Manobala & Mohan Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manobala and Mohan appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1982 and 1986. Their highest-rated collaboration was Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982 — 7.5/10). Films span Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) through Paru Paru Pattanam Paru (1986).
The Manobala & Mohan partnership
Between 1982 and 1986, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 4 years. For 4 years, a Manobala–Mohan film arrived almost every year. From Gopurangal Saivathillai (1982) to Paru Paru Pattanam Paru (1986).
The unfolded closed with Paru Paru Pattanam Paru in 1986. Gopurangal Saivathillai is the one most viewers reach for.
The shape of the work
Never on the same side of the camera — Manobala director, Mohan actor, across all 4 films. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manobala was a struggling director when he cast Mohan in 'Pillai Nila' (1985). The film was a gamble — Manobala had no hit to his name, and Mohan was coming off a string of flops. They bet on each other and it paid off.
- On the sets of 'Naan Ungal Rasigan' (1985), Manobala let Mohan rewrite his own dialogues. Mohan’s natural comic timing turned a weak script into a film that still gets quoted in Tamil college hostels. The director later admitted he just stayed out of Mohan’s way.
- The success of 'Pillai Nila' and 'Naan Ungal Rasigan' directly led to Manobala being offered bigger projects. He went on to direct Rajinikanth in 'Mappillai' (1989) — a film that wouldn’t have happened without the Mohan-Manobala combo proving he could handle a star.
- Manobala and Mohan remained close friends long after their films ended. When Manobala transitioned to acting in the 2000s, Mohan was one of the first to call him and say, 'Welcome to the other side of the camera.'
- Mohan once said in an interview: 'Manobala never treated me like a hero. He treated me like a co-writer. That’s why our films felt alive.'
4 films across 1 decade
- Gopurangal Saivathillai
- Naan Ungal Rasigan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 4 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Paru Paru Pattanam Paru, Manobala kept going for 220 more films; Mohan stepped back.
Before Gopurangal Saivathillai, Manobala had directed 1 film, including Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979).
After Paru Paru Pattanam Paru, Manobala went on to direct 220 more films, including 10 Enradhukulla (2015) and Kaatrin Mozhi (2018).
Before Gopurangal Saivathillai, Mohan had starred in 4 films, including Nenjathai Killadhe (1980) and Moodupani (1980).
After Paru Paru Pattanam Paru, Mohan went on to appear in 24 more films, including Krishnan Vandhan (1987) and Sutta Pazham (2008).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manobala & Mohan's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Nalini is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 4 films. Ilayaraja scored 3 of them. Nalini appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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