Vivek & Kalairani Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-13 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vivek and Kalairani appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 2001 and 2016. Their highest-rated collaboration was Manithan (2016 — 7.3/10). Films span Dhill (2001) through Manithan (2016).
The Vivek & Kalairani partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Manithan (2016). They didn't share a set between 2004 and 2016. They saved their best for last — Manithan (7.3/10) came 15 years in.
From Dhill (2001) to Manithan (2016). Manithan is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 2000s account for 80% of everything they made together. The 2000s belonged to Dhool; the 2010s to Manithan. Vivek acted in every film; Kalairani acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Vivek was already a top comedian when he signed Dhill (2001), but Kalairani was a stage actress with almost no film experience. Director Dharani specifically wanted a raw, untrained voice for the mother role — he cast her after seeing her in a single theatre play.
- In Dhool (2003), Vivek's comedy track relied on Kalairani's deadpan reactions. He told an interviewer that she never laughed at his jokes on set — that stone-faced silence made him work harder to break her, and that tension became the scene's energy.
- Kalairani has said in multiple interviews that Vivek personally coached her on Tamil diction between takes on Youth (2002). She was a native Telugu speaker, and he would rewrite her lines in simpler Tamil so she could deliver them naturally.
5 films across 2 decades
The 2000s accounted for 4 films, averaging 6.0/10.
The 2010s brought 1 film together, anchored by Manithan (7.3/10).
- Dhool
- Perazhagan
- Manithan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 films across 15 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
31% of Kalairani's screen credits are with Vivek. When they first worked together, Vivek had 62 films behind them; Kalairani had 3.
Before Dhill, Vivek had starred in 62 films, including Mugam (1999) and Mayabazar (1995).
After Manithan, Vivek went on to appear in 18 more films, including Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir (2023) and Dharala Prabhu (2020).
Before Dhill, Kalairani had starred in 3 films, including Devathai (1997) and Mudhalvan (1999).
After Manithan, Kalairani went on to appear in 8 more films, including Johnny (2018) and Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu (2022).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vivek & Kalairani's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
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