Manobala
{{short description|Indian film director, producer and actor (1953–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Manobala
| native_name = மனோபாலா
| image = Late actor Manobala.jpg
| caption = Manobala in 2019
| birth_name = Balachandar
| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|12|08|df=y}}{{Cite web |date=30 October 2012 |title=MANOBALA (M.BALACHANDER) |url=http://tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com/profile.php?sno=286 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030063807/http://tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com/profile.php?sno=286 |archive-date=30 October 2012 |access-date=1 April 2019 |website=tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com}}
| birth_place = Marungoor, Thanjavur District (today's Nagapattinam District), Madras Presidency, India{{Cite web |date=4 May 2023 |title=நடிகர் மனோபாலா மரணம்: திரையுலகினர் கண்ணீர் அஞ்சலி; இன்று இறுதிச்சடங்கு |url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/News/State/acted-in-over-700-films-actor-manobala-passes-away-tribute-to-the-screen-world-956900 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504042943/https://www.dailythanthi.com/News/State/acted-in-over-700-films-actor-manobala-passes-away-tribute-to-the-screen-world-956900 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |access-date=4 May 2023 |website=Dina Thanthi |language=ta}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|05|03|1953|12|08|df=y}}
| death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| occupation = Actor, director, producer
| years active = 1979–2023
| othername =
| spouse = Usha Mahadevan
| children = 1
}}
Balachandar (8 December 1953 – 3 May 2023), known by his stage name Manobala ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|n|oʊ|b|ɑː|l|ɑː}}), was an Indian actor, film producer, director, comedian, and YouTuber who predominantly played supporting roles in Tamil-language films. He worked predominantly in the film industry for nearly forty years and was notable for his unique body language and dialogue delivery and was also well known for his intonation.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Actor-filmmaker Manobala passes away at 69 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-filmmaker-manobala-passes-away-at-69-8589206/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504024108/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-filmmaker-manobala-passes-away-at-69-8589206/ |archive-date=4 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=The Indian Express}}
Early life
Manobala was born as Balachandar{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cRktSK-tsE |title=பாரதிராஜாவிடம் சேர்த்துவிட்ட கமல்ஹாசன் - Actor & Director Mano Bala – Part -1Chai with Chitra |date=31 January 2020 |publisher=Touring Talkies |time=3:26 |access-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405213757/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cRktSK-tsE |archive-date=5 April 2020 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} in a Marungoor village near Thirumarugal , Nagapattinam District, but did most of his primary education in Bangalore and Thirukattupalli for grades 10 and 11. He later studied at the Government College of Fine Arts, when he started writing articles under the pen name Manobala, and also learnt Bharatanatyam and the Veena.{{Cite news |last=Saravanan |first=T. |date=8 January 2011 |title=Always in reckoning |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/Always-in-reckoning/article15512011.ece |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200406123443/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/Always-in-reckoning/article15512011.ece |archive-date=6 April 2020 |issn=0971-751X}}
Career
Manobala started his career in Tamil cinema in the early 1970s and with a reference from Kamal Haasan became an assistant director for Bharathiraja's 1979 film Puthiya Vaarpugal.{{Cite web |last=Narayan |first=Pushpa |date=4 May 2023 |title=Manobala, filmmaker who evolved into a comic, dies at 69 in Tamil Nadu |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/manobala-filmmaker-who-evolved-into-a-comic-dies-at-69-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/99971857.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507002006/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/manobala-filmmaker-who-evolved-into-a-comic-dies-at-69-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/99971857.cms |archive-date=7 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=The Times of India}}{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Suhasini Maniratnam: 'You will never find a director who can plan as well as Manobala' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/suhasini-maniratnam-you-can-never-find-a-director-who-can-plan-as-well-as-manobala-8589458/ |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He continued to work as his assistant director for Niram Maaratha Pookkal (1979) and Tik Tik Tik (1981).{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/tamil/2023/May/03/veteran-director-and-actor-manobala-passes-away-2571698.html|title=Veteran Tamil director and actor Manobala passes away at 69|date=8 May 2023|website=The New Indian Express}} He made his directorial debut with Agaya Gangai (1982) but it was a box office failure.{{Cite web |date=4 May 2023 |title=After A Flop Debut, Manobala Delivered Back To Back Hits; Know His Story |url=https://www.news18.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/after-a-flop-debut-manobala-delivered-back-to-back-hits-know-his-story-7723471.html |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=News18 |language=en}} His second film as director, Pillai Nila (1985) was more successful.
