Manivannan & Anandaraj Movies Together List — 16 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Anandaraj appeared together in 16 Tamil films between 1992 and 2004. Their highest-rated collaboration was Meesai Madhavan (2004 — 7.5/10). Films span Government Mappillai (1992) through Meesai Madhavan (2004).
The Manivannan & Anandaraj partnership
They saved their best for last — Meesai Madhavan (7.5/10) came 12 years in. 1998 was their peak — 6 films in twelve months. For 12 years, a Manivannan–Anandaraj film arrived almost every year.
From Government Mappillai (1992) to Meesai Madhavan (2004). The played out closed with Meesai Madhavan in 2004.
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 75% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Thozhar Pandian; the 2000s to Meesai Madhavan. Manivannan director in some, actor in others. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan actually discovered Anandaraj. He cast him as a villain in Government Mappillai (1992) after seeing him in a small role. That film kicked off their 11-film run.
- In Thozhar Pandian (1994), Manivannan played the comic sidekick while Anandaraj was the hero. Their timing was so sharp that the director let them improvise most of their scenes together. No script, just vibes.
- Their pairing in Simmarasi (1998) directly launched the trend of 'hero-villain buddy comedies' in Tamil B-movies. Producers started copying their formula for the next five years.
- On every single shoot, Manivannan would make Anandaraj sit with him during lunch. They'd share a single banana leaf plate. Anandaraj later said it was his film school.
- Anandaraj once told a magazine: 'Manivannan sir taught me how to act without dialogue. He'd just look at me, and I'd know what to do. No other co-star gave me that.'
- In Engal Anna (2004), Manivannan deliberately slowed down his delivery to match Anandaraj's raw energy. He said it made their arguments feel real — like two guys about to throw punches in a tea stall.
16 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 12 films, averaging 4.2/10.
The 2000s brought 4 films together, anchored by Meesai Madhavan (7.5/10).
- Thozhar Pandian
- Sandhippoma
- Meesai Madhavan
- Arasatchi
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
16 films across 12 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
After Meesai Madhavan, Anandaraj kept going for 55 more films; Manivannan stepped back. By the time of Government Mappillai, both already had careers — Manivannan with 30 films, Anandaraj with 17.
Before Government Mappillai, Manivannan had starred in 30 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Muthal Vasantham (1986).
After Meesai Madhavan, Manivannan went on to appear in 34 more films, including Sivappathigaram (2006) and Nenjathai Killadhe (2008).
Before Government Mappillai, Anandaraj had starred in 17 films, including Pattukku Naan Adimai (1990) and Thaimel Aanai (1988).
After Meesai Madhavan, Anandaraj went on to appear in 55 more films, including Chennai City Gangsters (2025) and Kanne Kalaimaane (2019).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Anandaraj's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva scored 4 of them. They worked with the same 9 people again and again — a small repertory company. Sarath Kumar appears alongside them in 4 films — practically a third lead.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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