Passion for the proscenium

Actor Mandya Ramesh says while films and TV are like his eyes, theatre is his soul

January 07, 2019 01:49 pm | Updated 02:05 pm IST

Mandya Ramesh is passionate about theatre. He started off by acting and directing plays in Neenasam and Rangayana. He has also worked with the legendary BV Karanth for nine years before foraying into films and the television. Yet, he always made it a point to go back to theatre. The testimony for which is Natana – a drama school he has built to promote theatre in Mysuru.

He forayed into films with a tiny role in Janumada Jodi which had Shivrajkumar in the lead. Later, he established himself as an actor with Nagamandala. Today, he is a household name as “Mandya Muddesha” with the popular TV show – Maja Talkies , hosted by Srujan Lokesh, which is aired on Colors Kannada.

The actor shares his journey from stage to screen with MetroPlus. “When I was still working in Rangayana, I was offered a role in a film by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar. Karanth sir discouraged me and said I should focus on theatre. So I did not accept the role. Soon, Karanth sir left Rangayana. He was my greatest strength, friend and guide. Again, I was offered Janumada Jodi and Nagamandala immediately after that.

After seeing me act in these films, Karanth sir, asked me what I was doing in theatre and told me I should balance both. My film journey started from there,” says Ramesh who has till date acted in 230 films in his 23-years in films.

Though Ramesh started off as a comedian, he was offered negative roles in serials. “Friends were upset that I was giving up my first love theatre and getting into commercial films. But, cinema gave me money, my bread and butter, which in turn helped me pursue theatre and also build Natana in Mysuru.”

Ramesh then adds he sees TV and cinema as his “two eyes and theatre as my soul. Balancing films, television and theatre is like having my feet in three different boats and balancing all three is tough,” says the actor who has commercial hits like Kanasugara, Mata, Mussanje Maatu to his credit.

“Cinema helped me take theatre ahead by leaps and bounds in Mysuru. Natana is doing well. We have some trained actors from here who are in films today and are doing well too. Cinema is a huge platform. No matter how hard I work on a play, ultimately just 300 or 500 people will watch it. But films reach a global audience,” observes the actor.

Maja Talkies opened doors for him overseas too. “I was invited to Australia and the US as an actor. No matter where I went, I promoted theatre. Soon, I was invited to conduct theatre workshops overseas. Natana is my dream venture – to have a theatre with all the facilities needed to promote theatre amongst children and adults.”

Natana, beams Ramesh, was inaugurated by the late Vishnuvardhan and “has been visited by my friends – including Yash and Ganesh from the industry.”

Though he has received many awards Ramesh holds a particular one close to his heart. “I was playing the role of Kalyan Kumar’s son in the serial Manetana. Dr Rajkumar hugged me and commended me on my acting skills -- that, till this day is special to me.”

Ramesh has shared the screen with actors like the late actor Ambareesh and Darshan besides acting with three generations of a family like Jaggesh and his sons. “I have also acted with Dr Rajkumar, his sons and now his grand son, Vinay,” smiles the actor, who says he is open to any kind of a role in films as he invests the money earned in theatre.

“There are many people who invest in films, but few who will do so for theatre. I want to be one of those few who promote theatre,” shares Ramesh who now shuttles between Bengaluru and Mysuru.

Reality shows

According to him, reality shows help launch new talent. “The only hitch is they play up on the emotions. They build up on the tears of a losing participant and make it look like he/she has lost the world and dramatise the winner. That way are we not building a disparity amongst children or participants? I wish reality shows were more objective when they judged them. We should stop celebrating the winner and not ignore the loser,” feels Ramesh, but applauds Drama Juniors as “it is a show that promotes all aspects of theatre.”

No matter which part of the city or country Ramesh is in through the year, he makes it a point to head back to Mysuru in summer to be a part of the intense summer workshop he has been conducting for years for children. “Working with children makes me a child too. Theatre exposes children to the rich literature -- from SL Bhyrappa to Anton Chekhov. When exposed to such great thinkers, their perception too changes. Theatre helps develop your observation and the intellect.”

He then adds that theatre also builds social skills as “it is a field where a child, a housewife and a working woman come together in the evenings for rehearsals. It teaches you humility. You are a star when performing on stage and a mere backstage worker when you are packing up after each show or dismantling the sets. Theatre gives you an overall development,” he says.

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