26 Facts About Manivannan

Manivannan was an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, voice artist, playback singer and social activist who worked in Tamil cinema.

Manivannan was mainly a supporting actor in films and often played the comedian, supporting character and villainous roles.

Manivannan supported various political parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Manivannan had been a long supporter of Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism.

Manivannan hailed from a small town called Sulur in Coimbatore District.

Manivannan was born on 31 July 1953 to R S Maniam, a rice merchant, textile trader, and a well-known politician in Coimbatore and Maragatham who has contested in the elections and won a seat in the panchayat.

Manivannan married Sengamalam, has a daughter and a son Raghu, who is acting in the films and is popularly known as Raghuvannan.

Manivannan attended the Sulur Government Boy's High School and later enrolled at Government Arts College.

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

Manivannan penned the story and dialogues for some of his mentor's films between 1980 and 1982 like Nizhalgal, Tick Tick Tick, Alaigal Oivathillai and Kaadhal Oviyam.

Manivannan assisted Bharathiraja in a handful of films like Koththa Jeevithaalu, Red Rose starring Rajesh Khanna and Lovers.

Manivannan learned trade hard and fast within two years under Bharatiraja and by 1982 made his directorial debut.

Manivannan had penned the story and dialogues for a bunch of other films like Lottery Ticket acted by Mohan and Prabhu, Agaya Gangai acted by Karthik, Nesam acted by Ajith Kumar.

In Kodi Parakuthu, directed by Bharathiraja, Manivannan did the villain's role.

Manivannan was considered unique in the industry for his wisdom and his character roles.

Manivannan had acted alongside many stars including Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sathyaraj, Karthik, Mohan, Madhavan, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Surya and among others.

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

Manivannan directed 50 films including a few ventures in Telugu and Hindi.

Manivannan made his directorial debut with Gopurangal Saivathillai in 1982.

Manivannan's proteges include directors Vikraman, R K Selvamani, Sundar C, Seeman, K Selva Bharathy, Radha Bharathi, C V Sasikumar, E Ramadoss, Jeeva Balan and Rasu Madhuravan.

Manivannan was first a staunch supporter of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 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.

Manivannan was a Tamil patriot and joined the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party and campaigned for them during the 2006 Assembly elections.

Manivannan later joined Naam Tamilar Katchi and has been as supporter of Tamil Eelam.

Manivannan once said: "If I were born in Tamil Eelam, I would have certainly joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a warrior and sacrificed my life for the Eelam, since I am born in Tamil Nadu, there is Eelam feeling in me".

Manivannan died shortly after the release of his 50th directorial venture Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA due to a cardiac arrest on 15 June 2013 at the age of 59 in his Nesapakkam residence at Chennai.

Manivannan's body was wrapped in the flag of Tamil Eelam as he wished.