Mani Ratnam & Karthik Movies Together List — 3 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-03 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Mani Ratnam and Karthik appeared together in 3 Tamil films between 1986 and 2010. Their highest-rated collaboration was Agni Nakshatram (1988 — 7.5/10). Films span Mouna Ragam (1986) through Raavanan (2010).
The Mani Ratnam & Karthik partnership
After 22 years apart, they came back together for Raavanan (2010). They didn't share a set between 1988 and 2010. From Mouna Ragam (1986) to Raavanan (2010).
Agni Nakshatram is the one most viewers reach for. It started with Mouna Ragam (1986).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Agni Nakshatram; the 2010s to Raavanan. Mani Ratnam directed every film; Karthik acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Mani Ratnam was still a rookie when he cast Karthik in Mouna Ragam (1986). Karthik was already a star son, but Mani didn't care about lineage — he just needed someone who could play the quiet, wounded husband opposite a fierce Revathi. That film put both of them on the map.
- On Agni Nakshatram (1988), Mani Ratnam deliberately pushed Karthik out of his comfort zone. Karthik was used to romantic roles; Mani made him play a hot-headed, violent cop. Karthik later said Mani would yell 'faster, faster' during action scenes to keep him from overthinking.
- After Raavanan (2010), Mani Ratnam and Karthik didn't speak for years. Not because of a fight — just drifted apart. Karthik later admitted in an interview that he felt Mani had moved on to a different kind of cinema, and he didn't know how to fit in anymore.
- Karthik once said about Mani Ratnam: 'He doesn't explain emotions to you. He just sets the camera and expects you to feel it. If you don't, he'll reshoot until you do.' That was their entire working relationship in one line.
- Mouna Ragam (1986) directly inspired a wave of 'silent love stories' in Tamil cinema — films where the hero barely speaks but communicates through eyes and gestures. Karthik's performance as the stoic husband became the template for a whole generation of male leads.
3 films across 2 decades
The 1980s brought 2 films together, anchored by Agni Nakshatram (7.5/10).
The 2010s accounted for 1 film, averaging 6.8/10.
- Agni Nakshatram
- Mouna Ragam
- Raavanan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
3 films across 24 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
Before Mouna Ragam, Mani Ratnam had directed 2 films, including Idaya Kovil (1985) and Pagal Nilavu (1985).
After Raavanan, Mani Ratnam went on to direct 7 more films, including Ponniyin Selvan 1 (2022) and OK Kanmani (2015).
Before Mouna Ragam, Karthik had starred in 26 films, including Nallavanuku Nallavan (1984) and Alaigal Oivathillai (1981).
After Raavanan, Karthik went on to appear in 9 more films, including Anegan (2015) and Amaran 2 (2015).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Mani Ratnam & Karthik's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Prabhu is the through-line — cast on 2 of their 3 films.
Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
