Manivannan & Raj Kapoor Movies Together List — 8 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Raj Kapoor appeared together in 8 Tamil films between 1997 and 2009. Their highest-rated collaboration was Thambi (2006 — 6.4/10). Films span Vallal (1997) through Mayandi Kudumbathar (2009).
The Manivannan & Raj Kapoor partnership
They saved their best for last — Thambi (6.4/10) came 9 years in. From Vallal (1997) to Mayandi Kudumbathar (2009). It started with Vallal (1997).
The shape of the work
The 2000s account for 63% of everything they made together. The 1990s belonged to Vallal; the 2000s to Thambi. Raj Kapoor director in some, actor in others. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan didn't just cast Raj Kapoor in 'Kalyana Galatta' (1998) — he personally convinced the young actor to switch from being a villain to a full-time lead. Raj Kapoor had been playing negative roles, and Manivannan told him flat out: 'You have a hero's face, stop wasting it.' That film became their first together.
- On the set of 'Taj Mahal' (1999), Manivannan would deliberately give Raj Kapoor only half the dialogue before a take. He wanted Raj Kapoor to react naturally, not recite lines. Raj Kapoor later said that Manivannan's method made him feel like he was acting for the first time — raw and unscripted.
- Their 2006 film 'Thambi' (6.4/10) directly launched the career of composer Srikanth Deva. Manivannan gave the young musician his first big break, and Raj Kapoor insisted on singing one of the songs himself. That soundtrack is still played at village festivals in Tamil Nadu.
- Manivannan and Raj Kapoor had a standing ritual: before every film's first day of shoot, they'd share a single cigarette at the location. No words, just smoke. Raj Kapoor said it was their way of 'clearing the air' before diving into work. They did this for all six films.
- Raj Kapoor once told a magazine: 'Manivannan sir didn't treat me like an actor. He treated me like his younger brother who needed a slap sometimes and a hug other times. That's why I never said no to any of his films.'
8 films across 2 decades
The 1990s accounted for 3 films, averaging 4.9/10.
The 2000s accounted for 5 films, averaging 5.1/10.
- Vallal
- Taj Mahal
- Thambi
- Dharmapuri
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
8 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
When they first worked together, Manivannan had 62 films behind them; Raj Kapoor had 11.
Before Vallal, Manivannan had starred in 62 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Thai Maaman (1994).
After Mayandi Kudumbathar, Manivannan went on to appear in 9 more films, including Sadhurangam (2011) and Naan Rajavaga Pogiren (2013).
Before Vallal, Raj Kapoor had starred in 11 films, including Seeman (1994) and Prem Rog (1982).
After Mayandi Kudumbathar, Raj Kapoor went on to appear in 21 more films, including Azhagiya Kanne (2023) and Laththi Charge (2022).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Raj Kapoor's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Sathyaraj appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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