Vimal & Manobala Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-18 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vimal and Manobala appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 2011 and 2016. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kalakalappu (2012 — 6.2/10). Films span Eththan (2011) through Mapla Singam (2016).
The Vimal & Manobala partnership
Between 2011 and 2016, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 5 years. From Eththan (2011) to Mapla Singam (2016). It started with Eththan (2011).
The shape of the work
Vimal acted in every film; Manobala acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manobala didn't just cast Vimal in Eththan (2011) — he rewrote the entire second half after seeing Vimal's raw energy in the first schedule. The original script had a different climax.
- On the sets of Sillunu Oru Sandhippu (2013), Vimal would improvise comedy lines in real time, and Manobala would silently nod from the monitor — that was his only direction. If he didn't nod, Vimal knew to stick to the script.
- Manobala and Vimal had a standing ritual before every film's first day shoot: they'd share a single cup of filter coffee at the same roadside stall near EVP Film City. No exceptions.
- Vimal once said in a 2016 interview: 'Manobala sir never gave me a bound script. He'd just say the scene's mood and let me find the character. That trust scared me, but it made me a better actor.'
- The comic sidekick character 'Karikalan' in Mapla Singam (2016) was so popular that Vimal reused the same mannerisms — the head wobble and the stutter — in his later solo comedy roles. Manobala had specifically asked him to 'keep it weird' for that role.
- In Sillunu Oru Sandhippu, Manobala deliberately shot Vimal's emotional scenes in single takes — no cuts, no close-ups. He told the crew it was to 'trap the real Vimal' before he could overthink. Vimal later admitted those were the hardest scenes of his career.
4 films across 1 decade
- Kalakalappu
- Eththan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 5 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Vimal had 5 films behind them; Manobala had 68. After Mapla Singam, Manobala kept going for 74 more films; Vimal stepped back.
Before Eththan, Vimal had starred in 5 films, including Kanchivaram (2009) and Pasanga (2009).
After Mapla Singam, Vimal went on to appear in 20 more films, including Pogumidam Vegu Thooramillai (2024) and DSP (2022).
Before Eththan, Manobala had starred in 68 films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982).
After Mapla Singam, Manobala went on to appear in 74 more films, including Kaatrin Mozhi (2018) and Irugapatru (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vimal & Manobala's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Anjali is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
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