Manobala continued to direct with such films as Oorkavalan (1987), En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan (1989), and Dhoorathu Pachai (1987) which were critically acclaimed by the critics and were well received by audiences.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Manobala dies at 69: Vijay, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and others pay tribute to actor-filmmaker |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/manobala-dies-at-69-celebrities-pay-tribute-to-actor-filmmaker-live-updates-8589397/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503124127/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/manobala-dies-at-69-celebrities-pay-tribute-to-actor-filmmaker-live-updates-8589397/ |archive-date=3 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He often collaborated with some of the leading actors of his generation, including Vijayakanth, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Karthik. He made his Bollywood debut as director with Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai (1990), and his television serial directorial debut with Panchavaranam. He had directed 24 films in his career, but he later focused his career as an actor in the 2000s when he began working full time as an actor.
Manobala appeared in over 976 films.{{Cite news |date=28 Jan 2025 |title=Manobala: Unknown facts about the late actor-comedian |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2vpl4cmYBw}}{{Efn|His filmography section as an actor likely has less than 976 films because either his scenes did not make the final cut for some films or some of his films weren't released yet.}} He played minor roles in most of the films as he regularly shared screenspace with veteran comedians Vadivelu and Vivek. He was known for his comic roles in films including Ice, Nanban, Chandramukhi, Pithamagan, Thamizh Padam, Kavalai Vendam, Kalakalappu, Siruthai, Alex Pandian, Aranmanai, Aambala, and Yaaradi Nee Mohini.{{Cite news |date=24 April 2022 |title=Actor-director Manobala gets a doctorate |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/actor-director-manobala-gets-a-doctorate/articleshow/91053106.cms |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417051110/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/actor-director-manobala-gets-a-doctorate/articleshow/91053106.cms |archive-date=17 April 2023}} Manobala made his debut as film producer with H. Vinoth's directorial venture Sathuranga Vettai, for which he received the Best Debut Film Producer award at the South Indian International Movie Awards.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7fIyrXLfuM |title=Moments of Manobala at the SIIMA Awards {{!}} #RIPManobala #ytshorts |language=ta |publisher=SIIMA |access-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505054958/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7fIyrXLfuM&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}
Manobala launched a YouTube channel named "Waste Paper", where he interviewed several directors and actors.{{Cite web |date=4 May 2023 |title=Here's What Actor Manobala Said In Last Interview And Tweet |url=https://www.news18.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/heres-what-actor-manobala-said-in-last-interview-and-tweet-7722985.html |access-date=8 May 2023 |website=News18 |language=en}} In 2022, he received a doctorate degree from the South Western American University in recognition of his contributions to films. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Global Achievers Council. He featured as one of the contestants in the reality television show Cooku with Comali in 2022.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Actor-director Manobala passes away at 69 in Chennai |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/actor-director-manobala-passes-away-at-69-in-chennai-2367967-2023-05-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505033218/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/actor-director-manobala-passes-away-at-69-in-chennai-2367967-2023-05-03 |archive-date=5 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}}
Personal life
Death
Manobala died at his residence in Chennai on 3 May 2023, reportedly due to liver issues, at age 69.{{Cite news |date=3 May 2023 |title=Tamil actor-director Manobala passes away in Chennai |work=Onmanorama |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2023/05/03/tamil-actor-director-manobala-passes-away.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503090745/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2023/05/03/tamil-actor-director-manobala-passes-away.html |archive-date=3 May 2023}}{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Tamil actor-director Manobala passes away at 69, Rajinikanth pays tribute |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/tamil-actor-director-manobala-passes-away-at-69-rajinikanth-pays-tribute/articleshow/99950855.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503124726/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/tamil-actor-director-manobala-passes-away-at-69-rajinikanth-pays-tribute/articleshow/99950855.cms |archive-date=3 May 2023 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=The Times of India}}{{Cite news |date=3 May 2023 |title=Actor-director Manobala passes away at 69 |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-director-manobala-passes-away-at-69/article66807025.ece |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503172356/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-director-manobala-passes-away-at-69/article66807025.ece |archive-date=3 May 2023}} Prior to this, he had also undergone an angio treatment in January 2023 after experiencing chest pain.