Manobala & Raj Kapoor Movies Together List — 7 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-02 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manobala and Raj Kapoor appeared together in 7 Tamil films between 1999 and 2016. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thambi (2006 — 6.4/10). Films span Taj Mahal (1999) through Aranmanai 2 (2016).
The Manobala & Raj Kapoor partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Taj Mahal (1999) to Aranmanai 2 (2016). It started with Taj Mahal (1999).
The shape of the work
The 1990s belonged to Taj Mahal; the 2010s to Aranmanai 2. Manobala acted in every film; Raj Kapoor acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manobala didn't just direct Raj Kapoor in 'Taj Mahal' (1999) — he also wrote the story. That film was Raj Kapoor's first Tamil lead role after years of supporting parts. Manobala essentially launched him as a hero.
- On 'Villu' (2009), Manobala gave Raj Kapoor a rare chance to play a full-on villain. Raj Kapoor leaned hard into the menace, and Manobala let him go over the top — something no other director had done with him before.
- Manobala and Raj Kapoor stayed close even when they weren't working. Raj Kapoor was a regular at Manobala's home functions, and Manobala once said in an interview that Raj Kapoor was 'like a younger brother who never said no to any role I offered.'
- Their 2006 film 'Thambi' — the highest-rated of their collaborations — was a sleeper hit that proved Raj Kapoor could carry a family drama. It directly led to him getting more mature, non-commercial roles in the late 2000s.
- Manobala once told a Tamil magazine: 'Raj Kapoor is the only actor who called me 'sir' even after becoming a star. He never changed. That's why I kept casting him.'
7 films across 3 decades
The 1990s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.8/10.
The 2000s accounted for 4 films, averaging 5.1/10.
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.7/10.
- Taj Mahal
- Thambi
- Kadhal Kirukkan
- Aranmanai 2
- Kondaan Koduthaan0
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
7 films across 17 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Aranmanai 2, Manobala kept going for 74 more films; Raj Kapoor stepped back. By the time of Taj Mahal, both already had careers — Manobala with 24 films, Raj Kapoor with 14.
Before Taj Mahal, Manobala had starred in 24 films, including Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) and Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979).
After Aranmanai 2, Manobala went on to appear in 74 more films, including Kaatrin Mozhi (2018) and Irugapatru (2023).
Before Taj Mahal, Raj Kapoor had starred in 14 films, including Seeman (1994) and Prem Rog (1982).
After Aranmanai 2, Raj Kapoor went on to appear in 9 more films, including Azhagiya Kanne (2023) and Laththi Charge (2022).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manobala & Raj Kapoor's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Vadivelu is the through-line — cast on 4 of their 7 films. Vadivelu appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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