C. V. Rajendran & R. S. Manohar Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
C. V. Rajendran and R. S. Manohar appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1973 and 1982. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thyagi (1982 — 7.5/10). Films span En Magan (1973) through Thyagi (1982).
The C. V. Rajendran & R. S. Manohar partnership
After 8 years apart, they came back together for Thyagi (1982). They didn't share a set between 1974 and 1982. From En Magan (1973) to Thyagi (1982).
The played out closed with Thyagi in 1982. Thyagi is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to En Magan; the 1980s to Thyagi. C. V. Rajendran directed every film; R. S. Manohar acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Rajendran cast Manohar in En Magan (1973) after watching him play a menacing villain in a stage play. Manohar was so intense that Rajendran rewrote the script to give him a bigger role.
- On the sets of Sivagamiyin Selvan (1974), Rajendran would let Manohar improvise his dialogue delivery. Manohar’s booming voice often forced Rajendran to reshoot scenes because the mic couldn’t handle the volume.
- Their third film Thyagi (1982) directly inspired a younger director to cast Manohar in a similar father-son drama — that director was K. Bhagyaraj, who later called Thyagi a 'masterclass in emotional manipulation'.
- Rajendran and Manohar never socialized outside work. Manohar once said they only met on set, shook hands, and went home. No phone calls, no dinners — just pure professional respect.
- Manohar told a magazine in 1985: 'Rajendran never told me I was good. He just nodded once after a take. That nod meant more than any award.'
3 films across 2 decades
The 1970s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.5/10.
The 1980s brought 1 film together, anchored by Thyagi (7.5/10).
- En Magan
- Sivagamiyin Selvan0
- Thyagi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 9 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, C. V. Rajendran had 9 films behind them; R. S. Manohar had 40.
Before En Magan, C. V. Rajendran had directed 9 films, including Raja (1972) and Galatta Kalyanam (1968).
After Thyagi, C. V. Rajendran went on to direct 12 more films, including Sandhippu (1983) and Vazhkai (1984).
Before En Magan, R. S. Manohar had starred in 40 films, including Pattanathil Bhootham (1967) and Mahakavi Kalidas (1966).
After Thyagi, R. S. Manohar went on to appear in 7 more films, including Thanga Magan (1983) and Raja Rishi (1985).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of C. V. Rajendran & R. S. Manohar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Sivaji Ganesan is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 3 films. Sivaji Ganesan appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead. M. S. Viswanathan scored 3 of them.
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