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Veteran director and actor Manobala passes away |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/03/veteran-comedian-manobala-passes-away-42974.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503142441/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/may/03/veteran-comedian-manobala-passes-away-42974.html |archive-date=3 May 2023 |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=Cinema Express}}{{Cite news |date=3 May 2023 |title=Actor, director and producer Manobala passes away |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/actor-director-and-producer-manobala-passes-away/articleshow/99955868.cms |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503143926/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/actor-director-and-producer-manobala-passes-away/articleshow/99955868.cms |archive-date=3 May 2023}} He was a heavy smoker of cigarettes and was addicted to smoking during the peak of his career as a film director.{{Cite web |title=When Manobala said he used to smoke 200 cigarettes a day when was a director |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/manobala-passes-away-used-to-smoke-200-cigarettes-a-day-2368007-2023-05-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503114834/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/manobala-passes-away-used-to-smoke-200-cigarettes-a-day-2368007-2023-05-03 |archive-date=3 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=India Today |date=3 May 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Multiple movie stars have died from alcohol-related causes; the controversy sparks due to Mansoor Ali Khan's remarks at Manobala's funeral |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/multiple-movie-stars-have-died-from-alcohol-related-causes-the-controversy-sparks-due-to-mansoor-ali-khans-remarks-at-manobalas-funeral/articleshow/99981165.cms |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505125530/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/multiple-movie-stars-have-died-from-alcohol-related-causes-the-controversy-sparks-due-to-mansoor-ali-khans-remarks-at-manobalas-funeral/articleshow/99981165.cms |archive-date=5 May 2023}}
Partial filmography
= Director =
== Films ==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year
! Film ! Notes | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Agaya Gangai | |
| rowspan="2"|1985 | Pillai Nila | |
| Naan Ungal Rasigan | ||
| rowspan="2"|1986 | Paaru Paaru Pattanam Paaru | |
| December 31 | Kannada film | |
| rowspan="3"|1987 | Sirai Paravai | |
| Dhoorathu Pachai | ||
| Oorkavalan | ||
| 1988 | Chutti Poonai | |
| rowspan="3"|1989 | En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan | |
| Moodu Manthiram | ||
| Thendral Sudum | ||
| rowspan="2"|1990 | Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai | Hindi film |
| Mallu Vetti Minor | ||
| rowspan="2"|1991 | Vetri Padigal | |
| Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum | ||
| 1992 | Senbaga Thottam | |
| rowspan="3"|1993 | Mutrugai | |
| Karuppu Vellai | ||
| Paarambariyam | ||
| 1997 | Nandhini | |
| 1999 | Siragugal | Telefilm |
| 2000 | Annai | |
| 2002 | Naina |
== Serials ==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year
! Series ! Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Panchavarnam | rowspan=2|Sun TV |
| 2000 | Punnagai | |
| 2009 | 777 | Polimer TV |
= As an actor =
== Tamil films ==
== Telugu films ==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year
! Film ! Role | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kathanayakudu | Sub-Inspector |
| 2009 | Punnami Naagu | SI Velangara Ramana Reddy |
| 2011 | Gaganam | Narayana Shastry |
| 2014 | Manasunu Maaya Seyake | Sundaram |
| rowspan="2"|2016 | Oopiri | Old Age Home Warden |
| Nayaki | Saradha's husband | |
| rowspan="2"|2018 | Mahanati | P. Pullaiah |
| Devadas | Tata Rao | |
| 2019 | Rajdooth | Lender |
| 2020 | College Kumar | K. Murthy |
| 2023 | Waltair Veerayya | Judge |
== Malayalam films ==
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Year
! Film ! Role | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Jomonte Suvisheshangal | Perumal |
| rowspan="2"| 2018 | B.Tech | Mano |
| Abhiyum Anuvum | Abhi's boss | |
| 2022 | Viddikalude Mash |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Year
! Series ! Role ! Network ! Note | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | Alli Rajjiyam | Namachivayam | rowspan=2|Sun TV | |
| 2018 | Maya | Bhadra | ||
| 2020–2021 | Sembaruthi | Perumal | Zee Tamizh | |
| 2021 | Rajaparvai | Himself | Sun TV | |
| 2022
|Cook |Eliminated on Episode 14 | ||||
| 2024 | Sshhh | Aha Tamil |
= As producer =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:# style="background:#B0C4DE"
! Year ! Film !class=unsortable| Notes | ||
| 2014 | Sathuranga Vettai | SIIMA Award for Best Debut Producer |
| 2017 | Paambhu Sattai |
= As dubbing artist =
| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:# style="background:#B0C4DE"
! Year ! Film ! Role !class=unsortable| Notes | |||
| 2002 | Naina | Voice from heaven
| | |
| 2019 | The Lion King | Zazu (John Oliver) | Tamil version |
Notes
{{noteslist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=1007581}}
{{Manobala}}
{{authority control}}
Category:20th-century Indian male actors
Category:21st-century Indian people
Category:21st-century Indian male actors
Category:Cooku with Comali contestants
Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu
Category:Film producers from Tamil Nadu
Category:Indian male comedians
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu
Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema