| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|
| 1978 | Sattam En Kaiyil | Vicky | | [5] |
| Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandhai | Henchman | | [6] |
| 1979 | Enippadigal | Muthu | | [7] |
| Muthal Iravu | | | [8] |
| 1980 | Karumbu Vil | | | [9] |
| Samanthipoo | Sakthi's elder brother | | [10] |
| Raman Parasuraman | Thief | | [11] |
| Kuruvikoodu | Raju | | [12] |
| 1981 | Aani Ver | Malaimannnan | | [13] |
| Avasarakkari | | | [14] |
| 1982 | Hitler Umanath | Samu | | [15] |
| Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam | Lawrence | | [16] |
| Moondru Mugam | "Dhaadi" Raj | | [17] |
| Pagadai Panirendu | Henchman | | [18] |
| Nadodi Raja | Shekhar | | [19] |
| 1983 | Paayum Puli | Gangster | | [20] |
| Urangatha Ninaivugal | Amar | | [21] |
| Seerum Singangal | Henchman | | [12] |
| Sandhippu | Dany | | [22] |
| Saranalayam | Magician | | [23] |
| Thangaikkor Geetham | Nayaka | | [24] |
| 1984 | Naan Mahaan Alla | Jagan | | [25] |
| Chiranjeevi | Vetri | | [26] |
| Nooravathu Naal | Jayaraj | | [27] |
| Sattathai Thiruthungal | Sarassi | | [28] |
| 24 Mani Neram | X. W. Ramarathinam | | [29] |
| Thambikku Entha Ooru | Muthuvel | | [30] |
| Naalai Unathu Naal | David | | [31] |
| Enakkul Oruvan | Rajadurai | | [32] |
| Unga Veettu Pillai | Kitty | | [33] |
| January 1 | Robert | | [34] |
| Nichayam | | | [35] |
| 1985 | Santhosha Kanavukal | Villain | | [36] |
| Chain Jayapal | Henchman | | [37] |
| Erimalai | Visvam | | [38] |
| Kaakki Sattai | Vicky | | [39] |
| Raman Sreeraman | Shankar | | [40] |
| Naan Sigappu Manithan | Mohanraj | | [41] |
| Needhiyin Nizhal | Nagaraj | | [42] |
| Pillai Nila | Convio | | [43] |
| Anbin Mugavari | Karuppu | | [44] |
| Pagal Nilavu | Devarajan | | [45] |
| Anni | Rajali | | [46] |
| Kaaval | Inspector K.S Lingam | | [47] |
| Aagaya Thamaraigal | Chinna Kaalai | | [48] |
| Geethanjali | Anthony | | [49] |
| Veli | Laksmikanthan | | [50] |
| Muthal Mariyathai | Mayilvaganam | | [51] |
| Eetti | Sathyam | | [52] |
| Sri Raghavendra | Nawab of Adoni | | [53] |
| Mangamma Sapatham | Boopathy | | [54] |
| Arthamulla Aasaigal | Prabhu | | [55] |
| Saavi | Vijaykumar | | [56] |
| Thiramai | Mr. Brigadier | | [57] |
| Pattuchelai | Ramasamy | | [58] |
| Japanil Kalyanaraman | Narendran | | [59] |
| 1986 | Karimedu Karuvayan | Police inspector | Guest appearance | [60] |
| Mr. Bharath | Gopinath | | [61] |
| Vikram | Sugirtharaja | | [61] |
| Kadaikan Paarvai | Durai | | [62] |
| Rasigan Oru Rasigai | R.K. | | [63] |
| Murattu Karangal | Kabali | | [64] |
| Iravu Pookkal | Inspector Rajadurai | | [65] |
| Raja Nee Vaazhga | R.K. Chander | | [66] |
| Muthal Vasantham | Kunguma Pottu Gounder | | [67] |
| Dharmam | Karthik | | [68] |
| Kadalora Kavithaigal | Chinnappadas | | [61] |
| Palaivana Rojakkal | Sabarathinam | | [69] |
| Vidinja Kalyanam | 'Half Boil' Aarumugam | | [69] |
| Mandhira Punnagai | Dr. Baskar & D.S.P. Arunachalam | Dual Role | [70] |
| 1987 | Poovizhi Vasalile | Jeeva | | [61] |
| Vilangu | Vinod’s friend | Guest appearance | [71] |
| Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi | Periya Thambi | | [72] |
| Muthukkal Moondru | Sangli | | [73] |
| Aalappirandhavan | Aalappirandhavan | | [74] |
| Makkal En Pakkam | Samraj | | [74] |
| Ini Oru Sudhanthiram | IPS officer | Guest appearance | [75] |
| Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu | SI Balaram | | [61] |
| Anjatha Singam | Vedu | | [76] |
| Jallikattu | Arjun | | [61] |
| Manathil Uruthi Vendum | Sathyaraj | Guest appearance | [77] |
| Vedham Pudhithu | Balu Thevar | Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil | [78] |
