List of Tamil films of 1981 explained

Post-amendment to the Tamil Nadu Entertainments Tax Act 1939 on 1 April 1958, Gross jumped to 140 per cent of Nett [1] Commercial Taxes Department disclosed 32 crore in entertainment tax revenue for the year.[2]

The following is a list of films produced in the Tamil film industry in India in 1981, in alphabetical order.

Tamil films released in 1981

MusicCast
47 NatkalK. BalachanderPremalaya ProductionsM. S. ViswanathanChiranjeevi, Jaya Prada, Sarath Babu, Rama Prabha
Aani VerK. VijayanVivekananda PicturesShankar–GaneshSivakumar, Saritha, Sathyaraj
Adugal NanaigindranaP. MadhavanShanti Chithra ProductionsChandrabosePrasad, Roopa
Alaigal OivathillaiBharathirajaPavalar CreationIlaiyaraajaKarthik, Radha, Thiagarajan, Silk Smitha
Amara KaaviyamAmirthamViswanathan CombinesM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, Sripriya, Madhavi, Jai Ganesh, Nagesh
Anbulla AtthanKanmani SubbhuMetha MoviesM. S. ViswanathanShoba, Kalaivanan
Andhi MayakkamBhanudasanYuvaraja PicturesShyamVanitha, Manoj, Gandhimathi, Vinod, Suveetha
Andru Muthal Indru VaraiR. SundaramModern TheatresShankar–GaneshSivakumar, Roopa, G. Srinivasan, Jayamala, Kalaranjini
Anicha MalarSri VijayakumarSri Kaleeswari MoviesShankar–GaneshRaja Bahadoor, Lakshmi Kala, Suruli Rajan, Manorama, Gandhimathi
Andha 7 NaatkalK. BhagyarajSrini CreationsM. S. ViswanathanK. Bhagyaraj, Ambika, Rajesh
Anjatha NenjangalR. ThyagarajanDevar FilmsShankar–GaneshK. R. Vijaya, Suman, Saritha, Vanitha
AradhanaiPrasadDimple CreationsIlaiyaraajaSuman, Sumalatha, Nizhalgal Ravi
Arthangal AyiramRaj KannanSri Amman CreationsShankar–GaneshBhuvaneswari
ArumbugalJupiter ChinnaduraiKamatchi Art FilmsM. S. ViswanathanSarath Babu, Sridevi
Avalum ThaayaanalMohammed AliNachiar FilmsGunasinghM. G. Venugopal, Jayavani
Aval Oru KaviyamDuraiSri Sivalayaa FilmsV. KumarJai Ganesh, Sumithra, Savitri, Kavitha, Suruli Rajan, Sachu
AvasarakariK. S. MathanganAnand CreationsShankar–GaneshMohan Kumar, Roopa
Bala NagammaK. ShankarCharuchithra FilmsIlaiyaraajaK. R. Vijaya, Sarath Babu, Sridevi
Chinna Mul Peria MulN. S. Raj BharathIndra CreationsShankar–GaneshRaja, Sreenath, Shanthi Krishna, Sumanjali, 'Baby' Anju
Deiva ThirumanangalP. Neelakantan
K. Shankar
K. Kameswara Rao
Solar CombinesK. V. Mahadevan
M. S. Viswanathan
G. K. Venkatesh
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. Varalakshmi, Chandra Mohan, Latha, Srividya, Moorthy
Devi DharisanamK. ShankarMalar CombinesM. S. ViswanathanK. R. Vijaya, Latha, Sarath Babu,
Ellam Inba MayyamG. N. RangarajanP. A. Art ProductionsIlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Madhavi, Suman, Surekha, Y. G. Mahendra, K. S. Jayalakshmi, Thengai Srinivasan, Manorama
Enakkaga KaathiruP. S. NivasNiveda CombinesIlaiyaraajaSuman, Bhanu Chander, Sumalatha, Nisha
Enga Ooru KannagiK. BalachanderRanjith ArtsM. S. ViswanathanSaritha, Seema, Madhavi, Srikanth, Major Sundarrajan
Engamma MaharaniM. A. KajaSri Gayathri EnterprisesShankar–GaneshDelhi Ganesh, Sumithra, Roopa, Suruli Rajan
