Manivannan & Karthik Movies Together List — 10 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Karthik appeared together in 10 Tamil films between 1989 and 2001. Their highest-rated collaboration was Azhagana Naatkal (2001 — 4.0/10). Films span Kathal Oivadilai (1989) through Azhagana Naatkal (2001).
The Manivannan & Karthik partnership
They saved their best for last — Azhagana Naatkal (4.0/10) came 12 years in. Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. From Kathal Oivadilai (1989) to Azhagana Naatkal (2001).
For 12 years, a Manivannan–Karthik film arrived almost every year. The spanned closed with Azhagana Naatkal in 2001.
The shape of the work
The 1990s account for 60% of everything they made together. The 1980s belonged to Kathal Oivadilai; the 2000s to Azhagana Naatkal. Manivannan acted in every film; Karthik acted in all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan and Karthik had a standing ritual: before every film's first day of shoot, they'd share a single cigarette in silence. Karthik said it was their way of 'clearing the air' before work.
- Manivannan didn't just cast Karthik in Kathal Oivadilai (1989) — he specifically wrote the film's lead role around Karthik's boy-next-door image, after watching him in a small supporting part. That film became Karthik's first major hit as a solo hero.
- On the sets of Sishya (1997), Manivannan would deliberately keep Karthik waiting for hours before a key emotional scene. Karthik later said the frustration made his anger in the scene feel real — Manivannan used that tension as a tool.
- Their 1998 film Udhavikku Varalaamaa was the first Tamil movie to feature a then-unknown comedian named Vivek in a supporting role. Vivek later credited Manivannan for giving him his break — and Karthik for not cutting his scenes.
10 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 1 film.
The 1990s accounted for 6 films, averaging 2.9/10.
The 2000s accounted for 3 films, averaging 3.1/10.
- Kathal Oivadilai0
- Pistha
- Chinna Raja
- Azhagana Naatkal
- Sandhitha Velai
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
10 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 Azhagana Naatkal, Manivannan kept going for 53 more films; Karthik stepped back. By the time of Kathal Oivadilai, both already had careers — Manivannan with 25 films, Karthik with 43.
Before Kathal Oivadilai, Manivannan had starred in 25 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Muthal Vasantham (1986).
After Azhagana Naatkal, Manivannan went on to appear in 53 more films, including Solla Marandha Kadhai (2002) and Meesai Madhavan (2004).
Before Kathal Oivadilai, Karthik had starred in 43 films, including Nallavanuku Nallavan (1984) and Alaigal Oivathillai (1981).
After Azhagana Naatkal, Karthik went on to appear in 18 more films, including Raavanan (2010) and Anegan (2015).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Karthik's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Deva is the through-line — music on 7 of their 10 films. Pandu appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead. Deva scored 7 of them.
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Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
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