Vadivelu & Manivannan Movies Together List — 25 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Vadivelu and Manivannan appeared together in 25 Tamil films between 1995 and 2011. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sangamam (1999 — 7.5/10). Films span Aanazhagan (1995) through Ilaignan (2011).
The Vadivelu & Manivannan partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 2001 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 16 years, a Vadivelu–Manivannan film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Sangamam (7.5) at one end, Asathal (1.0) at the other. From Aanazhagan (1995) to Ilaignan (2011).
The shape of the work
The 2000s account for 68% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Sangamam; the 2010s to Ilaignan. Vadivelu acted in every film; Manivannan acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan personally cast Vadivelu for 'Tamizh Selvan' (1996) after seeing him in a stage play. He told the producer, 'This guy will make us laugh without even trying.' That film was their first together.
- On the sets of 'Piriyadha Varam Vendum' (2001), Manivannan would deliberately flub his lines to make Vadivelu break character. Vadivelu later said, 'He knew my timing better than I did. He'd throw me off just to see me recover.'
- Their comedy track in 'Thambi' (2006) — where Vadivelu plays a henpecked husband and Manivannan his scheming father-in-law — was so popular that it directly inspired a spin-off character in the 2008 TV serial 'Kolangal'.
- Manivannan never let Vadivelu call him 'sir' after their first film. He insisted on 'anna' (elder brother). When Vadivelu once slipped and said 'sir' on the set of 'Rendu' (2006), Manivannan stopped shooting and made him say it ten times correctly.
- Vadivelu once told a magazine: 'Manivannan was the only co-star who could make me laugh while I was acting. He'd do something stupid with his eyes, and I'd lose it. The director would yell 'cut' and we'd both be on the floor.'
- In 'Engal Anna' (2004), Manivannan insisted on rewriting their comedy scene on the spot. He told Vadivelu, 'You talk fast, I'll talk slow. Let the gap do the comedy.' That scene became the most quoted one from the film.
25 films across 3 decades
The 1990s brought 7 films together, anchored by Sangamam (7.5/10).
The 2000s brought 17 films together, anchored by Piriyadha Varam Vendum (7.5/10).
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.8/10.
- Sangamam
- Thodarum
- Piriyadha Varam Vendum
- Rendu
- Ilaignan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
25 films across 16 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
40% of Vadivelu's screen credits are with Manivannan. By the time of Aanazhagan, both already had careers — Vadivelu with 23 films, Manivannan with 40.
Before Aanazhagan, Vadivelu had starred in 23 films, including Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993) and Gokulam (1993).
After Ilaignan, Vadivelu went on to appear in 14 more films, including Sivalinga (2017) and Mersal (2017).
Before Aanazhagan, Manivannan had starred in 40 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Thai Maaman (1994).
After Ilaignan, Manivannan went on to appear in 6 more films, including Naan Rajavaga Pogiren (2013) and Jothi (2022).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Vadivelu & Manivannan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva scored 4 of them. They worked with the same 16 people again and again — a small repertory company. Kovai Sarala appears alongside them in 6 films — practically a third lead.
6
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
22
22
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
22
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
43
3
3
2
2
22
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
