Goundamani
Born: 1935-05-25 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Known For: Acting
Biography
Goundamani (born Subramani Karuppaiya) is an Indian film actor and comedian. He is better known for his comic duo partnership in Tamil films with fellow actor Senthil. His real name "Mani" got the "Counter" prefix for his ability to give counter on the spot and off the script on stage and during shooting which eventually evolved into Goundamani as per Bhagyaraj who was writing scripts and title credits for Bharathiraja in his early days during the movie 16 Vayathinile. 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 several Tamil films since the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. After recuperating from diabetes and respiratory illnesses during the late 2000s, he is about to feature in Vaaimai and also play the lead role in 49-O, which began productions in 2013. It is being directed by debutant Arokiadoss, a former assistant of Gautham Vasudev Menon. The Film 49-O was released on 17 September 2015 and most of the critics gave positive reviews. He had a successful career that spanned over three decade thanks to his timing and ability to reinvent himself from comedian to character artiste to villain to second hero to comedic duo.
Filmography
2025
2016
- Vaaimai as Benny Quick
- Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu as Caravan Krishnan
2015
- 49-O as Savuri
2010
- Jaggubhai as Mani
- Pollachi Mappiley as Chellapatta
2006
- Suyetchai MLA as Visky
2004
- Manmadhan as 'Puncture' Pandian
2003
- Chokka Thangam as Muthu’s Uncle
- Parasuram
- Yes Madam
2002
- Baba as Annamalai
- Samasthanam
2001
- Samuthiram as Ramanathan
- Vedham
- Kunguma Pottu Gounder as Chinnasamy
- Azhagana Naatkal as Ranjith
2000
- Veeranadai as Ulagavaayan
- Kannan Varuvaan as Thanneermalai / Aadiyapaatham / Ezhumalai
- Kannaal Pesavaa
1999
- Kadhalar Dhinam as Romeo
- Azhagarsamy
- Ponnu Veetukkaran as Ekambharam
- Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga as Kundalagesi
- Malabar Police as Govindrajan
- Suriya Paarvai
- Ethirum Pudhirum as Auto Driver
1998
- Aval Varuvala as Dhandabani
- En Uyir Nee Thaane
- Thaayin Manikodi
1997
- Vallal as Thangarasu
- Periya Idathu Mappillai as Kaali
- Periya Thambi as Azhagu Sundaram
- Janakiraman
- Sishya as Aravind friend
- Nesam
- Thedinen Vandhadhu as Tamizhmani / 'Pollachi' Ponnusamy
- Pudhayal
- Rettai Jadai Vayasu as Vijay´s Uncle
- Aahaa Enna Porutham
- Mannava as Raghupathy
1996
- Indian as Subbaiyaa
- Ullathai Allitha as Vasu
- Senathipathi as Kathavarayan
- Coimbatore Mappillai as Gopal
- Metukudi
- Tata Birla as Ranjith
- Poovarasan
- Maha Prabhu
- Musthaffaa
- Parambarai
- Katta Panchayathu
- Gnanapazham as Aarthi's brother
1995
- Raja Enga Raja as Raja
- Ragasiya Police
- Chakravarthy as Chinnappa
- Periya Kudumbam
- Coolie
- Chinna Vathiyar as Josiyar
- Nadodi Mannan
- Veluchami as Kathavarayan
- Villadhi Villain as Mani
- Maaman Magal as Maams
- Murai Maaman as Perusu
- Karnaa
- Mr. Madras as Govindsamy
- Muthu Kulikka Vaarieyala
- Lucky Man
- Muthu Kaalai
- Ayudha Poojai
- Naan Petha Magane as K. D. Varadarajan
- Murai Mappillai as Ramesh
1994
- Sadhu
- Varavu Ettana Selavu Pathana as Anja Singam Maruthupandi
- Nattamai
- Rajakumaran
- Sethupathi I.P.S as Muthaiya
- Nila
- Jai Hind as Kottaisamy
- Thai Maaman
- Periya Marudhu
- Aranmanai Kaavalan as Thangamani
- Seeman
- Vandicholai Chinraasu as Kittu
