Mani Ratnam & Karthik Movies Together — 3 Films

Mani Ratnam and Karthik have worked together on 3 films, with their collaboration spanning from 1986 to 2010 — a creative partnership lasting over 24 years. Their most productive decade was the 1980s, which accounted for 2 of their joint projects, cementing that era as the peak of their creative output.

Their first collaboration was "Mouna Ragam" in 1986. The film featured Mani Ratnam as Director and Karthik as Actor. That debut set the foundation for a partnership that would grow to 3 films over the following years.

Their highest-rated collaboration is "Agni Nakshatram" (1988), which holds a rating of 7.5/10. Other critically acclaimed entries include "Raavanan" (6.8/10) and "Mouna Ragam". Overall, their joint filmography averages 6.8/10 — an average that reflects mixed but sustained output across their career.

In their collaborations, Mani Ratnam most frequently as Director, and Karthik most frequently as Actor. This pairing of Director and Actor created a recognisable dynamic, though audience response has varied across their output.

The majority of Mani Ratnam & Karthik's joint work is in Tamil cinema. Their sustained focus within Tamil film has allowed them to develop a distinctive shared aesthetic recognisable to fans of the industry.

Their most recent collaboration is "Raavanan" (2010). As of 2010, their partnership continues to be relevant, with the film adding to a legacy built over 3 projects.

The Mani Ratnam and Karthik partnership stands out in Tamil cinema for its longevity and volume — 3 films across 24 years is an exceptionally sustained creative relationship in any industry. Their collaborative average of 6.8/10 reflects a mixed body of work — some titles were acclaimed, others underperformed at the box office. Titles like "Agni Nakshatram" (7.5/10) remain benchmarks of their era.

The highest-rated collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Karthik is "Agni Nakshatram" (1988), rated 7.5/10. Other top-rated films together include "Raavanan" and "Mouna Ragam".

Mani Ratnam and Karthik have collaborated across 24 years, from 1986 to 2010. Over this period they worked on 3 films, making theirs one of the longer-running creative partnerships in Indian cinema.

The Mani Ratnam & Karthik collaboration is a **selective partnership** in the Indian film industry. Their 15+ year association shows remarkable consistency and mutual professional respect.

Their most prolific period was the 1980s, when they delivered 2 films together. This was a peak creative period that helped define both their legacies. While they continued collaborating beyond this era (1 additional films), the 1980s remains their most concentrated and impactful output.

The chemistry between Mani Ratnam and Karthik stems from complementary creative strengths: their roles as Director and Actor create narrative balance.Their sustained collaboration across multiple films indicates genuine artistic synergy and mutual respect in their creative decision-making.

If you enjoy Mani Ratnam & Karthik's films, explore other notable collaborations in Indian cinema with similar thematic focus or era. Browse our curated collections of similar creative pairings and multi-generational collaborations on the 'Similar Collaborations' section of this page.

As of 2026, their most recent collaboration was "Raavanan" in 2010. With 16 years since their last joint project, fans have been hoping for a new collaboration. No official announcements have been made, but their proven creative chemistry makes a future collaboration a possibility worth watching.