The film has been parodied and referenced in cinema, television and theatre. Notable films alluding to "Thiruvilaiyadal" include "Poove Unakkaga" (1996), "Mahaprabhu" (1996), "Kaathala Kaathala" (1998), "Vanna Thamizh Pattu" (2000), "Middle Class Madhavan" (2001), "Kamarasu" (2002), "Kanthaswamy" (2009) and "Oru Kal Oru Kannadi" (2012). In his review of "Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum" (2014), Baradwaj Rangan noted that the use of touchscreen human facial icons on mobile apps was a ""Thiruvilaiyadal"-like framing device". The Star Vijay comedy series "Lollu Sabha" parodied the film twice: in an episode of the same name, and in a contemporary version titled "Naveena Thiruvilayaadal".