Manorama

Manorama is one of the finest actresses of South India who has done over 1200 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages. She entered the Guinness World Records for acting in more than 1000 number of films. She was a recipient of the Kalaimamani award, Padma Shri (2002), National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in film Pudhiya Padhai (1989), and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1995). She migrated from dramas to the silver screen with the role of a heroine in the 1958 Tamil film Maalayitta Mangai: Kavignar Kannadasan gave her the lead role this film. The first film in which she played the heroine was 1963 Konjum Kumari. Then, she concentrated more on comedy from 1960. She was given equally challenging roles alongside the well known comedian Nagesh in 50 films.

Some of her best Tamil films include "Anbe Vaa", "Thenmazhi", "Ethir Neechal", "Galatta Kalyanam", "Chittukuruvi", "Durga Devi", "Annalakshmi" and "Imayam". In Telugu, she starred in films such as "Rikshavodu", "Krishnarjuna" and "Subhodayam". Her work was noticed even among stalwarts like Sivaji Ganesan and Natiya Peroli Padmini. Manorama shared in an interview that initially she was nervous acting in front of veterans like T.S.Balaiah, but, the director A.P.Nagarajan made her understand that the scenes in which Jil Jil Ramamani appears, she would be the center of attention.

Manorama has done movies with five Chief Ministers which is a rare achievement in her career. In one of her last interviews, she was asked if she had any regrets about her life. To this, she answered: "I've no regrets at all. I'm blessed in this life. Even in my next birth, I want to be born as Manorama again. I want this same life, and same people around me. Most of all, I want my mom with me again". She supported young talents and budding directors on her old ages. In 2013 she acted in a Tamil Short Film named Thaaye Nee Kannurangu directed by LGR Saravanan. She acted as a Cancer Patient and a mother of Mr. Srikanth.

During her last days, Manorama suffered of ill health and she breathed her last on October 10th in a private hospital in Chennai. The whole South Indian Film Industry was mourned by her sudden demise. She was 78 and is survived by her son and singer-actor Bhoopathy. May her soul rest in peace.