Mani Ratnam & Vikram Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Mani Ratnam and Vikram appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 2010 and 2023. Their highest-rated collaboration was Ponniyin Selvan 1 (2022 — 7.8/10). Films span Raavanan (2010) through Ponniyin Selvan 2 (2023).
The Mani Ratnam & Vikram partnership
After 12 years apart, they came back together for Ponniyin Selvan 1 (2022). They didn't share a set between 2010 and 2022. They saved their best for last — Ponniyin Selvan 1 (7.8/10) came 12 years in.
From Raavanan (2010) to Ponniyin Selvan 2 (2023). Their most recent film, Ponniyin Selvan 2, came out in 2023 — the partnership is still active.
The shape of the work
The 2010s belonged to Raavanan; the 2020s to Ponniyin Selvan 1. Mani Ratnam directed every film; Vikram acted in all of them. Mostly Tamil, with 1 film in Hindi.
Partnership facts
- Mani Ratnam didn't initially cast Vikram in Raavanan. He wanted a different actor. Vikram called him directly and said, 'I want to do this role. I'll do anything.' Mani gave him a screen test on the spot. Vikram got the part.
- On the set of Raavanan, Vikram refused to use a stunt double for the climax fight on a moving train. Mani Ratnam was worried about safety. Vikram told him, 'If I don't feel the fear, the audience won't feel it either.' Mani let him do it. One take.
- Because of their Raavanan collaboration, Mani Ratnam trusted Vikram to play the older Chola prince in Ponniyin Selvan. That casting choice directly led to the film's emotional core — the scene where Vikram's character breaks down in the throne room became the most talked-about moment of the franchise.
- During the making of Ponniyin Selvan 1, Vikram would visit Mani Ratnam's house every Sunday for two months. They'd sit in the garden and read the script aloud — just the two of them. No crew. No actors. Mani later said those sessions 'fixed the rhythm of the film.'
- Vikram once said about Mani Ratnam: 'He doesn't tell you the emotion. He tells you the situation. Then he watches you find the emotion yourself. That's terrifying and liberating at the same time.'
- In Raavanan, Mani Ratnam deliberately shot Vikram's scenes with a handheld camera — something he rarely does. He wanted the audience to feel Vikram's character's instability. Vikram matched that by improvising small twitches and sudden silences. The result: a performance that felt like a live wire.
4 films across 2 decades
The 2010s accounted for 2 films, averaging 6.0/10.
The 2020s brought 2 films together, anchored by Ponniyin Selvan 1 (7.8/10).
- Raavanan
- Raavan
- Ponniyin Selvan 1
- Ponniyin Selvan 2
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 13 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 2 languages, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
By the time of Raavanan, both already had careers — Mani Ratnam with 25 films, Vikram with 38.
Before Raavanan, Mani Ratnam had directed 25 films, including Bombay (1995) and Indira (1995).
After Ponniyin Selvan 2, Mani Ratnam went on to direct 1 more film, including Thug Life (2025).
Before Raavanan, Vikram had starred in 38 films, including Pithamagan (2003) and Anniyan (2005).
After Ponniyin Selvan 2, Vikram went on to appear in 3 more films, including Thangalaan (2024) and Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 (2025).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Mani Ratnam & Vikram's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the through-line — cast on 4 of their 4 films. A. R. Rahman scored 4 of them. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
4
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
42
2Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
