Vijay & Manobala Movies Together List — 7 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vijay and Manobala appeared together in 7 Tamil films between 1999 and 2019. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thuppakki (2012 — 7.6/10). Films span Minsara Kanna (1999) through Bigil (2019).
The Vijay & Manobala partnership
After 10 years apart, they came back together for Villu (2009). They didn't share a set between 1999 and 2009. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema.
From Minsara Kanna (1999) to Bigil (2019). Thuppakki is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 2010s account for 71% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Minsara Kanna; the 2010s to Thuppakki. Vijay acted in every film; Manobala acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manobala was a veteran character actor before he turned director. Vijay trusted him to direct 'Minsara Kanna' (1999) because Manobala had already worked with him as an actor in 'Nilaave Vaa' (1998) and knew his strengths.
- In 'Thuppakki' (2012), Manobala played the comedic sidekick to Vijay's army officer. Their banter in the film — especially the 'soldier vs civilian' jokes — became a template for Vijay's later action-comedy films.
- Manobala's cameo as the funny uncle in 'Nanban' (2012) — the Tamil remake of '3 Idiots' — was so popular that it inspired a wave of similar 'quirky relative' roles in Tamil college comedies over the next few years.
- Manobala once said in an interview that Vijay never forgot to call him on his birthday, every single year, even after they stopped working together regularly. He called it 'Vijay's quiet loyalty.'
- In 'Bigil' (2019), Manobala played a football coach who mentors Vijay's character. The emotional scene where Vijay's character thanks him was improvised by Vijay on set — Manobala later said he was genuinely moved and forgot his lines.
7 films across 3 decades
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.9/10.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.1/10.
The 2010s brought 5 films together, anchored by Thuppakki (7.6/10).
- Minsara Kanna
- Villu
- Thuppakki
- Nanban
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
7 films across 20 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Bigil, Manobala kept going for 39 more films; Vijay stepped back. By the time of Minsara Kanna, both already had careers — Vijay with 24 films, Manobala with 24.
Before Minsara Kanna, Vijay had starred in 24 films, including Vetri (1984) and Rasigan (1994).
After Bigil, Vijay went on to appear in 4 more films, including Master (2020) and Leo (2023).
Before Minsara Kanna, Manobala had starred in 24 films, including Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) and Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979).
After Bigil, Manobala went on to appear in 39 more films, including Irugapatru (2023) and Viduthalai: Part II (2024).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vijay & Manobala's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
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