Ravikumar's Muthu (1995) and Padayappa (1999) the latter which went on to become his and Tamil cinema's highest-grossing movie, exceeding Baashha. He collaborated with Suresh Krissna for many films including Annaamalai (1992) and Baashha (1995) the latter was the biggest commercial success in his career yet as well as the highest grossing film in Tamil for many years. In 1991, Mani Ratnam's Tamil crime film Thalapathi, earned him major critical acclaim for his performance. In the latter half of the 1980s, he starred in several successful films in Tamil and Hindi, including Padikkadavan (1985), Mr. Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984) won him that year's Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor. Rama Rao's top grossing Andhaa Kaanoon (1983). The following year, he made his Bollywood debut with T. He starred in triple role in Moondru Mugam (1982), which earned him a special prize at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards ceremony. It was his biggest commercial success to that point, earned him stardom and gave him the action hero image. He then played dual roles in the action thriller Billa (1980), a remake of the Hindi film Don (1978). By the end of the decade, he had worked in all South Indian film industries and established a career in Tamil cinema.

Muthuraman's Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977), 1978's Mullum Malarum and Aval Appadithan received him critical acclaim the former earned him a Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actor. His major positive role as a scorned lover in S. Balachander's 1975 Tamil drama Apoorva Raagangal, Rajinikanth's acting career commenced with a brief phase of portraying antagonistic characters in Tamil films. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan in 2000, Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India's third and second highest civilian honours, and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019 for his contributions to Indian cinema. Known for his uniquely styled lines and idiosyncrasies in films, he has a huge fan base across South India and has a cult following. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done more than 160 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. Shivaji Rao Gaikwad (born 12 December 1950), known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor, producer and screenwriter who works mainly in Tamil cinema.

Tamil animation movies