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 directed exactly 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 as a director, script and dialogue writer and as actor. Manivannan acted in over 400 films and directed 50 films during his career.[3]

As writer

  • Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
Year Film Notes
1980 Nizhalgal
1981 Alaigal Oivathillai
Seethakoka Chilaka Telugu film
1982 Aagaya Gangai
Kaadhal Oviyam
Lottery Ticket
1997 Nesam Dialogues only

As director

Year Film Language Notes
1982 Gopurangal Saivathillai Tamil
1983 Jothi
Veetula Raman Veliyila Krishnan
Ilamai Kaalangal
1984 Kuva Kuva Vaathugal
Nooravathu Naal
Ingeyum Oru Gangai
Ambigai Neril Vanthaal
24 Mani Neram
January 1
1985 Anbin Mugavari
Khooni Telugu
Darja Donga Dubbed in Tamil as Marma Manithan
1986 Muthal Vasantham Tamil
Vidinja Kalyanam
Palaivana Rojakkal
1987 Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi
Ini Oru Sudhanthiram
Jallikattu
Kalyana Kacheri
Puyal Paadum Paattu
Theertha Karaiyinile
1988 Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Ganam Courtar Avargale
1989 Gopala Rao Gari Abbayi Telugu
Hum Bhi Insaan Hain Hindi
Manidhan Marivittan Tamil
1990 Vaazhkai Chakkaram
Sandhana Kaatru
1991 Pudhu Manithan
1992 Therku Theru Machan
Government Mappillai
Agreement Telugu Dubbed in Tamil as Idhayam Ullavan[4]
1993 Moondravadhu Kann Tamil
1994 Amaidhi Padai
Rasa Magan
Thozhar Pandian
Veera Padhakkam
1995 Gangai Karai Paattu
2001 Aandan Adimai
2013 Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA

As actor

1980s

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

1990s

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Vazhkai Chakkaram
1991 Pudhu Manithan
Sirai Kadhavugal
1992 Government Mappillai
Agreement David
1994 Amaidhi Padai Manimaran
Rasa Magan Aandai
Thozhar Pandian
Thai Maaman Paramasivan
Veera Padhakkam Palanisamy
1995 Gangai Karai Paattu Stephen Anthony Raj
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
Ennavalle 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 Delayed release;
Filmed in 2003-06
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;
Delayed release;
Filmed in 2012

Voice artist

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

Television

Discography

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]

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.