GarjanaiC. V. RajendranHem Nag FilmsIlaiyaraajaRajinikanth, Madhavi, Jaishankar, Geetha
Indru Poi Naalai VaaK. BhagyarajRishad CreationsIlayaraajaK. Bhagyaraj, Radhika, Pazhanisamy, G. Ramli
Jadhikkoru NeedhiS. A. ChandrasekharVadalooran CombinesShankar–GaneshVijayakanth, Swapna
KaalamR. S. SomanathanKala Chitra ArtsShankar–GaneshK. R. Vijaya, Raveendran, Menaka
Kadal MeengalG. N. RangarajanK. R. G. Art ProductionsIlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan, Sujatha, Swapna, Suman, Ambika, Nagesh, Thengai Srinivasan
Kadavulin TheerpuC. N. ShanmugamSenthil Sevarkodiyaan CreationsR. GovardhanamVijay Babu, Sangeetha, Major Sundarrajan, C. R. Vijayakumari, Srikanth, Cho, Suruli Rajan
Kalam Oru Naal MaarumN. A. Panneer SelvamSaroj FilmsV. KumarVijayakumar, Saritha
KalthoonMajor SundarrajanS. S. K. FilmsM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh
KannadiM. A. KajaSenthil CreationsVijayan, Deepa
Kanneer PookkalRajasekharJayavel ProductionsShankar–GaneshVijayan, Sripriya, Roopa
Kanneeril EzhudhadheGangai KondanIqbal CreationShyam
Kanni MagamayiM. DuraithangamSri Kumaralayaa FilmsShankar–GaneshSuruli Rajan
Kanni TheevuT. R. RamannaSri Ayvar Art FilmsIlaiyaraajaJaishankar, Radhika, Seema
Karaiyellam ShenbagapooG. N. RangarajanSundari Art CreationsIlaiyaraajaPratap K. Pothen, Sripriya, Sumalatha, Sundar
KazhuguS. P. MuthuramanP. A. Art ProductionsIlaiyaraajaRajinikanth, Rathi, Sumalatha, Cho, Thengai Srinivasan, Y. G. Mahendra, Vanitha
Keezh Vaanam SivakkumV. SrinivasanVidhya MoviesM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Saritha, Sarath Babu, Menaka, Y. G. Mahendra
KilinjalgalDuraiSunitha Cine ArtsT. RajendarMohan, Poornima, Dileep
Kodeeswaran MagalA. Kodandarami ReddySri Sovereign CombinesK. ChakravarthySivakumar, Rajyalakshmi, Thengai Srinivasan, Sowcar Janaki, V. K. Ramasamy, Manorama
KoochamSomanVelan CreationsGangai AmaranSarath Babu
Koyil PuraaK. VijayanR. M. C. CreationsIlaiyaraajaSaritha, Shankar, K. Murugaiyan, Raja Bahadoor, Silk Smitha
Kudumbam Oru KadambamS. P. MuthuramanVisakam PicturesM. S. ViswanathanPratap K. Pothen, Suhasini, Sumalatha, S. Ve. Shekher, Visu, Kamala Kamesh, Nithya
KulakozhundhuT. R. RamannaE. V. R. PicturesM. S. ViswanathanJaishankar, Sripriya
Lorry Driver RajakannuA. C. TirulokchandarRaja Mahalakshmi ArtsM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, Sripriya, Suruli Rajan
Maadi Veettu EzhaiAmirthamPoompuhar PicturesM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, Sujatha, Sripriya
Madhu MalarBharathi-VasuRishad CreationsGangai AmaranPratap K. Pothen, Suhasini, Dileep, Ratheesh, Vanitha
MagarandhamK. S. GopalakrishnanChithra ProductionsShankar–GaneshMohan Ram, Radhika, Aruna
Mangala LakshmiThiruchengodu MarimuthuMahalakshmi ArtsThiruchengodu MarimuthuSrikanth, Sangeetha
MayilDuraiPriya Chithra FilmsShankar–GaneshVijayan, Shoba, Shankar, Roopa, Suruli Rajan
MayyakkamUnknownCecilia ProductionsPeter-RubanSrikanth, Padmapriya
