Name: Gopi Shantha
Known As:
- 'Aachi'-Manorma
- Female Sivaji Ganesan
- Pallathoor Paapa
- Suraiya of the South Indian Cinema- As Manorma had been like the popular Bollywood Singer-cum-Actress Suraiya , in singing and acting in movies.
Date of Birth: 26th May 1937- Interestingly, Aachi Manorama in her interviews at many places, including Colombo- Srilanka and Toronto- Canada would tell that she was born on 26th May and when asked by the interviewers about the year she would say that one should not ask the income of the males and the age of the females.
Aachi Manorama had been maintaining her body and mind ever young and it was difficult to guess her correct age.
Place of Birth: Rajamannaargudi, Tanjore District, Tamilnadu
Place of Domicile: Pallathoor near Karaikkudi / Chettinadu, Pudukkottai District, Tamilnadu.Gopi Shanta's mother moved from Rajamannargudi to Pallathoor,Chettinadu with the 10 months old Baby Gopi Shantha, subsequent to her divorce from her husband.
Date of Death: 10th October 2015-Died at Chennai- At the age of 78 years
Father: Kasi Kilakudaiyar
Mother: Ramamirthammal
Husband: S.M.Ramanathan (Manger of a Drama Company, who loved Manorama)- Married in the year 1964- Divorced in the year 1966
Son: Bhoopathy-Actor-cum-Singer –Born in the year 1965
Education: According to Manorama, Gopi Shantha attended Primary School at Pallathoor, Chettinadu and Discontinued Studies after the 6th Standard, due to poverty and her interest in singing and acting in Stages and Dramas.
Occupation: Tamil Cinema Actress and Singer
Career: Gopi Shantha started singing for dramas artists as play back and she started acting in stage dramas from the age of 12 years.
In the ‘Stage Dramas’, Gopi Shantha’s name was changed as ‘Manorama’ by the 'Harmonist'- Thiayagarajan.
Manorama had been acting in small roles in the‘Vairam Nataga Sabha’ dramas, staged in Chettinadu and the surrounding places, including Pudukkottai.
Manorama saw a drama of the popular Tamil Drama-Producer / Actor-S.S.Rajendran/SSR, at Pudukkottai,
Tamilnadu. She was introduced to SSR, and after having voice and acting tests, she joined the ‘SSR Nataga Mandram’ and became the full time drama artist of the 'SSR Nataga Mandram'.
Tamilnadu. She was introduced to SSR, and after having voice and acting tests, she joined the ‘SSR Nataga Mandram’ and became the full time drama artist of the 'SSR Nataga Mandram'.
Manorama had been associated with S.S.Rajendran and his 'SSR- Nataga Mandram' for many years and she had been acting as the heroines of the 'SSR Nataga Mandram'’s dramas.
Manorama has acted in more than 100 dramas of the ‘SSR Nataga Mandram’, including:
- Mani Magudam,
- Then Pandi Veeran and
- Pudhu Vellam.
Manorama entered the ‘Silver Screen'/Cinema Field, from the ‘Stage Dramas Field', as she had been aspiring to become a popular heroine in the Cinema Field.
However, according to Manorama, ‘Kavignar’- Kannadasan had told she wished to act only as the heroine, she would be losing the movie chances after 4 or 5 years and if she acted in comedy roles, she would continue in the movie field for many years.
Also, 'Kaviyarasar'-Kannadasan, told that Manorama was talented and he hoped and wished that she would become a very good comedian in the Cinema Field..
In the year 1958, Manorama acted in her first Tamil Movie-‘Maalaiyitta Mangai’, in a comedy role, produced by Kannadasan, starring T.R.Mahalingam and Pandaribai.
Though Manorama was not an ‘Aachi’-meaning an elderly lady of Chettinadu, she had been called as ‘Aachi’ because:
- Her mother moved from Rajamannargudi, Tanjore District, after Gopi Shantha’s birth, and subsequent to her divorce by her husband, to Pallathoor, Chettinadu near Karaikkudi, people thought that she was a native of Chettinadu.
