Subramaniyan Karuppaiya (born 25 May 1939), known by his stage name Goundamani, is an Indian actor and comedian who works in Tamil cinema. He is known for his comic duo partnership in Tamil films with fellow actor Senthil. The pair dominated the Tamil industry as comedians in the 1980s and 90s.
Popularly known as "Counter Mani" because he specialised in giving counterarguments, he was called Goundamani as a misconception by actor/director K. Bhagyaraj and the pseudonym stuck. He has the ability to give counterarguments on the spot and off the script on stage and during shooting. He was at his peak of his career as a comedian in Tamil cinema for nearly 40 years. Despite his popularity, Goundamani is known for being a social recluse.
Early life Goundamani was born as Subramaniyan on 25 May 1939 at Vallakundapuram, a village near Udumalaipettai in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. His father is Karuppaiya and his mother is Annammal. He married Shanthi in 1963 and has 2 daughters.
Career On having interest in acting, he went to Chennai and initially started acting in theatre dramas and then entered into the Tamil film industry (Kollywood) due to his strong theatrical background. He portrayed a role of Ramasamy Gounder in an play and many started to call him Gounder which led him to add it to his real name Mani and named himself Goundamani.
He made his film acting debut in Server Sundaram where he featured in a minor and uncredited role as a driver. He made his full-fledged debut in 1977 film 16 Vayathinile where he played the role of Rajinikanth's sidekick. His role in the 1977 P. Bharathiraja directorial was also Goundamani's first credited role in his film career.
Goundamani has played lead roles in a few films during his career, but is predominantly a supporting actor playing comedy roles. While performing roles of a solo comedian in films, he often co-starred with Senthil to form a comedy duo. The pair was described as "Tamil cinema's Laurel and Hardy" and have performed slapstick humour in many Tamil films from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. Both of them are also remembered as partners-in-crime and also known for their chemistry.
Both Goundamani and Senthil were critically acclaimed for their career defining performance in Gangai Amaren's directorial Karakattakkaran (1989). Karakattakaran also coincidentally marked Goundamani and Senthil's 100th film as comedians together. Senthil and Goundamani both reportedly spent full 28 days on set during the shooting of the film. Goundamani's phrases in one of the comedy scenes featured in Karakattakaran, "Adhu enda enna pathu andha kelvi ketta?" () when Senthil asked him "Intha cara vachiruntha Sopanasundhariya yaaru vaichiruka" () became the highlight of the film and later became viral internet memes.
Goundamani's comedy scene from Thangamana Raasa (1989) is also best remembered by critics for dreaming of singing under the music of Ilaiyaraja when he was spending a jail term for petty crime. His one line phrases "Start the music", "Arasiyal la ithellam saatharnamappa" () and "Kosu thollai thaanga mudiyala pa" () which featured in the 1992 film Suriyan also later became a viral meme and trendsetter in Internet.
After recuperating from diabetes and respiratory illnesses during the late 2000s, he featured in Vaaimai and also played the lead role in 49-O, which began productions in 2013. It was directed by debutant Arokiadoss, a former assistant of Gautham Vasudev Menon. In 2019, he was approached by film director R. Kannan and actor Santhanam to cast him in a supporting role for their film project but Goundamani reportedly turned down the offer as he was sceptical about the role. In 2025, his political comedy film Otha Votu Muthaiya was released. With his impeccable comic timing and charismatic screen presence, Goundamani once again proves why he remains an iconic figure in Tamil cinema.
