Mahanadi Shankar
OccupationActor
Years active1992 –present

Mahanadi Shankar is an Indian actor and stuntman who has appeared in Tamil language films and television serials, playing mostly supporting and negative roles. He has starred in films such as Mahanadhi (1994), Baashha (1995), Ratchagan (1997), Amarkalam (1999), and Dheena (2001). The success of the former film meant that he used the title as a prefix to his stage name.[1][2]

Career

Shankar was introduced to the film industry initially as a stuntman and action choreographer in 1986. He focused on fight sequences in film portions while working as a stuntman from 1986 to 1993.[3] He worked as an assistant to established stunt masters. including FEFSI Vijayan, Vikram Dharma. and Raju Sundaram during this time.[4]

Shankar received the opportunity to act in the film titled Mahanadhi (1994) through his stunt master guru Vikram Dharma, who pushed Shankar to the core. It was Vikram Dharma who convinced Shankar to gain weight in order to make a noteworthy appearance in the film. By this time, Shankar weighed only 66 kilograms (143 pounds), and within three months, he had pushed it to 82 kilograms (180 pounds) in order to cash in on the opportunity to act in the film.[4] During the film's shooting, filmmakers planned to rope in a dubbing artist to give a voiceover to the role to be played by Shankar, but the film's lead actor Kamal Haasan insisted that there was no need for a dubbing artist and recommended that Shankar himself has a fine slang and urged filmmakers to utilize Shankar's voice throughout the film for Shankar's portions.[4]

Shankar eventually made his fully-fledged acting debut in Mahanadhi.[5] Following his notable performance, he has worked in several Tamil films in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s as a supporting actor, often as an antagonist or a comic villain.[6][7]

In the film Dheena (2001), Shankar referred to the film's lead actor Ajith Kumar as "Thala" in a song. Subsequently, Ajith was called "Thala" by all his fans.[8][9] He made a reunion with Ajith after a gap of 22 years with the film Thunivu (2023), in which he played a police constable.[10]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Channel
2013–2015 Nadhaswaram Neliandavar Sun TV
2018 Maya Pasupathi (Saalappaa)
Nandini Sathyanarayan Sun TV
Udaya TV
2020–Present Vanathai Pola Sankarapandi Sun TV

References

  1. ^ "The most famous unknowns! - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Slide Shows - Varadakkutti Ennattha Kannaiya Trouser Paandi Saamiii Mayavi Suriya Michael Madana Kamarajan Kameswaran". Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Angry, Crazy, Gemini and Cho". The Times of India. 30 August 2009.
  3. ^ Stunt நடிகர்களின் போராட்ட வாழ்க்கை | Mahanadi Shankar Exclusive Interview, retrieved 23 December 2023
  4. ^ a b c Navaneethakrishnan, Stalin. "Mahanadi Shankar: 'காதல் தோல்வி: என் இளமையின் வலி' -மகாநதி சங்கர் சங்கடம்!". Tamil Hindustan Times (in Tamil). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Revisiting Mahanadhi: A look-back at arguably the most poignant Tamil film ever; lesser-known facts, rare pics". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Vindhai Movie Review {1/5}: Critic Review of Vindhai by Times of India". The Times of India.
  7. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (6 November 2013). "Audio Beat: Sankarapuram - Good vs. Evil". The Hindu.
  8. ^ "When Mahanadi Shankar Met Ajith Kumar On The Sets of Thunivu". News18. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  9. ^ "20 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பின் அஜித் உடன் இணையும் 'மகாநதி' சங்கர்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 21 May 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  10. ^ "அஜித் 61 அப்டேட்: 20 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு மீண்டும் இணையும் `தல' காம்போ!". Vikatan (in Tamil). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

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