Manobala

Balachandar (8 December 1953 – 3 May 2023), known by his stage name Manobala , 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.

Early life Manobala was born as Balachandar 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.

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. He continued to work as his assistant director for Niram Maaratha Pookkal (1979) and Tik Tik Tik (1981). He made his directorial debut with Agaya Gangai (1982) but it was a box office failure. His second film as director, Pillai Nila (1985) was more successful. He often collaborated with some of the leading actors of his generation, including Vijayakanth, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Karthik. 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, Tamizh Padam, Kavalai Vendam, Kalakalappu, Siruthai, Alex Pandian, Aranmanai, Aambala, and Yaaradi Nee Mohini. 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.

Manobala launched a YouTube channel named "Waste Paper", where he interviewed several directors and actors. 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.

Personal life Manobala was married to Usha Mahadevan, and they have a son. Prior to this, he had also undergone an angio treatment in January 2023 after experiencing chest pain. He was a heavy smoker of cigarettes and was addicted to smoking during the peak of his career as a film director.

Partial filmography Director Films Year Film Notes 1982 Agaya Gangai 1985 Pillai Nila Naan Ungal Rasigan 1986 Paaru Paaru Pattanam Paaru December 31 Kannada film1987 Sirai Paravai Dhoorathu Pachai Oorkavalan 1988 Chutti Poonai 1989 En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan Moodu Manthiram Thendral Sudum 1990 Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai Hindi film; credited as M. M. Manobala Mallu Vetti Minor 1991 Vetri Padigal Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum 1992 Senbaga Thottam 1993 Mutrugai Karuppu Vellai Paarambariyam 1997 Nandhini 1999 Siragugal Telefilm 2000 Annai 2002 Naina

Serials Year Series Network 1999 Panchavarnam Sun TV 2000 Punnagai 2009 777 Polimer TV

As an actor

Tamil films

Telugu films Year Film Role 2008 Kathanayakudu Sub-Inspector 2009 Punnami Naagu SI Velangara Ramana Reddy 2011 Gaganam Narayana Shastry 2014 Manasunu Maaya Seyake Sundaram2016 Oopiri Balavikasa Orphanage Home Warden Nayaki Saradha's husband2018 Mahanati P. Pullaiah Devadas Tata Rao 2019 Rajdooth Lender 2020 College Kumar K. Murthy 2023 Waltair Veerayya Judge

Malayalam films Year Film Role 2017 Jomonte Suvisheshangal Perumal 2018 B.Tech Mano 2022 Viddikalude Mash

Television

As producer Year Film Notes 2014 Sathuranga Vettai SIIMA Award for Best Debut Producer 2017 Paambhu Sattai

As dubbing artist