Mandya Ramesh

Mandya Ramesh is an Indian actor, comedian, director and theatre personality who mainly works for the Kannada films and theatre.^[1] He started his theatre career in 1982 through a theatre workshop conducted by Ashok Badaradinni, a graduate from National School of Drama. He has worked for Neenasam theatre institute from 1984 as an actor and technician. He then joined Rangayana in 1989 and worked under the guidance of B. V. Karanth for around 9 years. He debuted into acting in films in 1995, with a popular role in the film Janumada Jodi alongside Shiva Rajkumar. In 2002 he founded his own school for theatre arts, Natana and conducted many workshops through this institute in various parts of Karnataka. He has also written two books, Rangavalli and Kanavarike that are related to his life in theatre. He has acted in around 150 films among which Janumada Jodi, Nagamandala, Kanasugara, Mata, Oggarane are prominent.^[2] He has also appeared in TV series like Janani, Manethana, Chi Sou Savithri. The popular plays he has directed include Mruccha Katika, Sankranthi, Yuyuthsu to name a few. He is currently serving as the founder director for Natana School of Theatre arts situated in Mysuru.^[3] He also appears as Mandya Muddesha in the popular Kannada sketch comedy show Majaa Talkies, hosted by Srujan Lokesh currently being aired on Colors Kannada channel.

Awards and honours

• Samskaara Bharathi Natya Samaroha Award: Best Young Theatre Director (1981)
• Karnataka State Award: Best Actor (for Nagamandala, 1998)
• Cultural Department, Government of India: Expert Committee Member (2000 - 2003)
• Karnataka Nataka Academy: Member
• Knock Out Award: Best Actor in Supporting Role
• Udaya Film Award: Best Actor in Supporting Role
• K V Shankare Gowda Theatre Award
• Sandesha Award
• Aryabhata Award
• Rangayana: Member of Ranga Samaja (Governing Council)

Filmography

Films

• Janumada Jodi
• Nagamandala
• Kanasugara
• Colours
• Amruthadhare
• Maathad Maathadu Mallige
• Mussanje Maathu
• Mata
• Gaja Kesari
• Kalla Malla Sulla
• Oggarane
• Power (2014)
• Melody (2015)
• Ranna (2015)
• Geetha Bangle Store (2015)
• Devara Nadalli (2016)
• Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu (2016)
• Ishtakamya (2016)

Television

• Janani
• Manethana
• Onde Sullu
• Photographer Parameshi
• Manthana
• Yaak Hing Adtharo
• Chi Sou Savithri
• Majaa Talkies

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

References