Mandya Ramesh
Mandya Ramesh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Kunthur Subramanyam Ramesh 15 August 1963 Mandya, Mysore State, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse | Saroja Hegde[1] |
| Children | 1[1] |
Kunthur Subramanyam Ramesh (15 August 1963),[1] known profesionally as Mandya Ramesh, is an Indian actor and theatre personality who mainly works in the Kannada theatre and films. He founded Natana Rangashaale, a theatre training institution based in Mysore.[2] He is a recipient of the Karnataka Nataka Academy Award in 2017.
After beginning his acting career in theatre in 1982, Ramesh associated himself with Neenasam and Rangayana, working with prominent dramatists in Karnataka. His film and television career took off in the 1990s, and has appeared in more than 350 films and several television serials. He is noted for his performances in films such as Nagamandala (1997), Kanasugara (2001), Mata (2006) and Mussanjemaatu (2008). His role in Nagamandala earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is noted for his television work in Majaa Talkies (2015–2020).[2]
Early life
Ramesh was born on 15 August 1963 in Mandya, Karnataka, to N. Subramanyam (c. 1930–2020), a second-division clerk with a government department,[3][4] and Nagalakshmamma, a homemaker. He has two older siblings: brother Anand Kumar, and sister Vallidevi.[1] Ramesh spent his early years in Belluru, in Mandya district's taluk of Nagamangala. He was then educated in Mandya till grade two, when he lived with his grandmother, before returning to Nagamangala. He was drawn towards stage acting there and participated in several productions, also writing and directing plays while still in school. This continued when he returned to Mandya to pursue high school education. Ramesh cited Dr. Rajkumar as a huge influence to him as an actor while growing up.[4] Ramesh's interest in theatre furthered when his father introduced him to traditional performance forms such as Bayalaata and company theatre.[5] Ramesh graduated from the University of Mysore with a degree in science.
Career
Ramesh started his theatre career in 1982 through a theatre workshop conducted by Ashok Badaradinni, a graduate from National School of Drama. He enrolled in Neenasam theatre institute in 1984 as an actor and technician.[6] He was adjudged the best student there.[5] In 1989, he joined Rangayana and worked under the guidance of B. V. Karanth for more than eight years.[6] As part of the Rangayana troupe, Ramesh toured extensively across Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts performing street plays as part of literacy campaigns, while also conducting annual theatre workshops for children to promote the Kannada language and culture.[5] With Rangayana and later, Ramesh would work with other prominent directors such as Prasanna, B. Jayashree and K. V. Subbanna. In 2002, Ramesh founded his own school for theatre arts, Natana. He directed plays such as Oorubhanga, Chaama Chaluve, Subhadra Kalyana, Sayoo Aata, Mruccha Katika" and Sankranthi.[6]
Ramesh's acting debut in films came in 1995, with a role in T. S. Nagabharana's Janumada Jodi starring Shiva Rajkumar. His portrayal of Kappanna in Nagabharana's next, Nagamandala (1997), earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.[5] Ramesh has since appeared in more than 350 films such as Kanasugara (2001), Mata (2006), Oggarane (2014), Devara Naadalli (2016), Uppina Kagada (2017), The Villain (2018) and Yajamana (2019). Ramesh's television work as an actor came in serials such as Janani, Manethana, Chi Sou Savithri, Shreerasthu Shubhamasthu and Ivalu Sujatha. He also appeared as Muddesha in the sketch comedy show Majaa Talkies, hosted by Srujan Lokesh.[7] He currently plays a lead role in the serial Aase.[8]
Ramesh also wrote two books, Rangavalli (2010) and Kanavarike (2013) related to his life in theatre.[5] In 2022, Mandya Ramesh Natana Kathe, a biographical work on his life written by N. Dhananjaya, was published.[9]
Selected filmography
Films
- All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted.
