S. V. Subbaiah was an Indian stage and film actor who featured mainly in Tamil-language dramas and films. He featured mostly in character roles that communicated emotional feelings. Subbaiah hails from Sengottai in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. Spurning academic pursuits, he joined a drama troupe called ‘Senkottai Ananda Sakthivel Paramananda Boys Company’ when he was 11 years old. Later, he was part of drama troupes such as Balashanmukhananda Sabha and Sakthi Nataka Sabha. Subbaiah's performance as Kavi Anandar in S. D. Sundharam's play Kaviyin Kanavu staged by Sakthi Nataka Sabha in 1945 fetched rave reviews. This paved the way for him to enter Tamil films.
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Biography from TMDB.
- January 1, 1920
- January 29, 1980 (aged 60)
- Sengottai, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India
- Actor, also producer
- 4 on MovieCove · 39 credits in all
Known for
What are S.V. Subbaiah's films like?
Across a limited sample of 3 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 3
Light 0 · Serious 2 · Dark 1
Grounded 2 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0
Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 1
Steady 2 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0
Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 0 · Relentless 0
Casual 2 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 0 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2
Resolved 3 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
- Shadowas Raghavan in Kaval Daivam (1969)
- Shadowas Ramu Saastrigal in Arangetram (1973)
Moods and endings
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch S.V. Subbaiah's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 4 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for S.V. Subbaiah's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.
Filmography
39 credits, 4 with a MovieCove page.
Gnana Kuzhandhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Sigappukkal Mookkuthi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Vandikkaran Magan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Vanakkathukuriya Kathaliye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Thaaliya Salangaiya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Annakili (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Sathyam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Unakkaga Naan(1976)
Idhayakkani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Arangetram(1973)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all filmsJakkamma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Adi Parasakthi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Annai Velankanni (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Kaval Daivam(1969)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Ramu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Thaayum Magalum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Kaakum Karangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Kalai Kovil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Paadha Kaanikkai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Panithirai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Palum Pazhamum(1961)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)Paava Mannippu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Kappalottiya Thamizhan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Irumbu Thirai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Kalathur Kannamma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Bhaaga Pirivinai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Naalu Veli Nilam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Vanjikottai Valiban (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
Soubhagyavathi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Manalane is the Blessing of Mangai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Rambayin Kadhal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Naane Raja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Mangayar Thilakam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Valliyin Selvan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Rani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Rajakumari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Career shape
A full career of 39 titles from 1947 to 1979.
How do S.V. Subbaiah's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of the 3 of 4 with a score; across a limited sample of 3 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up2
- Below 25th1
Shape of the crowd
2 of their 3 titles are Mixed.
- Crowd Pleaser1
- Mixed2
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does S.V. Subbaiah work with?
People who share at least 2 of S.V. Subbaiah's MovieCove titles; Sivakumar shares the most, 2.
- SivakumarShared titles: Arangetram (1973), Kaval Daivam (1969)See all 2 shared titles with Sivakumar
- Sivaji GanesanShared titles: Kaval Daivam (1969), Palum Pazhamum (1961)See all 2 shared titles with Sivaji Ganesan
