Actor-director Manobala cremated in Chennai, fans bid tearful adieu

CHENNAI: Director-turned-actor and producer Manobala was cremated in Valasaravakkam cemetery, Chennai on Thursday.

Earlier today, Muthukaalai, Soori, Shankar, 'Powerstar' Srinivasan, Mansoor Ali Khan, Rajkamal and K Bhagyaraj paid respects to the actor in person.

The renowned actor, who passed away yesterday in Chennai at the age of 69 is reported to have died due to respiratory failure. It is reported that the actor underwent angio-treatment earlier in January.

Earlier, the actor's body was kept at his residence in LV Prasad Road, Saligramam, Chennai for paying homage. Following the announcement of his demise, several celebrities expressed their condolences and paid their respects.

Manobala was known to be a livewire on the film sets he was a part of and always came up with spontaneous jokes off the camera and kept the sets lively. He entertained audiences with his unique voice and sense of humour. However, in the last couple of years, he hasn't been the same due to his failing health. Manobala came to the sets, went about his work, and quietly left for his vanity van.

His production venture 'Sathuranga Vettai 2' was slated for a release in January but didn't see the light of the day as distributors didn't show up at the last minute.

Manobala was an assistant director in ‘Puthiya Vaarpugal’ (1979) helmed by veteran filmmaker-actor Bharathiraja. He made his debut in 1982 with 'Aagaaya Gangai', starring Karthik and Suhasini. He then went on to direct 24 films and worked with some of the biggest stars of the 80s and the 90s, such as Sivaji Ganesan, Sathyaraj, Rajinikanth, Vijayakant, Prabhu, Karthik, and Ramki.

He featured in over 300 films, in a career spanning five decades. Some of his best-known films are Oor Kavalan, Paramparyam, En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan, Mallu Vetti Minor, Dhoorathu Pachai, and Pillai Nila.

The actor was last seen in ‘Naai Sekar Returns’ directed by Suraj. Manobala is survived by his wife Usha and son Harish.

More recently, Manobala began a YouTube channel named ‘Waste Paper’, in which he interviewed directors and actors.