Manivannan filmography

Manivannan (31 July 1953 – 15 June 2013) was an Indian actor, film director and screenwriter known for his work in Tamil cinema. In a career spanning three decades, he went from being a story and dialogue writer for director Bharathiraja from 1980–82 to a successful director who throve in experimenting with different genres, before becoming an actor.[1] With over 400 films to his name, Manivannan was one of the most experienced actors in the field and has directed exact 50 films.[2] Manivannan was mainly a supporting actor in films and often played the comedian, supporting character and villain roles.[1]

The following is Manivannan's filmography. He has worked as a director, script and dialogue writer and as an actor. Manivannan has acted in over 400 films and directed 50 films throughout his career.[3]

As director and writer

  • Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Writer
1980 Nizhalgal N Y
1981 Alaigal Oivathillai N Y
Seethakoka Chilaka N Y Telugu film
1982 Aagaya Gangai N Y
Kaadhal Oviyam N Y
Lottery Ticket N Y
Gopurangal Saivathillai Y Y
1983 Jothi Y Y
Veetula Raman Veliyila Krishnan Y Y
Ilamai Kaalangal Y Y
1984 Kuva Kuva Vaathugal Y Y
Nooravathu Naal Y Y
Ingeyum Oru Gangai Y Y
Ambigai Neril Vanthaal Y Y
24 Mani Neram Y Y
January 1 Y Y
1985 Anbin Mugavari Y Y
Khooni Y Y Telugu film
Darja Donga Y Y Telugu film
Dubbed in Tamil as Marma Manithan
1986 Muthal Vasantham Y Y
Vidinja Kalyanam Y Y
Palaivana Rojakkal Y Y
1987 Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi Y Y
Ini Oru Sudhanthiram Y Y
Jallikattu Y Y
Kalyana Kacheri Y Y
Puyal Paadum Paattu Y Y
Theertha Karaiyinile Y Y
1988 Ullathil Nalla Ullam Y Y
Ganam Courtar Avargale Y Y
1989 Gopala Rao Gari Abbayi Y Y Telugu film
Hum Bhi Insaan Hain Y Y Hindi film
Manidhan Marivittan Y Y
1990 Vaazhkai Chakkaram Y Y
Sandhana Kaatru Y Y
1991 Pudhu Manithan Y Y
1992 Therku Theru Machan Y Y
Government Mappillai Y Y
Agreement Y Y Telugu film
Dubbed in Tamil as Idhayam Ullavan[4]
1993 Moondravadhu Kann Y Y
1994 Amaidhi Padai Y Y
Rasa Magan Y Y
Thozhar Pandian Y Y
Veera Padhakkam Y Y
1995 Gangai Karai Paattu Y Y
1997 Nesam N Y dialogues only
2001 Aandan Adimai Y Y
2013 Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA Y Y

As actor

1980s

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Kallukkul Eeram Assistant director Uncredited role
Nizhalgal Also writer
1982 Ragabanthangal
1988 Kodi Parakuthu G.D.
1989 Manidhan Marivittan

1990s

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Vazhkai Chakkaram Also director
1991 Pudhu Manithan Also director
Sirai Kadhavugal
1992 Government Mappillai Also director
Agreement David Also director - Telugu film
1994 Amaidhi Padai Manimaran Also director
Rasa Magan Aandai Also director
Thozhar Pandian Also director
Thai Maaman Paramasivan
Veera Padhakkam Palanisamy Also director
1995 Gangai Karai Paattu Stephen Anthony Raj Also director
Deva Mayilsamy Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian
Thondan Minister
Aanazhagan
Rani Maharani
Villadhi Villain MLA Kuppusamy
Murai Mappillai Kai Ezhuthu Gounder
Maaman Magal Manikkam
1996 Ullathai Allitha Vishwanathan
Kasinathan
Thirumbi Paar Chokku
Amman Kovil Vaasalile
Kalloori Vaasal Kumarasamy, Pooja's Father
Maanbumigu Maanavan Killadi Krishnaswamy
Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum Pennale Sivalingam
Kadhal Kottai Kaliyaperumal
Tamizh Selvan Vedimuthu
Vishwanath Narayanan
Mettukudi Kumarasamy
Manikkam
Subash Thangamani
Parivattam
Tata Birla Ramanathan
Nethaji Mani
Gokulathil Seethai Rishi's father
Avvai Shanmughi Mudaliar
Senathipathi Nagappan
Gopala Gopala Gopalakrishnan's father
Poomani Veerappan
Purushan Pondatti Velmurugan
Kranthi Veerappan Telugu film
Selva Selva's friend
1997 Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen Broker
Dharma Chakkaram Vellaichamy
Nesam Muthuvel Arunachalam
Pudhayal
Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga Nayar
Ettupatti Rasa Marimuthu
Vallal Virumaandi
Sishya Police inspector Malachamy
Pistha Kesavan
Suryavamsam Rasappa
Nattupura Nayagan
Once More Ashok
V.I.P Nizam Bhai
Nandhini Karupatti Kandhasamy
Periya Idathu Mappillai Manian Gounder
Nerukku Ner Sundaram
Porkaalam Ramaiya
Periya Manushan Johnson
Kadavul God
Janakiraman Kumarasaamy
Vidukathai Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai Kesavan's father
1998 Kaadhale Nimmadhi Velayudham
Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar Mani
Udhavikku Varalaamaa Mythili's father
Dhinamdhorum M.L.A Kesavamoorthy
Swarnamukhi Varadarajan
Color Kanavugal
Veera Thalattu
Ninaithen Vandhai Gopalakrishnan Gounder
Priyamudan House owner
Sandhippoma
Poonthottam Mani
Kalyana Galatta
Nilaave Vaa Dubai
En Aasai Rasave
Ellame En Pondattithaan Disctrict Secretary Sundarapandian
Aasai Thambi
Unnudan Santhosh's uncle
Veeram Vilanja Mannu Manikandan
Desiya Geetham Indian
Gurupaarvai Nagarajan
Kannathal Mohana Sundaram
Kadhal Kavithai Vishwa's father
1999 Thodarum
Thullatha Manamum Thullum Mani
Kallazhagar Mani
Chinna Durai
Annan Rasappan
Padayappa Ramalingam
Periyanna
Poomaname Vaa
Nilave Mugam Kaattu Chidambaram
Poomagal Oorvalam Prasanth’s father
Chinna Raja Mani
Rajasthan Cook
Anantha Poongatre Zamindar Rajadurai
Nenjinile Mani
Oruvan
Kadhalar Dhinam Manivannan
Sangamam Aavudapillai
Kannodu Kanbathellam Madana Gopal
Minsara Kanna Devanathan
Mugham Muthannan
Simmaraasi
Mudhalvan Chief Secretary Maya Krishnan
Hello Flower Shop Owner
Pudhu Kudithanam Gokulakrishnan
Pattali Mani

