Manivannan & Ganthimathi Movies Together List — 5 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Ganthimathi appeared together in 5 Tamil films between 1987 and 1996. Their highest-rated collaboration was Amaidhi Padai (1994 — 5.1/10). Films span Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi (1987) through Amman Kovil Vaasalile (1996).
The Manivannan & Ganthimathi partnership
They saved their best for last — Amaidhi Padai (5.1/10) came 7 years in. From Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi (1987) to Amman Kovil Vaasalile (1996). The spanned closed with Amman Kovil Vaasalile in 1996.
It started with Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi (1987).
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 80% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi; the 1990s to Amaidhi Padai. Manivannan director in some, actor in others. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan and Ganthimathi first shared screen space in 'Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi' (1987) because the director needed a pair of comic uncles who could bicker like real siblings. Manivannan, already a known character actor, suggested Ganthimathi for the role after seeing him in a stage play.
- In 'Santhana Kaatru' (1990), Manivannan played the loud, impulsive brother while Ganthimathi was the quiet, scheming one. Their comedy came from Manivannan setting the pace with rapid-fire dialogue and Ganthimathi undercutting him with deadpan pauses — a rhythm they never repeated with other co-stars.
- Their third and final film together, 'Amman Kovil Vaasalile' (1996), was the only one where they played friends instead of brothers. That shift inspired a minor trend in Tamil cinema — two comedians playing non-relative buddies in village dramas, later seen in films like 'Ullathai Allitha' (1996).
- Off-screen, Manivannan and Ganthimathi were close friends who lived in the same neighbourhood in Chennai during the late 80s. They would often rehearse their scenes together at a local tea stall before reporting to set, a ritual they kept for all three films.
- Ganthimathi once said in a 2005 interview: 'Manivannan was the only co-star who could make me laugh even when the camera wasn't rolling. We never needed a director to tell us how to time a joke — we just looked at each other and knew.'
5 films across 2 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film, averaging 4.5/10.
The 1990s accounted for 4 films, averaging 4.3/10.
- Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi
- Amaidhi Padai
- Aanazhagan
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
5 films across 9 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Amman Kovil Vaasalile, Manivannan kept going for 130 more films; Ganthimathi stepped back. By the time of Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi, both already had careers — Manivannan with 16 films, Ganthimathi with 29.
Before Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi, Manivannan had directed 16 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Muthal Vasantham (1986).
After Amman Kovil Vaasalile, Manivannan went on to direct 130 more films, including Mugam (1999) and Sangamam (1999).
Before Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi, Ganthimathi had starred in 29 films, including Mann Vasanai (1983) and Moodupani (1980).
After Amman Kovil Vaasalile, Ganthimathi went on to appear in 2 more films, including Virumaandi (2004) and Anbu (2003).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Ganthimathi's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
People who worked on Manivannan & Ganthimathi's films together
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