- Further, as Manorama had acted in one of the dramas, as an ‘Aachi’, speaking in the same manner as how an ‘Aachi’ would speak, her audience started calling her as ‘Aachi’.
- In the Dramas and the Cinema Fields the co-actors started calling Manorama as ‘Aachi’,with a respect.
In the year 1963, Manorama acted as the heroine in the Tamil Movie-‘Konjum Kumari’, produced by the 'Modern Theatres' with R.S.Manohar as the hero. However, after ‘Konjum Kumari’, which was not well received by the audience, with Manorama as a Heroine and R. S.Manohar as the Hero, Manorama started acting mostly in comedy roles and character roles and later in mother characters.
Manorama had been mainly acting in Tamil Movies and she has acted in a few Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam Movies.
The only Hindi Movie, Manoram acted is 'Kunwara Baap', directed and starred by the popular Bollywood Comedy Actor-Mehmood. Vinodh Mehra and Bharathi Vishnuvardhan-Kannada Actress also acted in the movie.
‘Aachi’- Manorama having a good voice and she had been singing in road-side stages and as play back for stage dramas, she started singing in the movies, for the songs of herself. She has sung more than 300 songs in the movies, some of which are ever green..
‘Aachi’-Manorama has acted as a Female comedian pairing with the following popular Male Comedians of Tamil Cinema of yester-years and also with the present day's top actors and Comedians:
- ‘Danaal’-K.A.Thangavelu,
![KA Thangavelu]( "KA Thangavelu")
- J.P.Chandra Babu,
![JP Chandra Babu]( "JP Chandra Babu")
- Nagesh,
![Nagesh]( "Nagesh")
- ‘Thengai’-Srinivasan,
!['Thengai' Srinivasan]( "'Thengai' Srinivasan")
- Surulirajan and
![Surulirajan]( "Surulirajan")
- ‘Cho’-Ramasamy.
!['Cho' Ramasamy]( "'Cho' Ramasamy")
The following is a list of some of the notable movies, out of the more than 1500 Tamil Movies acted by ‘Achi’-Manorama:
Name of the Movie/Actors/Remarks/Year:
“Vallavannukku Vallavan” / Gemini Ganesan-Savithiri / Paired with ’Danaal’ K.A.Thangavelu / 1965
“Anbe Vaa”/ MGR-B.Saroja Devi/Paired with Nagesh /1965
“Thiruvilayaadal” / Sivaji Ganesan-Savithiri, K.B.Sundaraambaal / Acted along with Comedy Actor A.Karunanidhi and Nagesh / 1965
“Saraswathi Sabhatham” / Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Gansesan, Savithiri,Devika, Padmini, K.R.Vijaya and Nagesh / Acted as the lover of one of the 2 twins of the Nagesh brothers /1966
“Ehir Neechal”-K.Balachander Movie /Nagesh, Muthuraman, Jayanthi / Acted along with M.R.R.Vasu / 1968
“Thillaanaa Mohanaambal’ / Sivaji Ganesan-Padmini / Acted in a unique character role of Rosa Rani alias Jill Jill Ramamani -Acted along with Comedy Actors ‘Danaal’ K.A.Thangavelu, T.S.Balaiah and Nagesh /1968
“Galaatta Kalyaanam”/ Sivaji Ganesan-Jayalalitha/Acted along with ‘Danaal’ K.A.Thangavelu and Nagesh /1968
“Pattikkaadaa Pattanamaa” / Sivaji Ganesan-Jayalalitha /Acted along with M.R.R.Vasu and V.K.Ramasamy /1972
“Chittukkuruvi” / Sivakumar-Sumithra /Acted along with Comedy Actors Suruli Rajan and Vennira Aadai Moorthy / 1978
“Manal Kayiru” / S.V.Sekhar-Shanthi Krishna / Acted along with Visu and S.V.Sekhar / 1981
“Vaazhve Maayam” / Kamal Hassan, Sripriya, Sreedevi,Jayshankar / Acted as a Spinster-Senior-Air Hostess-helping Kamal Hassan in his love affairs with Sreedevi
“Samsaaram Adhu Minsaaam” / Raghuvaran-Lakshmi /Acted along with Visu, Kishmu, Delhi Ganesh and Omakkuchi Narasimhan / 1986
