Mandya Ramesh

Mandya Ramesh is an Indian actor, comedian, director and theatre personality who mainly works in the Kannada films and theatre. He is the founder secretary of Natana, Rangashaale, Mysore, a theatre training institutions of India.

Career
Ramesh 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 role in the film Janumada Jodi alongside Shiva Rajkumar. In 2002 he founded his own school for theatre arts, Natana which is a theatre institution in India with many working wings. He has also written two books, Rangavalli and Kanavarike that are related to his life in theatre. He has acted in more than 350 films among which Janumada Jodi, Nagamandala, Kanasugara, Mata, Oggarane, Uppina Kagada, Bhajarangi 2, Devara Naadalli, The Villain, Yajamana are prominent. He has also appeared in TV series like Janani, Manethana,  Chi Sou Savithri, "Shreerasthu Shubhamasthu", "Ivalu Sujatha". Plays he has directed include "Oorubhanga", "CHaama Chaluve", "Subhadra Kalyana", "Sayoo Aata", "Mruccha Katika", "Sankranthi". He is currently serving as the founder director for Natana School of Theatre arts situated in Mysuru. He also appears as Mandya Muddesha in the Kannada sketch comedy show Majaa Talkies, hosted by Srujan Lokesh currently being aired on Colors Kannada channel. He has completed 39 years in theatre and 25 years in Kannada Cinema.

Awards and honours

 * Karnataka Nataka Academy state award (2017)
 * Samskaara Bharathi Natya Samaroha Award: Best Young Theatre Director (1981)
 * Karnataka State Film Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Nagamandala, 1996–97)
 * 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)

Selected filmography

 * Janumada Jodi
 * Nagamandala
 * Mahalakshmi (2001)
 * Kanasugara
 * Colours
 * Amruthadhare
 * Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
 * Mussanje Maathu
 * Mata
 * Gajakesari
 * Kalla Malla Sulla
 * Oggarane
 * Power (2014)
 * Melody (2015)
 * Ranna (2015)
 * Geetha Bangle Store (2015)
 * Devara Nadalli (2016)
 * Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu (2016)
 * Ishtakamya (2016)
 * Uppina Kagada (2017)
 * The Villain (2018)
 * Law (2020)
 * Taledanda (2022)
 *  Kranti  (2023)
 * Daredevil Musthafa (2023)
 * Kaasina Sara (2023)

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