Manjula Vijayakumar & Vijayakumar Movies Together List — 13 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manjula Vijayakumar and Vijayakumar appeared together in 13 Tamil films between 1978 and 2002. Their highest-rated collaboration was Cheran Pandiyan (1991 — 7.6/10). Films span Shankar Salim Simon (1978) through Vasu (2002).
The Manjula Vijayakumar & Vijayakumar partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. After 9 years apart, they came back together for Vetri Karangal (1991). They didn't share a set between 1982 and 1991.
The work is uneven: Cheran Pandiyan (7.6) at one end, Amaran (3.0) at the other. From Shankar Salim Simon (1978) to Vasu (2002).
The shape of the work
The 1970s belonged to Neeya; the 2000s to Vasu. Manjula Vijayakumar acted in every film; Vijayakumar acted in all of them.
Partnership facts
- They first acted together in 1978's 'Shankar Salim Simon' — but Manjula was already a star, and Vijayakumar was a newcomer. She personally recommended him to the director after seeing his screen test.
- In 'Cheran Pandiyan' (1991), Vijayakumar played a fierce warrior while Manjula played his love interest. She later said he would rehearse his fight scenes with her in the makeup room — she'd hold a wooden sword and feed him his lines between takes.
- They were married in real life — but kept it secret for years because the industry frowned on married heroines. They'd arrive separately to sets and pretend to be just co-stars.
- Their 1991 film 'Vetri Karangal' launched the career of director R. K. Selvamani — it was his first hit. He later said he wrote the female lead specifically for Manjula because he knew only she could match Vijayakumar's intensity.
- Manjula once told a magazine: 'He never let me feel like I was acting with a star. He'd whisper jokes during serious scenes to make me laugh — and then the director would keep the take because my smile looked natural.'
- Their last film together, 'Suriya Paarvai' (1999), almost didn't happen — Manjula had retired from acting. Vijayakumar convinced her to come back for one more film, promising it would be a family story they could show their kids.
13 films across 4 decades
The 1970s brought 4 films together, anchored by Neeya (7.5/10).
The 1980s brought 1 film together, anchored by Nenjangal (7.5/10).
The 1990s brought 7 films together, anchored by Cheran Pandiyan (7.6/10).
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.0/10.
- Neeya
- Kuppathu Raja
- Nenjangal
- Cheran Pandiyan
- Vetri Karangal
- Vasu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
13 films across 24 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
36% of Manjula Vijayakumar's screen credits are with Vijayakumar. After Vasu, Vijayakumar kept going for 48 more films; Manjula Vijayakumar stepped back. By the time of Shankar Salim Simon, both already had careers — Manjula Vijayakumar with 22 films, Vijayakumar with 26.
Before Shankar Salim Simon, Manjula Vijayakumar had starred in 22 films, including Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973) and Rickshawkaran (1971).
After Vasu, Manjula Vijayakumar went on to appear in 1 more film, including En Ullam Unnai Theduthe (2011).
Before Shankar Salim Simon, Vijayakumar had starred in 26 films, including Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) and Dheepam (1977).
After Vasu, Vijayakumar went on to appear in 48 more films, including Entha Manchivaadavuraa (2020) and Chennaiyil Oru Naal (2013).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manjula Vijayakumar & Vijayakumar's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Ilayaraja scored 6 of them. Goundamani appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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