According to Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen in the book "Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema", the success of Ramachandran's 1961 film "Thirudathe," marked a beginning of transition to roles that had "a contemporary setting". He often played "a saintly member of an oppressed class". The act of showering love and affection for his family members was a recurring theme in his films during this period. The films he appeared in during the 1960s played a crucial part in his subsequent career as a politician. The 1963 comedy-drama film "Periya Idathu Penn" had him play a farmer who seeks revenge from his village's zamindar. The following year, he appeared in "Thozhilali" as a bus conductor who exposes the fraudulent methods of a rival bus company, and in "Padagotti" as a fisherman who resolves to end the dispute between two fishing communities. In 1965, he collaborated with Tapi Chanakya in "Enga Veettu Pillai", where he featured as twins of opposite natures, one a coward and the other courageous. He also featured in B. R. Panthulu's "Aayirathil Oruvan" the same year as a doctor who joins, and later becomes the leader of, a rebellion against a dictator. Both the films were major commercial successes. The romantic comedy "Anbe Vaa" (1966), where Ramachandran played an industrialist and was his only film under AVM Productions, is considered an antithesis of the roles he was doing during this period and was also commercially successful. He continued to achieve success at the box-office with films like "Arasa Kattalai" and "Kaavalkaaran" (both released in 1967), also garnering acclaim for the latter. Ramachandran's portrayal of twins, a club dancer and a criminal, who are separated as children in "Kudiyirundha Koyil" (1968) garnered him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. In 1969, he appeared as a prince who brings down a tyrant who usurps his throne and mistreats his people in K. Shankar's historical fiction film "Adimaippenn", and as a government clerk who masquerades as a billionaire to defeat the corrupt trio of a doctor, a builder and a merchant in "Nam Naadu" (1969). The former won him the Best Film at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
Ramachandran began the 1970s with roles in such social dramas as "Maattukara Velan" and "Engal Thangam" (both released in 1970), both of which enjoyed commercial success. The following year, he received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as a cycle rickshaw driver in "Rickshawkaran", making it the first film and him the first actor from South Indian cinema to win the award. It went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year. He then directed and produced the action-adventure film "Ulagam Sutrum Valiban" (1973) where he also starred in dual roles as brothers, a scientist and a CBI officer. It became his most commercially successful film to that point. Ramachandran retired from filmmaking in 1978 to take up his duties as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; his last venture, entitled "Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan," was a commercial failure.
Vijayakanth filmography
This following is a complete list of all the films Vijayakanth has acted in:
Vijayakanth with his brother-in-law L. K. Sudheesh has produced films under the company Captain Cine Creations.
Kamal Haasan filmography
He is also a screenwriter, director, producer, playback singer and choreographer who works primarily in the Tamil film industry. He debuted as a child actor in the 1960 Tamil film "Kalathur Kannamma", which won him the President's Gold Medal. Since then he has acted in over 200 films in several languages including: Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali. After a few projects as a child artist he took a break to continue his education. He later concentrated on dance choreography and worked as an assistant choreographer. During this time, he made uncredited appearances in a few films which he worked on.
In 1973, Kamal landed his first adult role as Thiagu in the film by K. Balachander, whom the actor considers his mentor. He continued to act in minor roles in several films such as "Sollathaan Ninaikkiren" (1973) and "Naan Avanillai" (1974), most of which were directed by Balachander. His breakthrough as an independent lead actor came with the 1974 Malayalam film "Kanyakumari". His work in it won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam). Following that, he starred in a series of films in both languagesTamil and Malayalam. His breakthrough in Tamil cinema came with Balachander's "Apoorva Raagangal" (1975); the film earned him a second Filmfare Award, his first in Tamil. Between 1974 and 1978, he won six Filmfare Awards including four consecutive wins for the Best Tamil Actor. Kamal turned producer for "Raja Paarvai" (1981), in which he played the lead role of a blind musician. The film was produced under the "Hasan Brothers" banner which was later renamed Raaj Kamal Films International.
Kamal debuted in Bollywood with Balachander's "Ek Duuje Ke Liye" (1981), which was a remake of his 1978 Telugu film "Maro Charitra". His role as a school teacher who looks after an amnesic girl in "Moondram Pirai" (1982) won him several accolades, including the Best Actor honours at the National Film Awards and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. His work in Ramesh Sippy's Hindi film "Saagar" (1985), a triangular love story, was nominated in both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories at the 33rd Filmfare Awards. Under Raaj Kamal Films International, he produced films such as: "Vikram" (1986), "Apoorva Sagodharargal" (1989), "Thevar Magan" (1992) and "Hey Ram" (2000). As a producer he won a Filmfare Award and National Film Award for "Apoorva Sagodharargal" and "Thevar Magan". Seven films featuring Kamal have been submitted by India to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, the most for any actor in India. In 2009, he became one of the few actors in India to have completed 50 years working in cinema. His work "Vishwaroopam" (2013), which he also produced and directed, won two awards at the 60th National Film Awards.
! scope="col" |Film
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col"|Role
! scope="col"|Language
! scope="col"|Director
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
!scope="row" | "Kalathur Kannamma"
!scope="row" | "Paarthal Pasi Theerum"
!scope="row" | "Paadha Kaanikkai"
!scope="row" | "Kannum Karalum"
!scope="row" | "Vanambadi"
!scope="row" | "Anandha Jodhi"
!scope="row" | "Maanavan"
!scope="row" | "Annai Velankanni"
!scope="row" | "Kurathi Magan"
!scope="row" | "Arangetram"
!scope="row" | "Sollathaan Ninaikkiren"
!scope="row" | "Paruva Kaalam"
!scope="row" | "Gumasthavin Magal"
!scope="row" | "Naan Avanillai"
!scope="row" | "Kanyakumari"
!scope="row" | "Anbu Thangai"
!scope="row" | "Vishnu Vijayam"
!scope="row" | "Aval Oru Thodar Kathai"
!scope="row" | "Panathukkaga"
!scope="row" | "Cinema Paithiyam"
!scope="row" | "Pattampoochi"
!scope="row" | "Aayirathil Oruthi"
!scope="row" | "Then Sindhudhe Vaanam"
!scope="row" | "Melnaattu Marumagal"
!scope="row" | "Thangathile Vairam"
!scope="row" | "Pattikkaattu Raja"
!scope="row" | "Njan Ninne Premikkunnu"
!scope="row" | "Maalai Sooda Vaa"
!scope="row" | "Apoorva Raagangal"
!scope="row" | "Thiruvonam"
!scope="row" | "Mattoru Seetha"
!scope="row" | "Raasaleela"
!scope="row" | "Andharangam"
!scope="row" | "Appooppan"
!scope="row" | "Agni Pushpam"
!scope="row" | "Manmadha Leelai"
!scope="row" | "Anthuleni Katha"
!scope="row" | "Samassiya"
!scope="row" | "Swimming Pool"
!scope="row" | "Aruthu"
!scope="row" | "Satyam"
!scope="row" | "Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu"
!scope="row" | "Unarchigal"
!scope="row" | "Kuttavum Sikshayum"
!scope="row" | "Kumaara Vijayam"
!scope="row" | "Idhaya Malar"
!scope="row" | "Ponni"
!scope="row" | "Nee Ente Lahari"
!scope="row" | "Moondru Mudichu"
!scope="row" | "Mogam Muppadhu Varusham"
!scope="row" | "Lalitha"
!scope="row" | "Aaina"
!scope="row" | "Uyarndhavargal"
!scope="row" | "Siva Thandavum"