Manivannan (31 July 1954 – 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. With over 400 films to his name, Manivannan was one of the most experienced actors in the field and directed exactly 50 films. Manivannan was mainly a supporting actor in films and often played the comedian, supporting character and villain roles.
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.
As writer Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted. Year Film Writer Notes 1980 Nizhalgal 1981 Alaigal Oivathillai Seethakoka Chilaka Telugu film 1982 Aagaya Gangai Kaadhal Oviyam Lottery Ticket 1997 Nesam
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 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 directorNizhalgal 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 VishwanathanKasinathan 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 Chidambaram 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 Ganga Yamuna Saraswati (Raj TV) Thirumagal (Kalaignar TV) Namma Kudumbam (Kalaignar TV)
Discography Playback singer Year Title Song Composer Notes1996Poomani"Eduthu Viduda Mappillai"Ilayaraja 1997 Nandhini "Maanoothu Odaiyila" SirpyEttupatti Raasa"Karikalai Puttukittu"Deva
References
External links
Manivannan filmography at Cinesouth.com