Aachi was the Lady Sivaji Ganesan of the industry

In her last interview ever, just over a fortnight ago, Manorama not only invited us to her home, but opened her heart out to us as well. With a humility that was so her, she recollected her days on stage and on screen, playing a bevy of characters that were close to her heart — a young 30-year-old eager to prove herself as an actress, the beloved Baby Amma in Nadigan, and sporting dentures for Chinna Gounder among others. It almost seems poignant now that she recalled one particular incident where she almost fell down the stairs during an SS Rajendran play — a troupe she performed for regularly. “If I’d fallen down, I would have lost my life. Manorama would have died on that day itself,” she had said, adding, “It is only because of Kalai Thai that I am still alive…”


Born as Gopishantha in Mannargudi, Manorama, who came to be fondly known as Aachi, began her career as a theatre actress, before the arc lights of the silver screen beckoned. Debuting in 1958 in Kannadasan’s Maalayitta Mangai, she was an actress par excellence, but she was also known for her singing. Blessed is the word that her co-actors use to describe the experience of working with her.


Here are a few of the stalwarts from the industry who recollect fond memories of Aachi…

She had known me as a three-year-old child actor. A loving woman, she was a great performer. I would say that she and Nagesh are the mummy and daddy of Tamil cinema comedy. I am honoured that they both admired my work, commented on it, and cheered me on. They argued my case with my critics, behind my back. Manoramaji specially. I am one among the millions of fans who’ll miss her. I have done many films with her. Hers was a full life, yet we have not had our fill as her admirers. Many, even in her funeral, will inadvertently have a smile on their faces when they reminisce those memorable screen moments she had given us.


Thanks for the smile you etched on faces with your sharp wit. Thanks for everything funny and sad you shared with us. Soon, your comic images will superimpose itself on this temporary sadness. Bye bye, my loving and funny mama.

- Kamal Haasan, Actor

She was more than an actress. You would never feel that she had seen 50 years of cinema. It felt like she was a family member, even on the sets. She was very caring towards everybody. The way she led her life was inspirational. From the beginning, she overcame her personal and family challenges, and made a significant contribution to the industry. She never let her personal life affect her career. It is a blessing to have worked with her. She agreed to work for Singam 2 only because we had coaxed her. I don’t know how to thank her for that. For Singam 3, she said to me, “Naan vandhuduven da Singam 3 kaga. Na readya irukken.” When you gave her a scene, the way she performed, and the way she emoted — it was a joy to watch her act.

-Suriya, actor

When I was a 10-year-old, I got to see Manorama Aachi shooting at my uncle’s native town of Pazhayakottai. That was the first shoot that ever saw. In fact, I am proud to say that, among all the actors now, only I was privileged enough to be paired opposite her in my film Nadigan, which went on to become a huge hit. She was unforgettable as Baby Ma. Of all my heroines, Manorama was my best co-star. I learnt what punctuality and dedication was from her. She was not only a good comedienne; she could perform any role that was given to her. She was very versatile. Once, when she was dubbing for one of the films that I had acted in, she came to me and said “Thambi, romba pramaadhama nadichirukka” (you have acted very well). That is the best compliment I have ever received.

- Sathyaraj, actor

I have worked on several films with her and nobody can ever replace Aachi. It is a great loss — not just the Tamil film industry but the entire south industry. She has left a vacuum in the industry that nobody else can replace. I wouldn’t like to refer to her as a comedienne. Her performances ranged from comedy to character roles — be it Saraswathi Sabatham, Chinna Thambi or Nadigan. She mastered every role.

-Khushbu, actor

I can say that she was the female Sivaji Ganesan in the industry. She was a tremendous actress and one cannot find an actress of her caliber anymore. She was the most dedicated actress I have worked with. She played the role of my mother in Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi. It was really a blessing to have worked with her in that film.

-Vadivelu, actor

Just a few weeks ago, even though she wasn’t keeping well, she came all the way to attend an event that felicitated five journalists in the Tamil film industry, including me. In fact, her name was not even printed on the invitation, as the event was presided over by Kamal Haasan and Sivakumar. However, since she was invited, she immediately agreed to come as a guest, and in fact, even performed a lengthy dialogue written by Karunanidhi on-stage. Everyone including Kamal Haasan and Sivakumar, who sat right next to her throughout the function, were amazed at how well she remembered her lines. She said then that it was her wish to die right then on-stage, so that her soul would rest in peace.


- Film News Anandhan, film historian

One more legend has fallen with the demise of Manorama. Her character Jil Jil Ramamani (Thillana Mohanambal) will live on forever. I have known her for almost 50 years, and have acted with her in many films. A simple soul, she was a mother figure to all of her costars. She was an artiste who travelled with several generations of artistes. There was no role that she couldn’t do. Manorama was a director’s delight. I will miss her, as will the entire Tamil film industry. I was honored to be her co-artiste.

-Y Gee Mahendra, actor

I scripted a play that she acted in. She was the one who made the name Visu famous in the industry. I even wanted to do a film with her, and make her the heroine, but she would ask me, ‘Will people accept me as a heroine’ and I would say, ‘I have. What more do you want?’ She would then say, ‘You tell me when, and I will be there in an hour and do the scene. She needed no call sheet.’ That’s how we finished Manal Kayiru that went on to be such a hit. I have worked with her on more than 25 films. When I went through a bad patch, I approached her and told her she should help me out, which she eventually did. Her demise is a huge loss to the industry.

-Visu, director/actor

I worked on a lot of movies with Manorama Aachi, since my debut film, Tamizh. I was a newcomer when I approached her for Tamizh. She comforted me and gave me confidence. The way she treated me with kindness, is something I will never forget. She was a very co-operative artiste and it was really a blessing to have worked with her. She has acted in Singam, Singam 2 and she was signed on for the upcoming Singam 3, too. She will surely be missed.

I have known her since her drama days. We had worked together in innumerable films. We used to travel together for shooting and we even shared the same room on our outdoor shoots. Not just us, our families are friends too. As an actor, her sincerity to her craft, was amazing. She would apply her makeup and wait for hours at the shooting spot without any complaint, if she had to. Whenever she was called for her shot, she would act with great enthusiasm. She loved being on set. She would often say that she would die if she did not apply her makeup even for a day. She was a great human being. She has left us with great memories.

Manorama was a legend. She was the nagaichuvai nayagi of the industry. Aachi was very emotional and kind. Once we were shooting and I had a leg injury. She held my leg and wept. She was very prompt and punctual when it came to work. I have never seen her raise her voice against anyone on the sets. She would walk into work every day, as a new person. I have picked up all these good qualities form Aachi. We all mourn her loss.