| 1988 | Annanagar Mudhal Theru | Sivaraman / Ram Singh | | [79] |
| En Bommukutty Ammavukku | Vinod | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil | [80] |
| Kazhugumalai Kallan | | | [81] |
| Ganam Courtar Avargale | Jayabhaskar | | [82] |
| Jeeva | Jeeva | | [83] |
| Puthiya Vaanam | M. G. Rajaratnam | | [84] |
| 1989 | Thaai Naadu | Albert (Anandhan), Brigadier Thamizharasan | | [85] |
| Pick Pocket | Rangaraj | | [86] |
| Chinnappadass | Chinnappadass | | [87] |
| Annakili Sonna Kathai | Ranger | | [88] |
| Dravidan | Raja | | [89] |
| Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai | Thangaraj | 100th Film | [90] |
| 1990 | Vaazhkai Chakkaram | Thangavelu | | [91] |
| Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | Quarter Govindhan & Raja | | [92] |
| Madurai Veeran Enga Saami | Mathivanan &Sakthivel | | [93] |
| Velai Kidaichuduchu | Palanisamy | | [94] |
| Mallu Vetti Minor | Rassappa Gounder (Mallu Vetti Minor) & Marappa Gounder | | [95] |
| Nadigan | Raja / Devaraj | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil | [96] |
| 1991 | Pudhu Manithan | Kabali | | [97] |
| Bramma | Ravi Varman | | [98] |
| 1992 | Rickshaw Mama | Raja | | [99] |
| Therku Theru Machan | Subramani | | [100] |
| Magudam | Muthuvel | | [101] |
| Pangali | Shakthivel & Durai | | [102] |
| Thirumathi Palanisamy | Palanisamy | | [103] |
| 1993 | Walter Vetrivel | DCP Walter Vetrivel | Cinema Express Award for Best Actor – Tamil | [104] |
| Kattalai | Sabaratnam | | [105] |
| Udan Pirappu | Sathya | | [106] |
| Airport | Captain Arjun | | [107] |
| 1994 | Amaidhi Padai | Ammavaasai & Thangavelu | | [108] |
| Ravanan | Himself | Special appearance | [109] |
| Vandicholai Chinraasu | Chinnarasu | | [110] |
| Thozhar Pandian | Pandian | | [111] |
| Thai Maaman | Rasappan | | [112] |
| Veera Padhakkam | Kalivardhan | | [113] |
| 1995 | Engirundho Vandhan | Kannan | | [114] |
| Villadhi Villain | Edison, Advocate Meenakshi Sundaram & Kannan | Also director | [115] |
| Maaman Magal | Shanmugam | | [116] |
| 1996 | Sivasakthi | Siva | | [117] |
| Senathipathi | Senathipathi & Sethupathi | | [118] |
| 1997 | Vallal | Durairasu | | [119] |
| Pagaivan | Vasu | | [120] |
| Periya Manushan | Ramakrishnan & Subramani | | [121] |
| 1998 | Kalyana Galatta | Raja Gopal | | [122] |
| 1999 | Ponnu Veetukkaran | Jeeva | | [123] |
| Suyamvaram | Arunachalam | | [124] |
| Malabar Police | Chinnasamy & Ramasamy | | [125] |
| Azhagarsamy | Azhagarsamy | | [126] |
| 2000 | Veeranadai | Periya Karuppan | | [127] |
| Ennamma Kannu | Kaasi | | [128] |
| Unnai Kann Theduthey | Vichu (Sandanapandian I.P.S) | | [129] |
| Puratchikkaaran | Anna | | [130] |
| 2001 | Looty | Rasappa, Jeeva and English Kuppan | | [131] |
| Asathal | Vetri | | [132] |
| Kunguma Pottu Gounder | Kandhasamy & Kunguma Pottu Gounder | | [133] |
| Aandan Adimai | Sivaraman | | [134] |
| 2002 | Vivaramana Aalu | Mayilsamy | | [135] |
| Maaran | Maaran | | [136] |
| 2003 | Ramachandra | Inspector Ramachandra | | [137] |
| Military | Madhavan (Military) | | [138] |
| Sena | Sena | | [139] |
| Aalukkoru Aasai | Arivazhagan | | [140] |
| 2004 | Adi Thadi | Thirupathi | | [141] |
| Thilak | Himself | Special appearance | [142] |
| Jore | Sabapathy | | [143] |
| Sema Ragalai | Sathya | | [144] |
| Sound Party | Kumaresan | | [145] |
| Azhagesan | Azhagesan | | [146] |
| Maha Nadigan | Sathya | | [147] |
| 2005 | Iyer IPS | DCP Gopal Iyer & Venkatachalapathy | | [148] |
| Mannin Maindhan | Inspector Pratap | Guest appearance | [149] |
| 6'2 | Balamurugan (James) | | [150] |
| Englishkaran | Thamizharasan | | [151] |
| Vetrivel Sakthivel | Vetrivel | | [152] |
