Ravi Mariya & Nikki Galrani Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Ravi Mariya and Nikki Galrani appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 2016 and 2022. Their highest-rated collaboration was Idiot (2022 — 7.6/10). Films span Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016) through Idiot (2022).
The Ravi Mariya & Nikki Galrani partnership
They saved their best for last — Idiot (7.6/10) came 6 years in. Between 2016 and 2022, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 6 years. From Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016) to Idiot (2022).
Idiot is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016).
The shape of the work
The 2010s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 2010s belonged to Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran; the 2020s to Idiot. Ravi Mariya acted in every film; Nikki Galrani acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Ravi Mariya personally recommended Nikki Galrani for 'Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran' (2016) after the director struggled to find a leading lady who could match his deadpan comic timing. He told the team she was the only one who 'got his rhythm' without rehearsal.
- On the sets of 'Hara Hara Mahadevaki' (2017), Nikki Galrani would deliberately flub her lines in the first take to make Ravi Mariya break character — his spontaneous, frustrated reactions became the take they used in the final cut.
- The success of 'Charlie Chaplin 2' (2019) directly led to the revival of slapstick comedy in Tamil cinema — a genre that had been dormant for nearly a decade. Smaller producers started greenlighting similar physical comedies because this pair proved audiences still wanted it.
- Between films, Ravi Mariya and Nikki Galrani had a standing bet: whoever laughed first during a scene had to buy the other biryani. By 'Idiot' (2022), Nikki owed him 17 biryanis — she paid up on the last day of shoot.
- Nikki Galrani said in a 2022 interview: 'Ravi doesn't act with you — he acts at you. You have to duck and dodge his energy. That's why our scenes look like a real fight. Because it kind of is.'
- In 'Idiot' (2022), Ravi Mariya insisted on doing all his physical comedy in one continuous take — no cuts. Nikki Galrani had to time her reactions live, which forced her to abandon her usual rehearsed expressions and react genuinely for the first time in her career.
4 films across 2 decades
The 2010s accounted for 3 films, averaging 5.5/10.
The 2020s brought 1 film together, anchored by Idiot (7.6/10).
- Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran
- Hara Hara Mahadevaki
- Idiot
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 6 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
57% of Nikki Galrani's screen credits are with Ravi Mariya.
Before Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran, Ravi Mariya had starred in 21 films, including Veyil (2006) and New (2004).
After Idiot, Ravi Mariya went on to appear in 10 more films, including Tamil Kudimagan (2023) and Partner (2023).
Before Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran, Nikki Galrani had starred in 2 films, including Darling (2015) and Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka (2015).
After Idiot, Nikki Galrani went on to appear in 1 more film, including Virundhu (2024).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Ravi Mariya & Nikki Galrani's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Mayilsamy is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 4 films.
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