Sathyaraj & Manobala Movies Together List — 10 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Sathyaraj and Manobala appeared together in 10 Tamil films between 1990 and 2019. Their highest-rated collaboration was Nanban (2012 — 7.4/10). Films span Mallu Vetti Minor (1990) through Kanchana 3 (2019).
The Sathyaraj & Manobala partnership
After 11 years apart, they came back together for 6'2 (2005). They didn't share a set between 1994 and 2005. They saved their best for last — Nanban (7.4/10) came 22 years in.
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Mallu Vetti Minor (1990) to Kanchana 3 (2019).
The shape of the work
The 2010s account for 60% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Thozhar Pandian; the 2010s to Nanban. Sathyaraj acted in every film; Manobala acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- In Kanchana 3 (2019), Sathyaraj and Manobala shared a scene where Manobala's character gets possessed — and Sathyaraj's deadpan reaction became a meme template across Tamil social media for months.
- Manobala directed Sathyaraj in Thozhar Pandian (1994), and that film marked the only time Manobala directed a film that crossed 100-day run in theaters — a career milestone for the director-actor.
- Their first film together, Mallu Vetti Minor (1990), was also the debut production of Sathyaraj's home banner — and Manobala played the lead villain, setting the template for their later collaborations.
- Manobala once said in an interview: 'Sathyaraj sir is the only hero who let me improvise my comedy scenes without cutting a single shot. He trusted my timing more than I did.'
- In Nanban (2012), the remake of 3 Idiots, Sathyaraj and Manobala played father-son duo — and their emotional confrontation scene in the hostel was the only moment in the film that made Tamil audiences cry harder than the original Hindi version.
- After 6'2 (2005) flopped badly, both Sathyaraj and Manobala took a 7-year break from working together — and only reunited when Sathyaraj personally called Manobala for a cameo in Nanban (2012), restarting their on-screen partnership.
10 films across 3 decades
The 1990s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.2/10.
The 2000s accounted for 2 films, averaging 5.5/10.
The 2010s brought 6 films together, anchored by Nanban (7.4/10).
- Thozhar Pandian
- Mallu Vetti Minor0
- Kannamoochi Yenada
- 6'2
- Nanban
- Raja Rani
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
10 films across 29 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
When they first worked together, Sathyaraj had 68 films behind them; Manobala had 11.
Before Mallu Vetti Minor, Sathyaraj had starred in 68 films, including Enakkul Oruvan (1984) and Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986).
After Kanchana 3, Sathyaraj went on to appear in 38 more films, including Veetla Vishesham (2022) and Love Today (2022).
Before Mallu Vetti Minor, Manobala had starred in 11 films, including Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) and Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979).
After Kanchana 3, Manobala went on to appear in 39 more films, including Irugapatru (2023) and Viduthalai: Part II (2024).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Sathyaraj & Manobala's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Mayilsamy appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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