம் ஓடுமா?" – விஜயகாந்தின் சந்தேகமும், மொய் விருந்து குறித்த காட்சிகளும்!". Vikatan .
12. "Goundamani will always be my favourite comedian: Senthil". Cinema Express . 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
13. "Less tension more work more work less tension! 🤣🤣 #GentlemanTamilMovie #ytshorts #apinternational". May 16, 2023 – via YouTube.
14. "OTT Movies: மனதை ரிலாக்ஸ் பண்ண ஓடிடியில் பார்க்க வேண்டிய கவுண்டமணி - செந்தில் கூட்டணியின் டாப் 5 காமெடி படங்கள்!". Times Now Tamil (in Tamil). 10 May 2025.
15. Sekhar, Arunkumar (16 June 2019). "30 years of Karakattakaran – Gangai Amaren: The Vazhapazham comedy track was based on a similar sequence in an Adoor Bhasi film". Cinema Express . Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
16. "Remember This Actress From 1992 Movie Magudam? This Is What She Does Now". News18.
17. "Goundamani, Senthil likely to reunite after 16 years". DT Next . 2 June 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
18. "Goundamani - Senthil: తమిళ సినిమా కోట, బాబు మోహన్‌‌‌లు ప్రస్తుతం ఏం చేస్తున్నారో తెలుసా.. ?". telugu.news18.com.
19. Web, Statesman (September 26, 2023). "Comedian Babu Mohan ventures into OTT with Amazon prime series". Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
20. "15 Hilarious Combos & Their Comedy Tracks In Movies That Made Us Laugh Like Hell - Wirally". January 2, 2021. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
21. "Here Find Out The Telugu Voices Behind These Tamil Actors - Wirally". June 5, 2016. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.