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This list outlines the names of popular film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the Tamil film industry , based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The list is ordered by the year of their debut as a leading actor.
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar [1] | Pavalakkodi | Ambikapathy (1937), Haridas (1944), Amarakavi (1952) |
| 1936 | P. U. Chinnappa | Chandrakantha | Uthama Puthiran (1940), Harichandra (1944), Jagathalapratapan (1944) |
| M. G. Ramachandran | Sathi Leelavathi | Nadodi Mannan (1958), Rickshawkaran (1971), Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973) |
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | M. N. Nambiar | Vidyapathi | Nadodi Mannan (1958), Enga Veettu Pillai (1965), Ninaithadhai Mudippavan (1975) |
| 1947 | Gemini Ganesan | Miss Malini | Vanjikottai Valiban (1958), Kalyana Parisu (1959), Naan Avanillai (1974) |
| M. K. Mustafa | Kanjan | Abimanyu (1948), Kaithi (1951), Sivagangai Seemai (1959), Harichandra (1968) |
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Sivaji Ganesan | Parasakthi | Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959), Deiva Magan (1969), Mudhal Mariyathai (1985) |
| S. S. Rajendran | Mudhalali (1957), Poompuhar (1964), Pazhani (1965) | ||
| 1954 | M. R. Radha | Ratha Kanneer | Paava Mannippu (1961), Bale Pandiya (1962), Karpagam (1963) |
| 1957 | R. Muthuraman | Karpukkarasi | Nenjil Or Aalayam (1962), Kadhalikka Neramillai (1964), Ooty Varai Uravu (1967) |
| Year | Name | Debut film | Other notable films |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Kamal Haasan | Arangetram | Moondram Pirai (1983), Nayakan (1987), Indian (1996), Dasavathaaram (2008),Vikram(2022) |
| 1963 | A. V. M. Rajan | Naanum Oru Penn | Veera Abhimanyu (1965), Thillana Mohanambal (1968), Dheivam (1972) |
| 1964 | Ravichandran | Kadhalikka Neramillai | Adhey Kangal (1967), Justice Viswanathan (1971), Sabatham (1971) |
| 1965 | Sivakumar | Kaakum Karangal | Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari (1979), Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Marupakkam (1990) |
| 1965 | Jaishankar | Iravum Pagalum | Vallavan Oruvan (1966), CID Shankar (1970), Nootrukku Nooru (1971) |
Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy, better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Sivaji Ganesan is acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian actors of all time and among the most imitated one by other actors. He was known for his versatility and the variety of roles he depicted on screen, which also gave him the Tamil nickname Nadigar Thilagam. In a career that spanned close to five decades, he had acted in 288 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Sivaji Ganesan is the only actor in Tamil cinema to have played the lead role in over 250 films.
Ramasamy Ganesan, better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was referred as Kaadhal Mannan for his romantic roles in films. Ganesan was one of the "three biggest names of Tamil cinema", the other two being M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. While Sivaji Ganesan excelled in dramatic films and M. G. Ramachandran was popular as an action hero, Gemini Ganesan was known for his romantic films. A recipient of the Padma Shri in 1971, he had also won several other awards including the Kalaimamani, the MGR Gold Medal, and the Screen Lifetime Achievement Award. He was one of the few college graduates to enter the film industry then.
Palaniswamy, better known by his stage name Sivakumar, is an Indian visual artist and actor who has appeared in Tamil cinema and television. He made his acting debut in Kaakum Karangal (1965) and has worked in 195 movies, predominantly only in Tamil cinema. He has won three Filmfare Awards South and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
Thevar Magan is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Bharathan, and written and produced by Kamal Haasan. It stars Sivaji Ganesan, Haasan, Revathi, Gautami and Nassar; with Kallapart Natarajan, Kaka Radhakrishnan, Sangili Murugan and Vadivelu in supporting roles. The film's story involves a respected village chieftain's son who wants to open a business but his father wants him to help the villagers.
Thiruvilaiyadal is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film written, directed and co-produced by A. P. Nagarajan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Savitri, and K. B. Sundarambal, with T. S. Balaiah, R. Muthuraman, Nagesh, T. R. Mahalingam, K. Sarangapani, Devika, Manorama, and Nagarajan in supporting roles. K. V. Mahadevan composed the film's soundtrack and score, and Kannadasan and Sankaradas Swamigal wrote the song lyrics.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language historical war film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, S. Varalakshmi, and Ragini, with V. K. Ramasamy and Javar Seetharaman in supporting roles. Its soundtrack and score were composed by G. Ramanathan.
Kurathi Magan is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film features Gemini Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Master Sridhar and Jayachitra introduced in the film, Shylashri, V. S. Raghavan, Suruli Rajan and Kamal Haasan in a brief role. R. Muthuraman plays a cameo. The film was released on 29 April 1972.
