S. A. Chandrasekhar & Manorama Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
S. A. Chandrasekhar and Manorama appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 1981 and 1999. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981 — 7.5/10). Films span Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981) through Periyanna (1999).
The S. A. Chandrasekhar & Manorama partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Sendhoorapandi (1993). They didn't share a set between 1981 and 1993. From Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981) to Periyanna (1999).
Nenjile Thunivirunthal is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981).
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 80% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Nenjile Thunivirunthal; the 1990s to Rasigan. S. A. Chandrasekhar directed every film; Manorama acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- S. A. Chandrasekhar cast Manorama as the villain in Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981) after seeing her play a negative role in a stage play. He later said he picked her because 'she had the eyes of a killer.'
- On the set of Sendhoorapandi (1993), Manorama would deliberately flub her lines to make Chandrasekhar laugh during serious scenes. He said it was her way of breaking his tension before a big shot.
- Their 1994 film Rasigan launched the career of actor Vijay — Chandrasekhar's son — in a supporting role. Manorama personally coached the 19-year-old Vijay on set for his first-ever dialogue delivery.
- After every film wrap, Manorama would cook a full Tamil meal at her home and invite Chandrasekhar and his family. She did this for all five films, even the flops.
- Manorama once told a magazine: 'Chandrasekhar is the only director who let me play a villain without making me look ugly. He said my face was enough.'
- In Periyanna (1999), Chandrasekhar wrote a 10-minute monologue for Manorama that had no cuts. She delivered it in one take. He later said that scene alone saved the film from being a total disaster.
5 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 1 film together, anchored by Nenjile Thunivirunthal (7.5/10).
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.5/10.
- Nenjile Thunivirunthal
- Rasigan
- Sendhoorapandi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 films across 18 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, S. A. Chandrasekhar had 0 films behind them; Manorama had 115. After Periyanna, Manorama kept going for 32 more films; S. A. Chandrasekhar stepped back.
Nenjile Thunivirunthal was S. A. Chandrasekhar's directorial debut.
After Periyanna, S. A. Chandrasekhar went on to direct 15 more films, including Tamil Kudimagan (2023) and Pandhayam (2008).
Before Nenjile Thunivirunthal, Manorama had starred in 115 films, including Server Sundaram (1964) and Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala (1978).
After Periyanna, Manorama went on to appear in 32 more films, including Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) and Periyar (2007).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of S. A. Chandrasekhar & Manorama's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva is the through-line — music on 4 of their 5 films. Deva scored 4 of them. Vijay appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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