- Vietnam Colony as Joseph
- Mettupatti Mirasu as Gounder
1993
- Amma Ponnu
- Udan Pirappu as Vellasamy
- Maharasan as Govindan
- Gentleman as Mani
- Chinna Jameen as Thalayari Mama
- Walter Vetrivel as Royal Ramasamy
- Dharma Seelan
- Uzhaippali as Lawyer's P.A
- Yejaman as Vellaiyangiri
- I Love India as Diwakar's uncle
- Ponnumani
- Kattabomman as Subramani
- Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda as Ravi's Father
- Manikuyil
- Band Master
- Dhuruva Natchathiram
- Kovil Kaalai as Ramasamy
- Utthama Raasa as Ondipuli
1992
- Therku Theru Machan
- Suriyan as Panikutti Ramasamy
- Onna Irukka Kathukanom
- Singaravelan as Drums Mani
- Oor Mariyadhai
- Chinnavar
- Thanga Manasukkaran as Guitarist
- Idhuthanda Sattam as Karuppan
- Chinna Gounder
- Thirumathi Palanisamy as Dhandapani
- Muthal Seethanam
- Senthamizh Paattu
- Chinna Pasanga Naanga as Govind
- Pangali as Kuyilkunju
- Ilavarasan
- Villu Pattukaran as Appakannu
- Mannan as Muthu
- Samundi
- Kottai Vaasal
- Paandi Durai
1991
- Pudhu Manidhan
- Chinna Thambi
- En Rasavin Manasile as Pannaiyar
- Vasanthakala Paravai
- Bramma
- Thalattu Ketkuthamma
- Kizhakku Karai
- Cheran Pandiyan as Mechanic Maanikkam (motor mechanic)
- Idhaya Vasal
- Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum as Dharmalingam
- Thayamma as Sisubalan
1990
- My Dear Marthandan as 'Idea' Mani
- Salem Vishnu as Kathavarayan
- Velai Kidaichuruchu
- Paattukku Naan Adimai
- Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga as Sutti Josiyar
- Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu
- Nadigan
- Vazhkai Chakkaram
- Vazhndhu Kattuvom
- Pattanathil Petti
- Neengalum Herothan as Paavada Samy / Paavada Kanth
1989
- Karagattakaran as Thavil
- Ponmana Selvan as Hong Kong Annamalai
- Anbu Kattalai
- Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai
- Enga Ooru Maappilai
- Ninaivu Chinnam as Kundalakesi
- Enna Petha Raasa
- Thangamana Raasa
- Thiruppu Munai
1987
1986
- Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum
- Mr. Bharath as Sanjeevi
- Dharma Pathni
- Mannukkul Vairam
- December Pookal as Mayilsamy
1985
- Idhaya Kovil
- Udhaya Geetham
- Naane Raja Naane Manthiri as Kupusamy
- Marudhani
- Vellai Manasu
- Anthasthu as Devdas
- Kanni Raasi as Gopi Krishna
- Naan Ungal Rasigan
- Japanil Kalyanaraman
- Pagal Nilavu as George Kutty
- Annai Bhoomi 3D
- Aagaya Thamaraigal
- Anbin Mugavari
- Alai Osai
- Eetti
- Raja Yuvaraja
- Raman Sriraman
1984
- Naalai Unathu Naal as Varadhan
- Unnai Naan Santhithen as Pandiya
- Komberi Mookan
- Naan Paadum Paadal
- Vaidehi Kathirunthal as All in All Azhaguraja
- Nilavu Suduvathillai
- Priyamudan Prabhu
1983
- Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey
- Uyirullavarai Usha
- Malaiyoor Mambattiyan as Landlord Chinna Pannai
- Naan Soottiya Malar
- Thambathigal
- Aanandha Kummi
1982
- Kadhal Oviyam as Nayanam
- Aagaaya Gangai
- Payanangal Mudivathillai as house owner
- Anandha Ragam
- Valibamey Vaa Vaa
- Pakkathu Veetu Roja
- Ilanjodigal
1981
- Netrikan as Singaram (Chakravarthy's driver)
- Nenjile Thunivirunthal
- Andha 7 Naatkal
- Kudumbam Oru Kadambam as Chettiar
1980
- Saranam Ayyappa
- Kallukul Eeram as Velu
1979
- Suvarilladha Chiththirangal as Kaliyannan
- Puthiya Vaarpugal
1978
- Sigappu Rojakkal as Manager
- Kizhakke Pogum Rail as Brother-in-Law
1977
- 16 Vayathinile as Koothu
- Chakravathi
1971
- Thenum Paalum as Subramani
1970
- Raman Ethanai Ramanadi as Car Driver