| Vanakkam Thalaiva | Manikkam | | [153] |
| 2006 | Kovai Brothers | Ganesh | | [154] |
| Suyetchai MLA | Nambirajan | | [155] |
| Kurukshetram | Bharath | | [156] |
| 2007 | Adavadi | Bharath | | [157] |
| Periyar | Periyar | Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Actor Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Actor | [158] |
| Kannamoochi Yenada | Arumugam Gounder | | [159] |
| Onbadhu Roobai Nottu | Madhava Padayachi | Winner, Vijay Award for Best Actor | [160] |
| 2008 | Thangam | Thangam | | [161] |
| Vambu Sandai | Jeevanantham | | [162] |
| 2010 | Guru Sishyan | Guru | | [163] |
| Pollachi Mappillai | Sengaliyappa | | [164] |
| Irandu Mugam | Sarveswaran | | [165] |
| Gowravargal | Thondaiman | | [166] |
| 2011 | Sattapadi Kutram | Subash Chandrabose | | [167] |
| Vengayam | Himself | Guest appearance | [168] |
| Aayiram Vilakku | Lingam | | [169] |
| Uchithanai Muharnthaal | Nadesan | | [170] |
| 2012 | Nanban | Virumandi Santhanam (Virus) | Winner, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role | [171] |
| Sinam | Mani Rathnam | | [172] |
| 2013 | Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA | Nagaraja Cholan (Ammaavaasai) | 200th Film | [173] |
| Thalaivaa | Ramadurai | | [174] |
| Varuthapadaatha Vaalibar Sangam | Sivanandi | | [175] |
| Raja Rani | James | Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor | [176] |
| 2014 | Kalavaram | Vetriselvan | | [177] |
| Sigaram Thodu | Inspector Chellapandian | | [178] |
| Poojai | ADSP Sivakkozhundu | | [179] |
| 2015 | Isai | Vetriselvan | | [180] |
| Baahubali: The Beginning | Kattappa | Winner, IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Supporting Actor Winner, Vikatan Award Best Supporting Actor | [181] |
| Oru Naal Iravil | Sekar | | [182] |
| 2016 | Gethu | Thulasi Raman | | [183] |
| Jackson Durai | Durai | | [184] |
| 2017 | Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva | Commissioner Kirubakaran IPS | | [185] |
| Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Kattappa | Winner, Vikatan Award Best Supporting Actor | [186] |
| Mersal | DCP Rathnavel | | [187] |
| Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal | Periyar | Guest appearance | [188] |
| 2018 | Kadaikutty Singam | Perunazhi Ranasingam | | [189] |
| Echcharikkai Idhu Manidhargal Nadamaadum Idam | Nataraj IPS | | [190] |
| Nota | Mahendran | | [191] |
| Kanaa | Murugesan | Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | [192] |
| 2019 | Thambi | Gnanamoorthy | | [193] |
| 2021 | Tughlaq Durbar | CM "Nagaraja Chozhan" (Amavasai) | Cameo; Released on Sun TV & Netflix | [194] |
| MGR Magan | M. G. Ramasamy | Released on Disney+ Hotstar | [195] |
| Theerpugal Virkapadum | Nalan Kumar | | [196] |
| 2022 | Etharkkum Thunindhavan | Aadhirayar | | [197] |
| Veetla Vishesham | Unnikrishnan | | [198] |
| 1945 | Ramalingaiah | | [199] |
| Prince | Ulaganathan / Veluchamy | | [200] |
| Love Today | Venu Shastri | | [201] |
| Connect | Arthur Samuel | | [202] |
| 2023 | Theerkadarishi | Das | | [203] |
| Angaaragan | Adhiveera Pandiyan | | [204] |
| Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food | Chef Anand Sundarajan | | [205] |
| 2024 | Singapore Saloon | Chakrapani | | [206] |
| Weapon | Chezhiyan / Mithran | | [207] |
| Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan | Captain Prabhakaran "Captain" | | [208] |
| Thozhar CheGuevara | CheGuevara | | [209] |
| 2025 | Baby and Baby | Mahalingam | | [210] |
| Madras Matinee | Jyoti Ramaiah | | [211] |
| Love Marriage | MLA Pournami | Cameo appearance | |
| Coolie | Rajasekar | | [212] |
| Idly Kadai | Vishnu Vardhan | | |
| Vaa Vaathiyaar † | Nambiyar | Post Production | |