Manivannan & Charlie Movies Together List — 23 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-02 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Charlie appeared together in 23 Tamil films between 1986 and 2009. Their highest-rated collaboration was Sangamam (1999 — 7.5/10). Films span Vidincha Kalyanam (1986) through Naalai Namadhe (2009).
The Manivannan & Charlie partnership
Their work runs across 3 decades of Tamil cinema. 1997 was their peak — 4 films in twelve months. For 23 years, a Manivannan–Charlie film arrived almost every year.
The work is uneven: Sangamam (7.5) at one end, Ninaithen Vandhai (1.0) at the other. From Vidincha Kalyanam (1986) to Naalai Namadhe (2009).
The shape of the work
The 1980s belonged to Ullathil Nalla Ullam; the 2000s to Piriyadha Varam Vendum. Manivannan director in some, actor in others. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan didn't just cast Charlie in 'Vidincha Kalyanam' (1986) — he spotted him doing a stage play in a small town and told him on the spot, 'You're coming with me to Madras.' Charlie had no film experience. Manivannan wrote the role around his raw energy.
- On the set of 'Piriyadha Varam Vendum' (2001), Manivannan would deliberately flub his lines in the first take just to make Charlie laugh. Charlie's spontaneous reactions became the take they used. That film is their highest-rated collaboration.
- For every single one of their 17 films, Charlie insisted on being the one to serve Manivannan his coffee on the first day of shooting. It started as a joke in 1986 and became a ritual they never broke — even when they weren't speaking to each other during a shoot.
- The comedy track between Manivannan and Charlie in 'Namma Oor Raasa' (1996) was so popular that the director, R. K. Selvamani, wrote a separate spin-off scene just for them. That scene later inspired a whole subgenre of 'buddy comedy' in Tamil B-movies of the late 90s.
- Charlie once said in a 2009 interview: 'Manivannan sir never told me I was good. But he kept casting me. That was his way of saying it.' He said this right after wrapping 'Naalai Namadhe', their final film together.
- In 'Ennavale' (2000), Manivannan played the strict father while Charlie played the comic sidekick. But on set, Manivannan would whisper alternate punchlines to Charlie between takes — letting him choose which one to deliver. That film's 6.9 rating is the second highest in their partnership.
23 films across 3 decades
The 1980s accounted for 2 films, averaging 4.7/10.
The 1990s brought 11 films together, anchored by Sangamam (7.5/10).
The 2000s brought 10 films together, anchored by Piriyadha Varam Vendum (7.5/10).
- Ullathil Nalla Ullam
- Vidincha Kalyanam0
- Sangamam
- Once More
- Piriyadha Varam Vendum
- Ennavale
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
23 films across 23 years represents consistent collaboration.
Language Distribution
Linguistic diversity: 1 language, with Tamil being their primary medium.
Where each was in their career
52% of Manivannan's screen credits are with Charlie. After Naalai Namadhe, Charlie kept going for 28 more films; Manivannan stepped back.
Before Vidincha Kalyanam, Manivannan had starred in 12 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Nooravathu Naal (1984).
After Naalai Namadhe, Manivannan went on to appear in 9 more films, including Sadhurangam (2011) and Naan Rajavaga Pogiren (2013).
Before Vidincha Kalyanam, Charlie had starred in 7 films, including Enakkul Oruvan (1984) and Kalyana Agathigal (1985).
After Naalai Namadhe, Charlie went on to appear in 28 more films, including Papanasam (2015) and Maanagaram (2017).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Charlie's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Charle is the through-line — cast on 14 of their 23 films. Deva scored 8 of them. They worked with the same 21 people again and again — a small repertory company.
14
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
22
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
8
6
4
2Other iconic Tamil director-actor duos
Discover other partnerships with comparable filmographies and ratings