Filmography 1960s + List of Goundamani 1960s film credits Year Title Role Notes 1964Server Sundaram Driver Uncredited role1967Selva MagalOffice clerkUncredited role
1970s + List of Goundamani 1970s film credits Year Title Role Notes 1970 Raman Ethanai Ramanadi School van driver Uncredited role1971Thenum Paalum SubramaniyanUncredited role 1977 16 Vayathinile Koothu 1978 Kizhake Pogum Rail Ramaiya Sigappu Rojakal Manager 1979 Anandam Enndru Arambam Puthiya Vaarpugal Ammavasai Suvarilladha Chiththirangal Kaliyannan
1980s + List of Goundamani 1980s film credits Year Title Role Notes 1980 Paruvathin Vasalile Kallukkul Eeram Mangala Nayagi Vasantha Azhaippugal Enga Ooru Rasathi Saranam Ayyappa 1981 Devi Dharisanam Velichathukku Vanga Netrikan Singaram Nenjile Thunivirunthal Kudumbam Oru Kadambam House owner 1982 Anandha Ragam Ilanjodigal Assistant commissioner Pakkathu Veetu Roja Antha Rathirikku Satchi Illai Valibamey Vaa Vaa Agaya Gangai Arumugam Mullillatha Roja 1983 Uyirullavarai Usha Inimai Idho Idho Panchayat headKaadhal OviyamNayanamMalaiyoor Mambattiyan'Silk' SingaramThoongadhe Thambi ThoongadheAssistant of the estate managerAanandha Kummi1984Komberi MookanNaan Paadum Paadal Surya KumarNeram Nalla NeramNilavu SuduvathillaiNaalai Unathu Naal Varadhan Priyamudan PrabhuUnnai Naan SanthithenPandiyaThambathigalVaidehi KathirunthalAll-in-All Azhagu Raja1985Raja GopuramRajathi RojakiliSoora ThevarAlai OsaiAnthasthuDevdasMannukketha PonnuVishamurukki VeluchamyKanni RasiGopikrishnaVellai ManasuIdhu Engal RajyamUdaya GeethamBalajiKaruppu ChattaikaranAnnai BhoomiRagappaAnbin MugavariKarpoora DeepamMeendum ParasakthiAashaThendral Thodatha MalarPagal NilavuGeorge KuttyNaane Raja Naane MandhiriKuppusamyAmudha GaanamAagaya Thamaraigal BoopathyHello Yaar PesurathuEettiMarudhaniSchool TeacherKaraiyai Thodadha AlaigalIdhaya KovilLogidhasan BhagavatharPanam Pathum SeiyumPattuchelaiGeethanjaliJapanil KalyanaramanMayilsamy 1986Meendum PallaviJeevanathiMr. BharathSanjeeviKarimedu KaruvayanDecember Pookal Mestri MayilsamyRasigan Oru RasigaiMaragatha VeenaiSchool headmasterDharma Pathini"Pothuppani" PonnuchamyThalaiyaati BommaigalPaadum ParavaigalPartially reshot versionIsai Paadum ThendralAayiram Pookkal MalarattumVeshamPiranthaen ValarnthaenRajaEngal Thaikulame VarugaMannukkul VairamEsakki 1987Idhu Oru Thodar KathaiPer Sollum PillaiJaathi PookkalDhoorathu PachaiNinaive Oru SangeethamChinnukaruppandevarGramatthu Minnal 1988Sakkarai Pandhal Manamagale Vaa 1989Rasathi KalyanamEnne Petha RaasaRaja and Ganesan's fatherEnga Ooru MappillaiPennbuthi Pin ButhiNinaivu ChinnamKundalakesiKaragattakaran'Thavil Vidhwan' ThangaveluRaaja RaajathanPonmana SelvanHong Kong AnnamalaiAnbu KattalaiThangamana Raasa Subaiya (Subramani)Vaathiyaar Veettu PillaiChinna MuthuManasukketha MaharasaMundhanai Sabatham
1990s + List of Goundamani 1990s film credits Year Title Role Notes1990Vaazhkai ChakkaramConstablePaattali MaganDharmadi DharmalingamSalem VishnuKathavarayanPaattukku Naan AdimaiThangathin ThangamNeengalum HerothanPavadaikanthUlagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga'Suthi' JosiyarPeriya Idathu PillaiMadurai Veeran Enga Saami'Balloon' KandasamyOoru Vittu Ooru VanthuCaptain TamilarasuVelai KidaichuduchuPatanathil PettiMy Dear MarthandanIdea ManiPuthu PaatuPalanisamyNadiganKurangu KannayiramNamma Ooru PoovathaEverything Ekambaram1991Naadu Adhai NaaduNaan Pudicha MappillaiThandavarayanPudhu ManithanRasappaChinna ThambiKanthasamyEn Rasavin ManasileAdhikariMarikozhundhuBuilding constructorIdhaya VaasalBalaramanCheran PandiyanMechanic ManikkamAyul KaithiSundarrajanVaidehi KalyanamPachamuthuOorellam Un PaattuThambi Oorukku PudhusuVasanthakala ParavaiRavi's friend's uncleKizhakku KaraiRaja (Jacky)BrammaValayapalayam ChinnasamyNallathai Naadu KekumA police officer who disguises himself as a ghostNallathai Naadu Kekum (1991) Classic Movies (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Jeppiar Pictures. 