Meendum KokilaG. N. RangarajanCharuchithra FilmsIlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan, Sridevi, Deepa
Meendum SandhippomM. A. KajaKadayanallur Cine ArtsShankar–GaneshVijay Babu, Srikamu
Mohana PunnagaiC. V. SridharSarathy Motion PicturesM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, Jayabharathi, Geetha, Padmapriya, Anuradha, Nagesh
Mouna GeethangalK. BhagyarajBagavathy CreationsGangai AmaranK. Bhagyaraj, Saritha, 'Master' Suresh
Mouna YuddhamN. SambandhamK. R. K. CreationsK. V. Mahadevan
Shankar–Ganesh
Raveendran, Roopa, Shankar
Nadhi Ondru Karai MoondruM. A. ThirumugamVadivelan FilmsM. S. ViswanathanSudhakar, Mohan Sharma, Illavarasan, Radhika
Nallathu Nadanthe TheerumK. NarayananK. N. FilmsIlaiyaraajaSuman, Surekha
NanduMahendranRangaraj CreationIlaiyaraajaAshwini, Sundar, Vanitha
Needhi PizhaithathuS. A. ChandrasekharSharada ArtsShankar–GaneshVijayakanth, Jaishankar, Aruna, Silk Smitha
NellikaniKalaignanamBhairavi CreationShankar–GaneshSivakumar, Sivachandran, Sumithra, Swapna
Nenjil Oru Mull'Mathi Oli' ShanmughamSantosh Art FilmsG. K. VenkateshPratap K. Pothen, Poornima Bhagyaraj, Sivachandran,
Nenjile ThunivirunthalS. A. ChandrasekharVeeralakshmi CombinesShankar–GaneshVijayakanth, Swapna, Vijayashanti, Goundamani, Manorama
Neruppile Pootha MalarKausikElizabeth ProductionsK. V. MahadevanSivakumar, Poornima
NetrikkanS. P. MuthuramanKavithalayaa ProductionsIlaiyaraajaRajinikanth, Lakshmi, Saritha, Menaka, Vijayashanti
Noolarauntha PattamR. S. JotheShree Nathi MoviesStalin VaradharajanVijayakanth, Chakravarthy, Poornimadevi, Suvitha
Oru Iravu Oru ParavaiP. C. ReddyEswari Chithra ProductionsIlaiyaraajaSarath Babu, Latha, Vijaykumar, Ravinder, Sankar
Oruthi Mattum KaraiyinileJ. RamuSri Amman Art ProductionsGangai AmaranSudhakar, Rajesh, Saritha
Paakku VethalaiR. S. VairavanSamsu CreationsMalaysia VasudevanRajesh, Sumithra
PanimalarHemachandranJeppiar PicturesShankar–GaneshRaveendran, Usha Rajendar, Madhavi
Palaivana SolaiRobert–RajasekarR. V. CreationsShankar–GaneshSuhasini, Chandrasekhar, Rajeev
Panneer PushpangalBharathi-VasuHemachitra ArtsIlaiyaraajaPratap K. Pothen, Suresh, Shanthi Krishna, Archana
Pattam PadhaviThirumuganThirumurugan CreationsM. S. ViswanathanK. A. Thangavelu, Manorama, Delhi Ganesh, Sumithra, Y. G. Mahendra, Usha Rajendar, Rani Padmini
Pen Manam PesugirathuA. JagannathanKanniammal PicturesShankar–GaneshSudhakar, Sumalatha
Pennin VazhkaiK. VijayanAnnapoorna Art PicturesG. K. VenkateshSudhakar, Rathi, Aruna, Sumathi
PonnazhagiO. MuthuM. R. R. CreationsShankar–GaneshA. K. Rajendran, Sumathi, Ceylon Nambiar, Jai Vijay, Jamila, Sri Kamu
PurandharadasarR. RamamurthySri Ganesha EnterprisesPendyala Nageswara RaoChild Artist aged between 10 - 14
Rail PayanangalilT. RajendarG. R. P. ArtsT. RajendarSreenath, Rajeev, Jyothi, Sivaranjani
Raja PaarvaiSingeetam Srinivasa RaoHaasan BrothersIlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan, Madhavi, L. V. Prasad, Y. G. Mahendra
RajangamR. C. SakthiR. V. CreationsShankar–GaneshChandrasekhar, Vijayashanti, Charuhasan, Delhi Ganesh, Manorama, P. R. Varalakshmi
