Vijayakanth & Manorama Movies Together List — 12 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vijayakanth and Manorama appeared together in 12 Tamil films between 1981 and 2004. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981 — 7.5/10). Films span Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981) through Neranja Manasu (2004).
The Vijayakanth & Manorama partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. The work is uneven: Nenjile Thunivirunthal (7.5) at one end, Thirumoorthi (1.0) at the other. From Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981) to Neranja Manasu (2004).
En Kitta Mothathey (1990, 7.5/10) is the underseen one in the catalogue. Nenjile Thunivirunthal is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Nenjile Thunivirunthal; the 2000s to Neranja Manasu. Vijayakanth acted in every film; Manorama acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981), almost didn't happen. Manorama was initially hesitant to play Vijayakanth's mother — she was only 13 years older than him. The director had to convince her that the age gap on screen would work, and it did.
- In Sendhoorapandi (1993), Manorama's comic timing forced Vijayakanth to slow down his dialogue delivery. He usually rattled off lines fast, but she'd pause for laughs mid-scene, and he learned to match her rhythm. That film became a template for their later comedies.
- Their pairing in En Kitta Mothathey (1990) directly inspired the mother-son comedy track in the 1995 blockbuster Muthu. Director K. S. Ravikumar has said he wrote the Rajini-Manorama scenes after watching how effortlessly Vijayakanth and Manorama bounced off each other.
- On the sets of Dharma (1998), Manorama would bring homemade snacks for the entire crew — but she always packed a separate box for Vijayakanth with extra spicy vadai, because she knew he loved them. He'd finish his lunch and then raid her box.
- Manorama once said in a 2004 interview: 'Vijayakanth is the only hero who never treated me like a comedy prop. He'd ask me how a scene should play. That's rare.'
12 films across 3 decades
The 1980s brought 3 films together, anchored by Nenjile Thunivirunthal (7.5/10).
The 1990s brought 7 films together, anchored by En Kitta Mothathey (7.5/10).
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.8/10.
- Nenjile Thunivirunthal
- Dowry Kalyanam0
- En Kitta Mothathey
- Sendhoorapandi
- Neranja Manasu
- Vaanchinathan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
12 films across 23 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
41% of Vijayakanth's screen credits are with Manorama. When they first worked together, Vijayakanth had 5 films behind them; Manorama had 115.
Before Nenjile Thunivirunthal, Vijayakanth had starred in 5 films, including Dhoorathu Idi Muzhakkam (1980) and Neer Nilam Neruppu (1980).
After Neranja Manasu, Vijayakanth went on to appear in 12 more films, including Sudesi (2006) and Sabari (2007).
Before Nenjile Thunivirunthal, Manorama had starred in 115 films, including Server Sundaram (1964) and Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala (1978).
After Neranja Manasu, Manorama went on to appear in 8 more films, including Periyar (2007) and Arundhati (2009).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vijayakanth & Manorama's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva scored 4 of them. They worked with the same 8 people again and again — a small repertory company. Senthil appears alongside them in 5 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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