Manobala & Elango Kumaravel Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manobala and Elango Kumaravel appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 2008 and 2019. Their highest-rated collaboration was Kaatrin Mozhi (2018 — 7.9/10). Films span Abhiyum Naanum (2008) through Aruvam (2019).
The Manobala & Elango Kumaravel partnership
After 8 years apart, they came back together for Kaatrin Mozhi (2018). They saved their best for last — Kaatrin Mozhi (7.9/10) came 10 years in. They didn't share a set between 2010 and 2018.
From Abhiyum Naanum (2008) to Aruvam (2019). Kaatrin Mozhi is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
The 2010s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 2000s belonged to Abhiyum Naanum; the 2010s to Kaatrin Mozhi. Manobala acted in every film; Elango Kumaravel acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manobala cast Elango Kumaravel in Kattradhu Kalavu (2010) after seeing him in a stage play. Elango was a theatre veteran with zero film experience at that point. Manobala took a risk that paid off.
- On the set of Kaatrin Mozhi (2018), Manobala let Elango rewrite his own dialogues. Elango, a playwright, turned a supporting role into the film's most quotable character. The scene where he argues with a auto driver? That was all Elango's improvisation.
- Elango Kumaravel's performance in Kaatrin Mozhi (2018) directly led to him being cast in the blockbuster Bigil (2019). Director Atlee saw the film and called Elango the next day. That role made him a household name.
- Manobala and Elango had a standing ritual: before every film's first day shoot, they'd share a single cup of filter coffee at the same shop in Kodambakkam. They did this for all three films, without fail.
4 films across 2 decades
The 2000s brought 1 film together, anchored by Abhiyum Naanum (7.4/10).
The 2010s brought 3 films together, anchored by Kaatrin Mozhi (7.9/10).
- Abhiyum Naanum
- Kaatrin Mozhi
- Kattradhu Kalavu
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 11 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, Manobala had 50 films behind them; Elango Kumaravel had 4. After Aruvam, Manobala kept going for 39 more films; Elango Kumaravel stepped back.
Before Abhiyum Naanum, Manobala had starred in 50 films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982).
After Aruvam, Manobala went on to appear in 39 more films, including Irugapatru (2023) and Viduthalai: Part II (2024).
Before Abhiyum Naanum, Elango Kumaravel had starred in 4 films, including Mozhi (2007) and Azhagiya Theeye (2004).
After Aruvam, Elango Kumaravel went on to appear in 14 more films, including Vikram (2022) and Blue Star (2024).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manobala & Elango Kumaravel's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Manobala & Elango Kumaravel's films together
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
Sathish Krishnan
Harris Jayaraj
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Guru SomasundaramPrakash Raj
Aishwarya Rai BachchanKaali Venkat
Sean Roldan
R. Madhavan
Simran
G. V. Prakash Kumar