1991. Character's name mentioned from 01:31:10 to 01:39:27Thalattu KetkuthammaRasaiya's uncleNenjamundu NermaiyunduPondatti Sonna KettukanumDharmalingam1992MannanMuthuChinna GounderVellaiPandithuraiMayilsamyRickshaw MamaGovinthasamyThilagamSingamuthuIlavarasanKung Fu MasterChinna ThayyePeriya Gounder PonnuPalanisamySivantha MalarPolice constableThanga ManasukkaranGuitaristSingaravelanDrums ManiTherku Theru MachanChinnavarChinna Pasanga Naanga'Kuwait' GovindOor Mariyadhai'Miner' MahadevanIdhuthanda SattamKaruppanAavarampooChellappa AasariThaali Kattiya RaasaMagudamThanni SamyPattathu RaaniJalagandeswaranSuriyanPannikutty Ramasamy Mappillai VanthachuPangaliManiSamundiMuthuDavid UncleKavundarSenthamizh PaattuMurugesanThirumathi PalanisamyDhandapaniOnna Irukka KathukanumSudalaiVillu PattukaranAppakannuNatchathira Nayagan'Detective' Thiruvasagam1993Koyil KaalaiIlaneer BusinessmanWalter Vetrivel'Royal' RamasamyRakkayi KoyilSingaramManikuyilEjamaanVellaiyangiriMaharasanGovindanAmma PonnuUthama RaasaOndippulithevarPonnumaniNaachiPorantha Veeda Puguntha VeedaRavi's FatherUzhaippali P. A. of LawyerBand MasterManiDharma SeelanAarusamyGentlemanManiUdan Pirappu'White Rice' VellasamyThalattuGoundarI Love IndiaDiwakar's uncleDhuruva NatchathiramChinna JameenThalaiyari MamaKattabomman'Supervisor' SubramaniRojavai KillatheDevit Lorry Driver 1994Sethupathi IPS MuthaiyaRajakumaranMarusamyAranmanai Kaavalan ThangamaniVaravu Ettana Selavu Pathana 'Anjatha Singam' MarugupandiSeeman DawaliVandicholai ChinraasuKittuJai Hind KottaisamyRasiganEkambaramMettupatti MirasuGounderVietnam ColonyJosephSadhu'Anjukolai' AarumugamSathyavanKirubaThai MaamanRasappan's uncleJallikattu KaalaiAarusamyNattamaiPangali / Pangali's momPeriya MarudhuSudalaiNilaThaai Manasu Chokkalingam1995Naan Petha Magane K. D. VaradarajanVeluchamiKathavarayanMuthu Kaalai PattayakararMuthukulikka VaariyalaKondakara AnnachiRaja Enga RajaRajaCooliePeriyasamy / Velusamy / MadasamyKarnaaNayakLucky Man YamadharmarajanChinna VathiyarAstrologerMurai MamanPerusu (Sirasu's elder brother)Villadhi VillainManiThamizhachi VillangamMarumaganGovindsamyThedi Vandha RaasaAlbert KothandamChakravarthy Chinnappa Nadodi Mannan PonnusamyPeriya KudumbamPost MasterMr. MadrasGovindsamyIlavarasiGajaRagasiya PolicePonnurangamMaa Manithan Mr. Dinar / VettiyanAyudha PoojaiKanthasamyMaaman Magal ManikkamMurai MappillaiRameshMannai Thottu KumbidanumDesingu 1996Coimbatore Mappillai GopalParambaraiKaruppusamyUllathai AllithaGreat VasuMahaprabhuSethuNattupura Pattu KattamuthuMusthaffaaChellappaIndian SubbaiahPudhu NilavuTaxi DriverKatta Panchayathu Toddy manAvathara Purushan 'Pickpocket' PeriyasamyEn Aasai ThangachiPoovarasanGovindMettukudiKalingarayanParivattamTata BirlaRanjithSenathipathiKathavarayanGnanapazham Aarthi's brother1997Periya ThambiAzhagu SundaramNesam Muthuvel ArunachalamPudhayalMannavaRaghupathyVallalSithappuSishyaPolice inspector MalachamyPeriya Idathu MappillaiKaaliAahaa Enna PoruthamThedinen VanthathuTamizhmani / 'Pollachi' PonnusamyJanakiramanRettai Jadai VayasuVijay's uncle1998Aval VaruvalaDhandapaniThayin Manikodi 'Silverspoon' ShilpakumarEn Uyir Nee Thaane'Bullet' JackieBhagavath Singh1999Suriya PaarvaiRaj Bharath / NattamaiPonnu VeetukkaranEkambaramEthirum PudhirumAuto DriverKadhalar DhinamProfessor JackMalabar PoliceGovindrajan (Govindo)Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga KundalakesiAzhagarsamy
2000s + List of Goundamani 2000s film credits Year Title Role Notes2000VeeranadaiUlagavaayanKannan Varuvaan Thannirmalai/Athiyapatham/EzhumalaiKannaal PesavaaClinton 2001Kunguma Pottu Gounder ChinnasamyVedham GovindsamySamuthiramRamanathanAzhagana NaatkalRanjith 2002Baba AnnamalaiSamasthanamSelvam2003Chokka Thangam Muthu's uncleYes MadamGanesh KumarParasuramSub-Inspector Thangaraj2004Manmadhan 'Puncture' Pandi2006Suyetchai MLAVisky2008Thangam Kalai
2010s + List of Goundamani 2010s film credits Year Title Role Notes 2010JaggubhaiMIB alias KalaniyappanPollachi MappillaiChellapatta201549-OSowrirajaperumal (Sowri) 2016Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal KidayathuCaravan KrishnanVaaimaiBenny
2020s + List of Goundamani 2020s film credits Year Title Role Notes2025Otha Votu MuthaiyaMuthaiya