“Paatti Sollai Thattadhe” / Pandiarajan-Oorvashi/Acted as the "Paatti"/1988
“Pudhiya Paadhai” / R.Parthiban-Seetha / Manorama received the ‘National Film Award’- 1989 for the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for the year for the movie / 1989
"Kizhakku Vaasal" / Karthik, Revathy,Kushboo,Chinni Jayanth,Manorama,Vijayakumar and Janagaraj / Acted as Karthik's mother / 1990
“Michael Madhana Kamarajan / Kamal Haasan, Urvashi, Rupini, Kushboo, Nassar,Delhi Ganesh, Crazy Mohan, Venniradai Moorthy, Santhana Bharathi and Nagesh /Acted as Rupini’s mother /1990
“Nadigan” / Sathyaraj-Kushboo / 50 years old Spinster going after the father of the hero (hero himself in the make-up of an old man) /Acted along with Comedy Actors Goundamani and Vennira Aadai Moorthy / 1990
“Chinna Thambi”/ Prabhu, Kushboo, Radha Ravi, and Goundamani/Acted as the mother of Prabhu /1991
“Chinna Goundar” / Vijaykanth-Sukanya / Baby Ammal , Mother of the hero, an old lady with protruding teeth /Acted along with Comedy Actors Goundamani and Senthil / 1992
“Singaara Velan “/ Kamal Haasan, Kushboo, Jaishankar, Goundamani , Charlie and Vadivelu/Acted as Thaayamma Guardian of Kushboo/1992
“Annamalai” / Rajinikanth, Kushboo, Sarath Babu,Radha Ravi,Janagaraj and Nizhalgal Ravi /Acted as a sensational mother of the hero Annamalai/Rajni /1992
“Mannan” / Super-Star-Rajni-Kushboo,Vijayashanthi / Acted along with Visu, V.K.Ramasamy and Goundamani / 1992
“Raasu Kutty” / K.Bagyaraj-Aishwarya/Acted as Rasukkutty’s sensational and possessive mother along with Kalyan Kumar as Rasukkutty’s father/1992
“Nattamai”/ Sarath Kumar, Meena, Kushboo, Sangavi, Goudamani and Senthil /Acted as Sarthkumar’s Paternal Aunt/1994
”, “Kadhalan”/ Prabhu Deva, Nagma, Girish Garnadd, Raghuvaran and Vadivelu/Acted as Nagma’s grandmother/1994
“Arunachalam”/Super-Star-Rajni-Sounarya, Rambha / Acted along with Senthil and Janagaraj / 1997
“Vetri Kodi Kattu” / Murali, Parthiban, Meena,Maalavika / Acted as Murali’s Mother / 2000
“Gemini”/ Vikram, Kiran Rathod, Vinu Chakravarthy,Charlie, Ramesh Krishna, Omakkuchi Narasihman and Vaiyapuri/ Acted as old woman wishing to take revenge on the person/s who killed her son / 2002
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“Saamy”/ Vikram, Trisha, Vivek / Acted as Trisha’s Grand Mother/2003
“Saamy”/ Vikram, Trisha, Vivek / Acted as Trisha’s Grand Mother/2003
“Perazhagan” / Surya in Double Roles, Jyothika, Vivek and Manobala /Acted as Surya’s Mother / 2004
“Singam” / Surya, Anuksha, Nasser/Acted as Anuksha’s Grand Mother/2010
“Singam 2” / Surya, Anuksha, Hanshika /Acted as Anuksha’s Grand Mother2013
The following are some of the notable songs sung by Manorama in Tamil Movies:-
Song/Movie/ Remarks:
- “Thaatha Thaatha Podi Kodu, Indha Thalladha Vayadhilaa Sadugudu” / ’Magale Un Samarthu’/ First song by Manorama in cinema sung in the music of G.K.Venkatesh along with popular Tamil Singer L.R.Easwari
- “Vaa Vaathyaare Oottaande, Nee Varaangaatti Naan Uda Maatten” /’ Bommalaatam” / Manorama's First hit song, sung in the music of V.Kumar, in which she danced with her pair 'Cho' Ramasamy
- “Dillikku Rajaanaalum”/’Paatti Sollai Thattadhe’/Pandiyarajan Movie
- “Madraasa Suthi Paakka Poren" / May Madham /In the music of A.R.Rahman, Manorama sang along with Shahul Hameed, Swarnalatha and G.V.Prakash Kumar
- “Theriyaadho Nokku” / ’Suryakaanthi’/ R.Muthuraman-Jayalalitha Movie