Plays (as director)
- Mruccha Katika
- Sankranthi
- Maranayaka
- Chora Chandradaasa
- Nagamandala
- Agni Mattu Male
- Sahebru Baruttare
- Yuyuthsu
- Ee Kelaginavaru
- Alibaba
- Neeli Kudure
- Govina Haadu
- Nayi Thippa
- Yugantha
- Vakra
- Ratna Pakshi
- Ailudore
- Chamachaluve
- Samsaradalli Sa Ni Da Pa
- Oorubhanga
- Subhadra Kalyana
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 199? | Manetana | [2] | ||
| 2015–2020 | Majaa Talkies | Muddesha | Jana Mecchida Vidushaka (Favorite Comedian)[10] | [11] |
| 2021 | Kavyanjali | Cameo; 1 episode | [11] | |
| 2022–2023 | Olavina Nildana | [12] | ||
| 2023 | Weekend with Ramesh | Guest | [13] | |
| 2023– | Aase | Ranganath | [14] |
Awards and honours
- Karnataka Nataka Academy Award (2017)[15]
- Samskara Bharathi Natya Samaroha Award for Best Young Theatre Director (1981)
- Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Nagamandala (1996–97)
- Expert Committee Member, Department of Culture, Government of India (2000–2003)
- Member, Karnataka Nataka Academy
- Knock Out Award for Best Supporting Actor
- Udaya Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
- K. V. Shankare Gowda Theatre Award
- Sandesha Award
- Aryabhata Award
- Member, Ranga Samaja (Governing Council), Rangayana
References
- 1 2 3 4 ಮಂಡ್ಯ ರಮೇಶ್ ಮಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಾ? | Weekend With Ramesh Season 5 | Ep. 10 | Mandya Ramesh - Zee Kannada [Do you know about Mandya Ramesh's daughter?]. Zee Kannada. 25 December 2023. Event occurs at 3:25. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Sebastian R., Shilpa (7 January 2019). "Mandya Ramesh and passion for the proscenium – The Hindu". The Hindu.
- ↑ "ನಟ ಮಂಡ್ಯ ರಮೇಶ್ಗೆ ಪಿತೃ ವಿಯೋಗ". Asianet Suvarna News (in Kannada). 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 1 2 'ನಾಗಮಂಗಲದ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಹುಡುಗ ಮಂಡ್ಯ ರಮೇಶ್ ಆಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ರೋಚಕ ಜರ್ನಿ'-Ep04--Mandya Ramesh LIFE-KALAMADHYAMA [The exciting journey of Nagamangala's common boy to become Mandya Ramesh]. Kalamadhyama. 13 September 2021. Event occurs at 0:49. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Nandakumar, Prathibha (12 July 2015). "Natana: Now open". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Mandya Ramesh". natanamysuru.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Majaa Talkies grand finale episode to be aired on Sunday". The Times of India. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ P. Jewoor, Revan (28 February 2025). "Kannada Serial: Sakhat dances to the song Ra..Ra.. of Apthamitra in the serial" [Kannada serial: Dance to Apthamithra's Ra.. Ra..]. News18 (in Kannada). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "ಪುಸ್ತಕ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ | ನಟನ ಬದುಕಿನ 'ಆ್ಯಕ್ಷನ್' ಕಥೆ" [Book Review: An 'Action' Story of an Actor's Life]. Prajavani (in Kannada). 25 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Mandya Ramesh receives the Favorite Comedian award". Facebook. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Mandya Ramesh plays a cameo in Kavyanjali". The Times of India. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Adi Lokesh enters Olavina Nildana serial". The Times of India. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Weekend with Ramesh: Ace actors Avinash and Mandya Ramesh to honour the red seat". The Times of India. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Actor Mandya Ramesh Falls On Stone Quarry During A Shoot, Injures His Leg And Forearm - News18". News18. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Karnataka Nataka Academy Awards-2017 announced". Star of Mysore. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
External links
- Living people
- 1963 births
- People from Mandya district
- Indian male stage actors
- Male actors in Kannada theatre
- Indian theatre directors
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 21st-century Indian male actors
- Indian male film actors
- Male actors from Karnataka
- Male actors in Kannada cinema
- Indian male television actors
- Male actors in Kannada television
- Kannada-language writers
- Karnataka State Film Award winners