Ram LakshmanR. ThyagarajanDevar FilmsIlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan, Sripriya, Raveendran
RaniBharathanSupriya CreationsM. S. ViswanathanPratap K. Pothen, Nithya
Ranuva VeeranS. P. MuthuramanSathya MoviesM. S. ViswanathanRajinikanth, Sridevi, Chiranjeevi
Rathathin RathameJoe DevanandBrighton FilmsShankar–GaneshJaishankar
SanditthanamsobananDimple CreationsIlaiyaraajaSobanan, Rukku
SankarlalT. N. BaluBalu Cine ArtsIlaiyaraaja
Gangai Amaran
Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, Seema
Sathya SundharamK. S. Prakash RaoBalakrishna CombinesM. S. ViswanathanSivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Vijayakumar, Sripriya, Madhavi
Sattam Oru IruttaraiS. A. ChandrasekharVadalooran CombinesShankar–GaneshVijayakanth, Poornima, Vasumathi
SavaalR. KrishnamoorthySujatha Cine ArtsM. S. ViswanathanKamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Sripriya, Vijayakumar, Manorama, Y. G. Mahendra
Sivappu Aatril Oru Neela MalarDamodara RaghavanK.S.K. CreationsWilliamsLakshmi Sri, Reena
Sivappu MalliRama NarayananAVM ProductionsShankar–GaneshVijayakanth, Chandrasekhar, Shanthi Krishna, Aruna
Sollathe Yarum KettaalN. S. Raj BharathSurya Art FilmsShankar–GaneshPratap K. Pothen, Sumalatha
SooravaliNemai GhoshChitra BharathiVijaya BhaskarVijay, Lavanya
Sorgathin Thirappu VizhaA. JagannathanKanchi CombinesShankar–GaneshJai Ganesh, Jayachitra
SumaiRama NarayananSri Thenandal FilmsGangai AmaranVijayan, Chandrasekhar, Usha Rajendar, Vijayashanti
Thanneer ThanneerK. BalachanderKalakendra MoviesM. S. ViswanathanSaritha, V. K. Veeraswami, Prasanna Srinivasan, Radha Ravi
Tharayil Vazhum MeengalBabu MaharajaK. K. CombinesChandraboseSudhakar, Ambika
TheeR. KrishnamoorthySuresh ArtsM. S. ViswanathanRajinikanth, Suman, Shobha, Sowcar Janaki
Thillu MulluK. BalachanderKalakendra MoviesM. S. ViswanathanRajinikanth, Madhavi, Thengai Srinivasan, Sowcar Janaki
ThiruppangalJoseph AnandanMaharani ProductionsM. S. ViswanathanJai Ganesh, Sumithra, Fatafat Jayalaxmi, Radhika
Tik Tik TikBharathirajaShiv Shakti FilmsIlaiyaraajaKamal Haasan, Madhavi, Swapna, Radha, Thengai Srinivasan
Udhayamaagirathu RanjithJai Murugan Art CreationsA. A. RajSankar, Sivaranjani, Swarna
Vaa Intha PakkamMouleePonmalar InternationalShyamPratap K. Pothen, Deepa
Vaadagai VeeduDuraiMurali Karthikeyan PicturesShankar–GaneshVijayan, Suman, Shoba, Sathyakala, Suruli Rajan
VasanthakalamM. A. KajaAbirami EnterprisesShankar–GaneshSumithra, Suruli Rajan
Velichathukku VaangaVijayasarathiAbhirami CreationsGangai AmaranRajesh, Urmila, Rathi Devi
Vidiyum Varai KaathiruK. BhagyarajS. T. CombinesIlaiyaraajaK. Bhagyaraj, Sathyakala

Notes and References

  1. http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/tamil_nadu/1939/1939TN10.pdf Government raised entertainment tax to 40% (from 33%) in 1958
  2. https://ctd.tn.gov.in/documents/10184/20741/STATISTICAL+COMPENDIUM+2012-2013/9fb9d066-c862-412b-bc88-f29d4091164e?version=1.1 CTD reports 32 crore ET collection in 1981-82