Manivannan & Kasthuri Raja Movies Together List — 4 Films
Complete Movies List & Collaboration History
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Data sources: Wikipedia, TMDB
Manivannan and Kasthuri Raja appeared together in 4 Tamil films between 1997 and 1998. Their highest-rated collaboration was Veera Thalattu (1998 — 5.5/10). Films span Ettupatti Rasa (1997) through Veeram Velanja Mannu (1998).
The Manivannan & Kasthuri Raja partnership
Between 1997 and 1998, they barely worked apart — 4 films in 1 years. 1998 was their peak — 3 films in twelve months. From Ettupatti Rasa (1997) to Veeram Velanja Mannu (1998).
The unfolded closed with Veeram Velanja Mannu in 1998. It started with Ettupatti Rasa (1997).
The shape of the work
Manivannan acted in every film; Kasthuri Raja directed all of them. Strictly Tamil cinema — they never crossed industries together.
Partnership facts
- Manivannan and Kasthuri Raja were close friends off-screen. They often traveled together to locations in the same car, discussing politics and poetry — not just cinema.
- Kasthuri Raja was a lyricist before he turned director. Manivannan saw his writing and insisted he direct Ettupatti Rasa (1997) — that film became Kasthuri Raja's directorial debut.
- On the sets of Veera Thalattu (1998), Manivannan would rewrite his own dialogues on the spot. Kasthuri Raja let him do it — he said Manivannan knew the pulse of the village audience better than anyone.
- En Aasai Rasave (1998) introduced a young actress named Devayani. She went on to become a major star in Tamil cinema — and she got her break only because Manivannan recommended her to Kasthuri Raja.
- Kasthuri Raja once said in an interview: 'Manivannan was the only actor who could make my dialogues sound like they came from the soil. He didn't act — he lived the lines.'
- In Veeram Velanja Mannu (1998), Manivannan played a character who was both comic and tragic. Kasthuri Raja wrote the role specifically for him — no one else could switch between laughter and tears in the same scene.
4 films across 1 decade
- Veera Thalattu
- En Aasai Rasave
The partnership in numbers
Partnership Pattern
4 films across 1 years represents focused partnership.
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; Kasthuri Raja had 7. After Veeram Velanja Mannu, Manivannan kept going for 91 more films; Kasthuri Raja stepped back.
Before Ettupatti Rasa, Manivannan had starred in 62 films, including Nizhalgal (1980) and Thai Maaman (1994).
After Veeram Velanja Mannu, Manivannan went on to appear in 91 more films, including Mugam (1999) and Sangamam (1999).
Before Ettupatti Rasa, Kasthuri Raja had directed 7 films, including Naatupura Paattu (1996) and Thaai Manasu (1994).
After Veeram Velanja Mannu, Kasthuri Raja went on to direct 4 more films, including Dreams (2004) and Karisakattu Poove (2000).
Collaboration Journey
A chronological view of Manivannan & Kasthuri Raja's professional partnership
Actors and musicians who worked on most of their films
Kushboo is the through-line — cast on 3 of their 4 films. Deva scored 3 of them. Kushboo appears alongside them in 3 films — practically a third lead.
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