Actor Manobala passes away

Manobala, a renowned actor noted for his humorous roles, passed away at his home in Saligramam, Chennai. He had been treated for liver problems at a private hospital in Chennai before being discharged and moved to his house. Despite his fame as an actor, Manobala directed a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s, some of which starred popular actors such as Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Sivaji Ganesan, and Prabhu.

Manobala’s career in the film industry began as an assistant director to Bharathiraja, courtesy of a referral from Kamal Haasan. Later, he made his directorial debut with Agaya Gangai (1982), starring Suhasini and Karthik.

Manobala had the opportunity to helm Rajinikanth in the commercially successful 1987 film Oorkavalan. En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan, starring Vijaykanth, was one of his highest-grossing films. He directed the Hindi film Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai (1990), starring Jeetendra and Rekha, in addition to Tamil films.

Manobala changed his concentration to acting in the 2000s, swiftly gaining acclaim for his unusual body language and tone on screen. Manobala has a long cinematic career, playing a variety of supporting roles. He is most known for his roles in popular films such as Dhanush’s Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Chandramukhi, and Thamizh Padam, but he has also appeared in Telugu and Malayalam films. In addition to acting, Manobala produced a number of movies, including Sathuranga Vettai (H Vinoth’s directing debut), Pambu Sattai, and Sathuranga Vettai 2.

Aside from his movies, Manobala has appeared in a number of television serials and reality shows. He maintained an active YouTube presence through his channel, Manobala’s Waste Paper, where he routinely published interviews with renowned film personalities and gave insights from his own industry experiences.

Following the news of his death, Rajinikanth expressed his condolences on Twitter, recollecting memories of Manobala as a dear friend and accomplished director and actor. Many other Tamil actors expressed their disbelief and prayers on Twitter: