Kunthur Subramanyam Ramesh (15 August 1963), known profesionally as Mandya Ramesh, is an Indian actor and theatre personality who mainly works in the Kannada theatre and films. He founded Natana Rangashaale, a theatre training institution based in Mysore. He is a recipient of the Karnataka Nataka Academy Award in 2017.
After beginning his acting career in theatre in 1982, Ramesh associated himself with Neenasam and Rangayana, working with prominent dramatists in Karnataka. His film and television career took off in the 1990s, and has appeared in more than 350 films and several television serials. He is noted for his performances in films such as Nagamandala (1997), Kanasugara (2001), Mata (2006) and Mussanjemaatu (2008). His role in Nagamandala earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is noted for his television work in Majaa Talkies (2015–2020).
Early life Ramesh was born on 15 August 1963 in Mandya, Karnataka, to N. Subramanyam ( 1930–2020), a second-division clerk with a government department, and Nagalakshmamma, a homemaker. He has two older siblings: brother Anand Kumar, and sister Vallidevi. Ramesh spent his early years in Belluru, in Mandya district's taluk of Nagamangala. He was then educated in Mandya till grade two, when he lived with his grandmother, before returning to Nagamangala. He was drawn towards stage acting there and participated in several productions, also writing and directing plays while still in school. This continued when he returned to Mandya to pursue high school education. Ramesh cited Dr. Rajkumar as a huge influence to him as an actor while growing up. Ramesh's interest in theatre furthered when his father introduced him to traditional performance forms such as Bayalaata and company theatre. Ramesh graduated from the University of Mysore with a degree in science.
Career Ramesh started his theatre career in 1982 through a theatre workshop conducted by Ashok Badaradinni, a graduate from National School of Drama. He enrolled in Neenasam theatre institute in 1984 as an actor and technician. He was adjudged the best student there. In 1989, he joined Rangayana and worked under the guidance of B. V. Karanth for more than eight years. As part of the Rangayana troupe, Ramesh toured extensively across Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts performing street plays as part of literacy campaigns, while also conducting annual theatre workshops for children to promote the Kannada language and culture. With Rangayana and later, Ramesh would work with other prominent directors such as Prasanna, B. Jayashree and K. V. Subbanna. In 2002, Ramesh founded his own school for theatre arts, Natana. He directed plays such as Oorubhanga, Chaama Chaluve, Subhadra Kalyana, Sayoo Aata, Mruccha Katika" and Sankranthi.
Ramesh's acting debut in films came in 1995, with a role in T. S. Nagabharana's Janumada Jodi starring Shiva Rajkumar. His portrayal of Kappanna in Nagabharana's next, Nagamandala (1997), earned him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Ramesh has since appeared in more than 350 films such as Kanasugara (2001), Mata (2006), Oggarane (2014), Devara Naadalli (2016), Uppina Kagada (2017), The Villain (2018) and Yajamana (2019). Ramesh's television work as an actor came in serials such as Janani, Manethana, Chi Sou Savithri, Shreerasthu Shubhamasthu and Ivalu Sujatha. He also appeared as Muddesha in the sketch comedy show Majaa Talkies, hosted by Srujan Lokesh. He currently plays a lead role in the serial Aase.
Ramesh also wrote two books, Rangavalli (2010) and Kanavarike (2013) related to his life in theatre. In 2022, Mandya Ramesh Natana Kathe, a biographical work on his life written by N. Dhananjaya, was published.
Selected filmography Films All films are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted. + Year Title Role Notes 1996 Janumada Jodi 1997 Nagamandala Kappanna Mahabharatha Vimochane 1998 Hrudayanjali Hoomale Jagath Kiladi Maathina Malla Mangalyam Tantunanena 1999 Janumadatha Nagaraj Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi Maha Edabidangi Naanu Nanna Hendthiru Sneha Jagadish O Premave Chora Chittha Chora 2000 Preethsu Thappenilla Nan Hendthi Chennagidale Television host Uncredited role O Nanna Nalle 2001 Maduve Aagona Baa Mahalakshmi Raju Asura Cheluva Sri Manjunatha Kanasugara Balu Sundarakanda Kothigalu Saar Kothigalu Kalappa 2003 Ekangi Kodanda Rama Thuntata Mandya Hatthura Odeya 2003 Colours Lead role Kiccha Umapathi Gadibidi Brothers Hrudayavantha Dhad... Dhad... 2004 Pandava Kanakambari Vasu 2005 Aham Premasmi Magic Ajji Rajeshwari Devi's grandson-in-law Sye S. M. Krishna Amrithadhare Dr Subbu Pandu Ranga Vittala 2006 Mata Nagesh Shubham Ravi Shastri Neelakanta 2007 Ekadantha Meera Madhava Raghava Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige Orata I Love You Lava Kusha 2008 Mussanjemaatu Ramesh Zindagi Anthu Inthu Preethi Banthu Thimma Payana Naanu Gandhi Pallavi Illada Charana 2009 Meghave Meghave Namyajamanru DK Boss Thaakath Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara Rajani Mooru Guttu Ondu Sullu Ondu Nija 2010 Ijjodu Nooru Janmaku Nam Areal Ond Dina 2011 Kalla Malla Sulla 2013 Kariya Kan Bitta 2014 Gajakesari Oggarane Kalidas's uncle Power 2015 Melody Ranna Moorthy Geetha Bangle Store 2016 Devara Naadalli Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu Constable Narayana Ishtakamya 2017 Uppina Kagada Chinnayya Nemoda Boolya Tulu film 2018 Ramadhanya Dodda Dasayya The Villain Ramu's friend 2020 Law Police Inspector 2022 Taledanda Doddaranga 2023 Kranti Daredevil Musthafa Seebayya Kaasina Sara 2026 Elra Kaleleyatthe Kala
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
Television + Year Title Role Notes 199? Manetana 2015–2020 Majaa Talkies Muddesha Jana Mecchida Vidushaka (Favorite Comedian) 2021 Kavyanjali Cameo; 1 episode 2022–2023 Olavina Nildana 2023 Weekend with Ramesh Guest 2023– Aase Ranganath
Awards and honours Karnataka Nataka Academy Award (2017) Samskara Bharathi Natya Samaroha Award for Best Young Theatre Director (1981) Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Nagamandala (1996–97) Expert Committee Member, Department of Culture, Government of India (2000–2003) Member, Karnataka Nataka Academy Knock Out Award for Best Supporting Actor Udaya Film Award for Best Supporting Actor K. V. Shankare Gowda Theatre Award Sandesha Award Aryabhata Award Member, Ranga Samaja (Governing Council), Rangayana
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