Mannava Balayya – Popular character of Telugu cinema since late 1950s

Mannava Balayya is a veteran character artist of Telugu cinema since late 1950s. He completed 6 decades in film industry in 1958. Associated with college plays during his engineering days, he was given the first break to films in supporting role through 1958 film, Ettuku Pai Ettu by popular filmmaker Tapi Chanakya. Since then the director acted as his mentor, and Mannava became a part of several historic and mythological movies and social dramas in the 1970s and 1980s. He has produced a few movies in the 1970s and 1980s, scripted a few plays and directed three movies – Nijam Chebite Nerama (1983), Pasupu Tadu (1986) and Police Alludu (1983).

Mannava Balayya hails from Guntur of Andhra Pradesh. He was born in 1930. Chavapadu is his native village. He made his screen debut through 1958 film, Ettuku Pai Ettu, followed by his lead role in Parvathi Kalyanam and parallel lead in Chivaraku Migiledi. His roles in Kumkum Rekha, Parvati Kalyanam, and Bhagyadevta helped him to establish as an actor. He has been a part of mythological and historic movies such as Pandava Vanavasam, Bobbili Yudham, Palnati Yudham, Babruvahana, Shri Krishna Pandaviyam etc. He turned a film producer in the 1970s. He was honoured with Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2012. Prasthanam, Sri Rama Rajyam and Ramachari are some of his noted roles in the recent past.

Mannava Balayya – Some interesting and unknown facts

1. He studied Mechanical engineering from Guindy Engineering College, Chennai, and has done a few plays since then.

2. He played the parallel lead role of a mental patient in Chivaraku Migiledi (1960), remake of Bengali classic, Deep Jwele Jaai. His role was reprised by actor Rajesh Khanna in its Hindi version – Khamoshi (1970). Though the movie is known as a classic, it was a box office flop, just like its original version which had a fare run at urban areas only.

3. He played numerous mythological roles on screen, most notably supporting roles like Arjun, Yudhistir, Brahma, Balarama etc.

4. His popular play Nalupu Telupu (as a playwright) was later adapted to silver screen as Chelleli Kapuram by K. Viswanath in 1971.

5. He has appeared in more than 300 films in a career spanning to 6 decades.