R. S. Manohar

Ramasamy Subramania Manohar
Born Lakshmi Narashiman [1]
29 June 1925
Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
Died 10 January 2006
Chennai
Occupation Actor
Spouse(s) Sita Lakshmi Manohar

R. S. Manohar was an Indian actor who performed roles ranging from hero to villain to comedic characters. He was born at Namakkal in 1925. He acted in over 200 films.[1] He is known for his versatility and dominating personality. He is also known as Nadaga Kavalar for his love of stage plays and his undeterred passion in continuing to stage mythological plays almost his entire life.

Biography

Ramasamy Subramania Manohar was born on 29 June 1925 at Namakkal as Lakshmi Narashiman to Subramania Iyer and Rajalakshmi Ammal.[2] He got the name Manohar after playing the lead role in the play Manohara during school days. He graduated from Pachaiyappa's College, Chennai.

According to film historian Randor Guy, he got a breakthrough in films with Rajambal (1951) when, as a graduate, he was employed in the Postal Department. Producer R. M. Krishnaswamy booked him for the lead role in this film. As his name was not "filmi", it was changed to R. S. Manohar.[3]

While in college, Manohar used to perform stage plays. After graduation, he joined films. His first effort was Rajamabal, produced by Aruna Films. His early memorable roles were in films such as Vannakkili, Kaidhi Kannayiram, Vallavanukku Vallavan, Vallavan Oruvan and Iru Vallavargal.

But Manohar will always be remembered for the bad guy roles, especially while facing off with M. G. Ramachandran in films such as Ayirathil Oruvan, Ulagam Suttrum Valliban, Pallandu Vazhga, Adimai Penn, Kaavalkaaran and Idayakkani.

Manohar will also be remembered for his immense contribution to the stage. After Nawab Rajamanikkam, it was Manohar who took theatre to a higher plane. Most of the 31 plays in which he acted - these were staged 7,950 times - were adaptations or interpretations of historical incidents or mythological stories.

Famous among Manohar's plays were Ilangeswaran, Chanakkiya Sabadam, Soorapadman, Sisupalan, Indrajith, Sukrachariyar, Naragasooran and Thirunavukkarasar.

He was a pioneer in introducing 'dramascope' with stereophonic sound system, split second transformation of scenes and pyrotechniques to represent battle scenes.

He received many awards for his contribution to drama and cinema, including a 'Nadaka Kavalar' award from MGR in 1970.

Selected filmography

Dramatist

Manohar acted in a number of plays. Some of the famous ones are Ilangeswaran, Chanakkiya Sabadam, Soorapadman, Sisupalan, Indrajith, Sukrachariyar, Naragasooran and Thirunavukkarasar. He was also involved in the production of an English play, Last Tango in Heaven. It was later made as a Movie God Only Knows! [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Actor R.S. Manohar dead". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  2. ↑ cinesouth. "Dailynews - The once great villain R.S.Manohar passes away". Cinesouth.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  3. ↑ "Rajambal 1951". thehindu.com. January 3, 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Dramatic moments".


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