Manorama has acted in the Dramas and Cinemas, Written / Acted by the following 5 Writers / Actors who subsequently became the Chief Ministers of Tamilnadu / Andhrapradesh:
- 'Perarignar'-Dr.C.N.Annadurai /Manorama has acted in the dramas / cinemas written by C.N.Annadurai, who subsequently became the Chief Minister of Madras / Tamilnadu.
- 'Kalaignar- Dr.M.Karunanidhi /Manorama has acted in the dramas / cinemas written by M.Karunanidhi, and also acted along with him and even paired with him in some dramas, who subsequently became the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.
- 'Makkal Thilagam'-Dr.MGR / Manorama has acted in the movies of MGR, who subsequently became the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.
- 'Puratchi Thalavi' / 'Amma'-Selvi- Dr.Jayalalilitha / Manorama has acted in the movies of Jayalalitha, who subsequently became the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu and who is the present Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.
- Dr.N.T.Ramarao /Manorama has acted in the Telugu movies of N.T. Ramarao, the popular hero of Telegu Cinema Field, who has acted in some of the Tamil Movies also, who subsequently became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
In the year, 2013, ‘Aachi’-Manorama has acted in a Short Film titled "Thaaye Nee Kannurangu”/ "Mummy Please Sleep", directed by LGR Saravanan in which she has acted as a Cancer Patient/ the mother of Srikaanth.
'Aachi'-Manorama is next only to the Malayalam Actress Sukumari, in having acted in the maximum number of Movies. She has acted mostly in comedy roles and some character roles and in the later years in sentimental mothercharacters. She has acted in some of the Television Serials and Television Advertisements.
The Malayalam Actress Sukumari (1940-2013) has danced in Sivaji Ganesan-Savithiri's "Paasa Malar" in the popular Song - "Vaaraay En Thozhi Vaaraayo". She has acted in more than 2500 movies in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
Awards/Honours Given To 'Aachi'- Manorama:
Name of the Award/Given by/Year:
- Padma Shree/Union Government of India/2002
- The Best Supporting Actress-For Acting in the Movie-‘Pudhiya Padhai’/National Film Awards/1989
- Kalaimamani Award/State Government of Tamilnadu/
- Film fare Lifetime Achievement Award – South/Film Fare/1995
- Featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for for having acted in more than 1000 Movies. From the year 1958 to 1985-1200 Movies, By the year 2003- 1200 Movies and by the year 2013-1500 Movies- Also acted in more than 1000 Stage Dramas, Television Series.
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Quotes by 'Aachi'-Manorama -From the Interviews with 'Aachi' Manorama at various occasions.:
" I am satisfied in my life, and I have no regrets and I wish to be 'Manorama' in my 're-births, if any."
"My mother has suffered a lot to bring me up, as she was abandoned by my father, who married the younger sister of my mother"
"My mother and my son has been behind my success in my career."
" As the Face is the Index of the Mind, I think as my heart is full of happiness, contentment and youthfulness, I have been ever young, as you say"
"I am very happy now after recovering from my illness; I will be happy if I have to die now"
(After being discharged from the hospital just earlier to the last hospitalization)
(After being discharged from the hospital just earlier to the last hospitalization)