2000s

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Mugavaree CD Shop Owner
Sandhitha Velai
Kandukondain Kandukondain Sivagnanam
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Subramaniyam Singh
Maayi Rajavelu
Budget Padmanabhan Varadharajan
Rhythm Karthik's colleague
Vaanavil Ramasamy
Pottu Amman
Penngal Sodalai
Ennavale Subramani
2001 Nila Kaalam Television film
Engalukkum Kaalam Varum Mannangatti
Piriyadha Varam Vendum Dhaadi
Dumm Dumm Dumm Sivaji
Asathal Lawyer
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala Roja's father
Lovely Mahadevan
Kabadi Kabadi Ayyavannan
Mitta Miraasu
Paarthale Paravasam Nellai Amaran
Kasi Irulaandi
Azhagana Naatkal Rajasekhar
2002 Red Narayanan
Pammal K. Sambandam Rajeshwari's father
Phantom Varadaraja Perumal Malayalam film
Raajjiyam
Panchathanthiram Diamond-smuggling boss
Guruvamma
Youth Sandhya's father
Kubusam Telugu film
En Mana Vaanil Annamalai
2003 Vaseegara Mani
Anbe Anbe Mahendra Bhoopathy's son-in-law's brother
Parthiban Kanavu Sathya's father
Priyamana Thozhi Peter
Kadhal Kisu Kisu Sriram's father
Alaudin Chinnasamy
Anjaneya Paramaguru's neighbour
Enakku 20 Unakku 18 Preeti's Father
2004 Engal Anna SP's uncle
New Scientist aka Science
Sullan Mani
Arasatchi Hotel Receptionist
Vishwa Thulasi
Gomathi Nayagam Nanjappan
2005 Ayodhya Sabapathy
Ji Kaasi
London Bhaskharan
Arputha Theevu Maharaja Tamil Version
Padhavi Paduthum Paadu Marudhanayagam
Majaa Govindan
2006 Aathi Mani
Kodambakkam Ramasamy Gounder
Thambi Podhuvudamai
Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum JP
Dharmapuri Mokkaiyan
Rendu Exhibition Grounds owner
Sivappathigaram Sathyamoorthy's father
2007 Mudhal Kanave Hariharan
Nee Naan Nila Chellappa
Sivaji Arumugam
Cheena Thaana 001 Inspector Parameshwaran
Nam Naadu Purushothaman
Rameswaram Jeevan's grandfather
Puli Varudhu Ramesh's father
2008 Thodakkam
Sadhu Miranda Bank Manager
Nenjathai Killadhe Vasanth's father
Kuruvi Singamuthu
Aayutham Seivom VBR
Raman Thediya Seethai Manikkavel
Ellam Avan Seyal Veeramani
Bommalattam Village Chief
2009 Mayandi Kudumbathar Mayandi
Innoruvan Sadhasivam
Naalai Namadhe Mani
Vaalmiki

2010s

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Pollachi Mappillai Manju
Thillalangadi Ashram Staff
2011 Ilaignan Laborer
Sadhurangam MD
Velayudham Rathnavelu
2013 Naan Rajavaga Pogiren Kamaraj
Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA Manimaran Last film
2014 Ninaithathu Yaaro Himself Guest appearance; posthumous film
Sooran Posthumous film

2020s

Year Title Role Notes
2025 Madha Gaja Raja Auto driver Posthumous film;
Filmed in 2012 and released after 13 years

Voice artist

Year Title For Notes
1999 Shanmuga Pandian Kota Srinivasa Rao Dubbed version of Telugu film Samarasimha Reddy

Playback singer

Year Title Song Composer Notes
1996 Poomani "Eduthu Viduda Mappillai" Ilayaraja
1997 Nandhini "Maanoothu Odaiyila" Sirpy [5]
Ettupatti Raasa "Karikalai Puttukittu" Deva [6]

Television

References

  1. ^ a b Karthik Subramanian (15 June 2013). "Master of character roles Manivannan passes away". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Manivannan's death a huge loss: Tamil film fraternity". Business Standard India. Business Standard. IANS. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. ^ Subramanian, Karthik (15 June 2013). "Master of character roles Manivannan passes away - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  4. ^ "New Straits Times – Google News Archive Search".
  5. ^ Maanoothu Odaiyila Video Song |Nandhini Tamil Movie Songs |Prakash Raj|Suhasini|Pyramid Music. YouTube. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021.
  6. ^ Karikalai Song | Ettupatti Rasa Tamil Movie Songs | Napoleon | Urvashi | Deva | Music Master. YouTube. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021.