Nassar & Manivannan Movies Together List — 19 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Nassar and Manivannan appeared together in 19 Tamil films between 1989 and 2011. Their highest-rated collaboration was Mugam (1999 — 7.5/10). Films span Chinnappadass (1989) through Ilaignan (2011).
The Nassar & Manivannan partnership
Their work runs across 4 decades of Tamil cinema. 1998 was their peak — 5 films in twelve months. For 22 years, a Nassar–Manivannan film arrived almost every year.
From Chinnappadass (1989) to Ilaignan (2011). Mugam is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Chinnappadass; the 2010s to Ilaignan. Nassar acted in every film; Manivannan acted in all of them.
Partnership facts
- Their first film together, Avvai Shanmughi (1996), almost didn't happen. Director K.S. Ravikumar originally wanted a different actor for Manivannan's role. Manivannan personally lobbied for it after reading the script, and Nassar backed him. That film became a blockbuster.
- Nassar once said in an interview that Manivannan was the only co-star who could make him break character mid-scene. In Poonthottam (1998), Manivannan deliberately delivered a line in a deadpan tone that made Nassar laugh so hard they had to reshoot the take.
- Off-screen, they had a running bet on every film set: whoever flubbed a dialogue first had to buy the other a pack of cigarettes. Nassar lost most bets because Manivannan would deliberately change his lines to throw him off.
- Their pairing in Avvai Shanmughi (1996) directly inspired a wave of comedy duos in Tamil cinema where a straight-faced actor (Nassar) played off a chaotic, improvisational partner (Manivannan). Comedians like Vivek and Vadivelu later cited this dynamic as a template for their own double-acts.
- Nassar once told a Tamil magazine: 'Manivannan doesn't act. He just stands there and lets the scene happen around him. I had to work twice as hard to keep up.'
- Their last film together, Arasatchi (2004), was also the only one where they played direct antagonists. Manivannan reportedly told Nassar on the first day of shoot: 'Finally, I get to slap you on screen without buying you cigarettes after.'
19 films across 4 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.5/10.
The 1990s brought 11 films together, anchored by Mugam (7.5/10).
The 2000s accounted for 6 films, averaging 5.0/10.
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 5.8/10.
- Chinnappadass
- Mugam
- Poonthottam
- Arasatchi
- Vaseegara
- Ilaignan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
19 films across 22 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
38% of Manivannan's screen credits are with Nassar. After Ilaignan, Nassar kept going for 174 more films; Manivannan stepped back.
Before Chinnappadass, Nassar had starred in 7 films, including Kalyana Agathigal (1985) and Nayagan (1987).
After Ilaignan, Nassar went on to appear in 174 more films, including Baahubali (2015) and 10th Class Diaries (2022).
Before Chinnappadass, Manivannan had starred in 25 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Muthal Vasantham (1986).
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 Nassar & Manivannan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva scored 6 of them. They worked with the same 14 people again and again — a small repertory company. Vivek appears alongside them in 6 films — practically a third lead.
6
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
22
2
2
22
2
6
5
2
2
2
22
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
