Manivannan life and biography

Manivannan is a popular Tamil actor and director. With over 400 films to his name, Manivannan is one of the most experienced actors in the field. He normally plays the role of a dad or a senior comedian.

Character actor Manivannan hails from a small town called Sulur in Coimbatore district. While doing his P.U.C. in Kovai Govt. Arts College, he made friends with a lanky young man who happened to be his contemporary and the young man is none other than Sathyaraj. Their friendship stood the test of time and proved to be a mutually rewarding relationship. While still a collegian, Manivannan was bitten by the stage-bug and consequently he staged a few performances. Inspired by the impact the film Kizhakkae Pogum Rail" made on him he feverishly scribbled a fan mail to the filmmaker Bharathiraja and the letter ran to more than a hundred pages. Bharathiraja liked the earnest impressions made by the bearded and emaciated man from Coimbatore. He took him under his fold as an apprentice. Manivannan joined Bharathiraja's camp around 1979, when the revolutionary director was acting in and directing a real classic, "Kallukkul Eeram". He learnt the trade hard and fast and penned the story and dialogues for some of his mentor's films like "Nizhalgal", "Tick Tick Tick", "Alaigal Oayvathillai" and "Kaathal Ovium". Manivannan assisted Bharathiraja in a handful of films like "Puthya Vaarppugal", "Koththa Jeevithaalu" (Telugu), "Kizhakkae Pogum Rail" (Telugu), "Red Rose" (Hindi) and "Lovers" (Hindi). He had also penned the story and dialogues for a bunch of other films like "Lottery Ticket" acted by Prabhu, "Aagaaya Gangai" acted by Karthik, "Naesam" acted by Ajithkumar. In "Kodi Parakkuthu", directed by Bharathiraja, Manivannan did the villain's role. "Amaithip Padai", directed by Manivannan, is believed to have given him the headway as an actor. He started getting plush offers and was seen acting in as many as thirty films in a year. Manivannan joined the political party MDMK a few years back and campaigned for them during the 2006 Assembly elections.

Although Manivannan has directed films in Tamil he is most known for his acting. He is likened to a "cuddly teddy bear" by the industry for his wiseness and his character roles. He has acted alongside many a star including Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan among others. He has starred in over 400 films.

Manivannan has so far directed forty-five films including a few ventures in Telugu,Malayalam and Hindi. Manivannan has cast Sathyaraj in a good 25 films. His protégés have proved themselves as successful directors. Vikraman, R. K. Selvamani, Sunder C, Seemaan, K. Selvabharathi, Radhabharathi, C. V. Sasikumar, E. Ramadoss and Jeeva Balan once took orders for Manivannan. Withering irony, and a very cool way of delivering the dialogues is Manivannan’s motif and style in films.

Filmography:

Actor:
Vishwaroopam
Vidiyal
Lucky Jokers (Malayalam)
Vengayam
Kalavadiya Pozhudugal
Ilaignan
Thillalangadi

Director:
Aandan Adimai (2001)
Gangai Karai Pattu (1995)
Thozhar Pandian (1994)
Raasa Mahan (1994)
Veerappathakkam (1994)

Writer:
Nizhalgal
Alaigal Oyvathillai
Aagaaya Gangai

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