Manivannan

Who Is Manivannan? Age, Biography, and Wiki

Manivannan was born on July 31, 1953, and left an indelible mark on the Tamil film industry until his passing on June 15, 2013. He was renowned for his versatility, charisma, and distinct directorial vision, contributing significantly to Indian cinema. His legacy continues to inspire new generations in the film industry. As of 2025, Manivannan would have been 72 years old, had he been alive.

Occupation	Screenwriter
Date of Birth	July 31, 1953
Age	59 Years
Birth Place	Sulur, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India
Horoscope	Leo
Country	India
Date of death	15 June, 2013
Died Place	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Popularity

Height, Weight & Measurements

While there’s limited information regarding Manivannan's exact height and weight, he was known for his robust presence in on-screen appearances. His performances conveyed a profound grasp of character depth, adding a unique charm to his roles.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Manivannan prioritised his acting career. At the height of his acting career, six of his film released on the same day in January 1998. Certain directorial ventures which he had started including Aaruvathu Sinam featuring Sathyaraj and Prabhu, were delayed and then dropped.

In 2013 he directed his 50th and last film Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA, a sequel to Amaidhi Padai.

Manivannan directed his best friend Sathyaraj in a good 25 films and gave 12 successive hits as the director of Tamil films with Sathyaraj as the lead hero – Jallikattu, Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi, Ganam Kortaar Avargale, Manidhan Marivittan, Ullathil Nalla Ullam, Vazhkkaichakkaram, Pudhu Manithan, Therku Theru Machan, Government Mapillai, Amaid

hipadai.

Family, Dating & Relationship Status

Manivannan hailed from a well-respected family in Tamil Nadu. His family background played a crucial role in shaping his artistic endeavors. Although details regarding his personal relationships are minimal, he was married and had children, reflecting a commitment to family values throughout his life.

Manivannan was first a staunch supporter of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as his father R S Maniam was the DMK town secretary of Sulur, which made Manivannan develop an interest in the ideology of the Dravidian movement. However, later he became a Marxist and an activist in the naxalite movement. He had political differences even with his father.

Net Worth and Salary

At the time of his passing in 2013, Manivannan's estimated net worth was approximately $5 million, attributed to his extensive career in film as an actor, director, and writer. His earnings predominantly stemmed from box office hits and his acclaimed directorial ventures, which celebrated Indian culture and themes.

Career, Business, and Investments

Manivannan's illustrious career spanned over three decades, marked by film direction, screenplay writing, and acting in various hits. He was particularly known for films that combined humor with social messages, and his unique storytelling captivated audiences worldwide. Throughout his career, he directed over 30 films, including memorable hits that are still celebrated today. In addition to his film career, Manivannan was also involved in various charitable endeavors, showcasing his dedication to social issues.

Although Manivannan directed 50 films in Tamil and had around 34 films as box-office hits, he was most known for his acting skills among public. He was considered unique in the industry for his wisdom and his character roles.

He had acted alongside many stars including Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sathyaraj, Karthik, Mohan, Madhavan, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Surya and among others. He has starred in over 400 films. Amaidhi Padai, directed by Manivannan, is believed to have given him headway as an actor.

He started getting plush offers and was seen acting in as many as thirty films a year from 1990 to 2011.

Social Network

Although Manivannan passed away before the social media boom, his work continues to resonate on various platforms where fans advocate for his films and celebrate his achievements. His legacy is often revisited on social media platforms, where nostalgia and admiration for his contributions to cinema prevail.

Manivannan (31 July 1953 – 15 June 2013) was an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, voice artist, playback singer and social activist who worked 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 thrived 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 villainous roles.

Education

Manivannan’s educational background, while not extensively documented, equipped him with the creative storytelling skills that propelled his career in the film industry. His passion for cinema likely began at a young age, paving the way for his future endeavors in acting and directing.

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Manivannan attended the Sulur Government Boy's High School and later enrolled at Government Arts College. While completing his pre-university course in Kovai, he became acquainted with Sathyaraj and became friends.

According to Sathyaraj, he provided poor guidance to Manivannan and made him pursue a degree in history in advanced English, which made him struggle with topics such as Shakespeare, forcing him to drop out later. While still at college, Manivannan was bitten by the stage-bug and consequently he staged a few performances.

Inspired by the impact the film Kizhake Pogum Rail (1978) made on him, he wrote a fan mail to the film-maker Bharathiraja and the letter ran to more than a hundred pages. Bharathiraja took him under his fold as an apprentice.

Manivannan joined Bharathiraja's camp around 1979, when the director was acting in and was directing by P S Nivas, Kallukkul Eeram.