Nizhalgal Ravi & Manobala Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Nizhalgal Ravi and Manobala appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 1989 and 2015. Their highest-rated collaboration was Vanakkam Chennai (2013 — 6.5/10). Films span Thendral Sudum (1989) through Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu (2015).
The Nizhalgal Ravi & Manobala partnership
After 14 years apart, they came back together for Kanden Kadhalai (2009). They didn't share a set between 1995 and 2009. They saved their best for last — Vanakkam Chennai (6.5/10) came 24 years in.
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. From Thendral Sudum (1989) to Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu (2015).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Thendral Sudum; the 2010s to Vanakkam Chennai. Nizhalgal Ravi acted in every film; Manobala acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Nizhalgal Ravi was already a known face when Manobala cast him in Thendral Sudum (1989). But Manobala was still finding his footing as a director. Ravi agreed to do the film only after Manobala narrated the entire script to him in one sitting — no breaks, no coffee.
- On the set of Gangai Karai Paattu (1995), Manobala would let Ravi improvise his dialogue in long takes. Ravi would then look at Manobala after each take and ask, 'Overa irukka?' Manobala would just nod or shake his head. No retakes unless Ravi himself felt it was off.
- After Thendral Sudum wrapped, Manobala started calling Ravi 'Anna' off-screen. Ravi returned the respect by never calling Manobala by his first name — always 'Director saar'. They kept this up for all four films, even when they were just grabbing tea between shots.
- Vanakkam Chennai (2013) was the only film in their collaboration where Manobala didn't direct. He acted alongside Ravi in a comedy track. That film's success directly led to Manobala getting more character roles in the 2010s — a second career he didn't expect.
- Manobala once said in an interview: 'Ravi is the only actor who made me feel like I was watching my own story unfold. I didn't have to direct him — just point the camera.'
- Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu (2015) almost didn't happen. Manobala had written a role specifically for Ravi, but Ravi's schedule was packed. Manobala waited six months. Ravi finally cleared his dates after reading the script on a train ride from Chennai to Madurai.
5 films across 4 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film.
The 1990s accounted for 1 film.
The 2000s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.3/10.
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.5/10.
- Thendral Sudum0
- Gangai Karai Paattu0
- Kanden Kadhalai
- Vanakkam Chennai
- Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu 0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 films across 26 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu , Manobala kept going for 93 more films; Nizhalgal Ravi stepped back.
Before Thendral Sudum, Nizhalgal Ravi had starred in 29 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Mann Vasanai (1983).
After Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu , Nizhalgal Ravi went on to appear in 40 more films, including Ratsasan (2018) and Por Thozhil (2023).
Before Thendral Sudum, Manobala had starred in 8 films, including Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) and Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979).
After Engalukku Veru Kilaigal Kidaiyathu , Manobala went on to appear in 93 more films, including Kaatrin Mozhi (2018) and Irugapatru (2023).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Nizhalgal Ravi & Manobala's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Nizhalgal Ravi & Manobala's films together
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