Naan Avanillai is a 1974 Indian Tamil-language film starring Gemini Ganesan. Produced by Ganesan himself, it was directed by K. Balachander. It was adapted from the 1962 Marathi language play To Mee Navhech, written by Pralhad Keshav Atre. The film deals with a man who woos and marries several women while he takes on as many different identities.
Parasakthi is a 1952 Indian Tamil-language satirical drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju and written by M. Karunanidhi. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, S. V. Sahasranamam, S. S. Rajendran, Sriranjani Jr., and Pandari Bai. It is the cinematic acting debut of Ganesan and Rajendran. Based on Pavalar Balasundaram's play of the same name, Parasakthi narrates the misfortunes that befall the members of a Tamil family during World War II.
The filmography of Sivaji Ganesan (1928–2001) consists predominately of Tamil-language films apart from some Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi films. He is the only actor to have played the lead role in over 250 films in Tamil cinema.
Andha Naal is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language mystery-thriller film, produced by A. V. Meiyappan and directed by S. Balachander. It is the first film noir in Tamil cinema, and the first Tamil film to be made without songs, dance, or stunt sequences. Set in the milieu of World War II, the story is about the killing of a radio engineer Rajan. The suspects are Rajan's wife Usha, the neighbour Chinnaiya Pillai, Rajan's brother Pattabi, Rajan's sister-in-law Hema (Menaka), and Rajan's mistress Ambujam. Each one's account of the incident points to a new suspect.
Galatta Kalyanam is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by C. V. Rajendran and written by Gopu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. It is based on Gopu and Sridhar's play of the same name. The film, released on 12 April 1968, was later remade in Malayalam as Snehikkan Samayamilla and in Kannada as Aliya Devaru.
Pattikada Pattanama is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by P. Madhavan and written by Bala Murugan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The film deals with Kalpana, an urban woman who marries a villager Mookaiyan. After marriage, differences of opinion arise between the couple as Mookaiyan raises objections about city culture, leading to their separation. The rest of the film is whether Kalpana reforms and the couple reunite or not.
Pasamalar is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and Savitri Ganesan, with K. A. Thangavelu M. N. Nambiar and M. N. Rajam in supporting roles. It revolves around Rajasekhar and his bonding with his younger sister Radha. Radha falls in love with her brother's friend, and Rajasekhar eventually arranges for their marriage. Problems they face form the story.
Paava Mannippu is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed and edited by A. Bhimsingh, who co-produced it under his banner Buddha Pictures, with AVM Productions. The film features an ensemble cast of Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, Devika and M. R. Radha. M. V. Rajamma, V. Nagayya, S. V. Subbaiah and T. S. Balaiah play supporting roles. It revolves around four children who are separated from their parents in childhood, then found and raised by foster parents of different religious backgrounds.
Thillana Mohanambal is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language romantic musical dance film written, directed and produced by A. P. Nagarajan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and T. S. Balaiah, with A. V. M. Rajan, Nagesh and Manorama in supporting roles. It tells the story of Shanmugasundaram, a nadaswaram player who falls in love with Mohanambal, a Bharatanatyam dancer who reciprocates his feelings, but unfortunate circumstances and their egoistic nature prevents them from confessing their love for one another. How they overcome their self-created obstacles and those created by the people around them forms the rest of the story.
Puthiya Paravai is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language romantic thriller film directed by Dada Mirasi. Produced by Sivaji Ganesan, the film stars himself, B. Saroja Devi, M. R. Radha and Sowcar Janaki, with Nagesh, Manorama, V. K. Ramasamy, O. A. K. Thevar and S. V. Ramadas in supporting roles. The plot revolves around Gopal, who falls in love with Latha, a woman he recently befriended, when his presumed-dead wife Chitra arrives to tell him that she is still alive. He claims her to be an impostor but no one believes him.
Kappalottiya Thamizhan is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. It is based on the 1944 book of the same name by M. P. Sivagnanam, a biography of V. O. Chidambaram Pillai who founded the Swadeshi Stream Navigation Company to break the monopoly of the British over maritime trade out of India.
Kalyana Parisu is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Sridhar. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi while K. A. Thangavelu, Vijayakumari, M. Saroja, S. D. Subbulakshmi, A. Nageswara Rao and M. N. Nambiar play supporting roles. A triangular love story, it is about two close sisters whose lives turn upside down when they both fall in love with the same man. Out of respect, the younger sister decides to sacrifice her love, unknown to the elder sister.
Uyarndha Manithan is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language drama film written by Javar Seetharaman and directed by Krishnan–Panju. The film was produced by A. V. Meiyappan, M. Saravanan, M. Kumaran and M. Murugan under AVM Productions. It stars Sivaji Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki, while S. A. Ashokan, Major Sundarrajan, Vanisri and Sivakumar play pivotal roles. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by M. S. Viswanathan, while the lyrics for the songs were written by Vaali.
