Ameer directed Paruthiveeran is considered to  a trendsetting film that sparked the slew of Madurai-based cinema. The film was also actor Karthi’s onscreen debut, and at that time, the star was introduced as Surya’s brother. Karthi’s unblemished performance as a village ruffian went on to become a bible for performers and characterization of village-based roles in Tamil cinema. Many performances came and went, that were a pale imitation of Paruthiveeran, but none of them matched up to the glory of Karthi’s act.