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Mani Chandana
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Mani Chandana is an Indian actress who has appears primarily in Telugu films. She returned to the film industry in the late 2010s portraying supporting roles.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Mani Chandana appeared in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil language films in the early 2000s. She notably also appeared in an item number in the Mahesh Babu-starrer Nijam (2003).[3] Towards the end of her career as a lead actress, she worked on Shivraj's Tamil film Enakke Enakka, which eventually did not have a theatrical release.[4][5]
Following a sabbatical away from the film industry after her wedding, Mani Chandana returned in the late 2010s to portray supporting roles in Telugu films such as Ungarala Rambabu (2017) and Achari America Yatra (2018).[6][7]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tholi Prema | Anil's fiancé | Telugu | Uncredited role |
| 1999 | Pilla Nachindi | Kajol | ||
| 2000 | Kiladi | Kannada | ||
| Pellam Vachindi | Telugu | |||
| Manasichanu | ||||
| Tensionlo Tension | ||||
| NTR Nagar | ||||
| Vanna Thamizh Pattu | Devi | Tamil | ||
| 2001 | Little Hearts | Telugu | Special appearance | |
| 2002 | Vamshakobba | Kannada | ||
| Devi Nagamma | Telugu | |||
| 2003 | Nijam | Rathalu | ||
| 2017 | Ungarala Rambabu | |||
| 2018 | Achari America Yatra | |||
| 2019 | Burra Katha | Abhi/Ram’s mother | ||
| 2021 | Naandhi | Meenakshi's mother | ||
| 2024 | Sarkaaru Noukari | Vasaki | ||
| Mr. Bachchan | Mutyam Prabhavathi | |||
| Devara: Part 1 | Thangam’s mother | |||
| Bhale Unnade | Krishna’s mother | |||
| 2025 | Mazaka | Bhargav Varma's wife | ||
| 2026 | Seetha Payanam | |||
| Nawab Cafe | Raja’s mother |
References
[edit]- ^ "Essentials for GHMC workers by Manichandana amid #CoronaCrisis - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Telugu cinema in 2000 - Heroines list". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Telugu Cinema Etc". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Manichandana in Tamil". IndiaGlitz.com. 25 October 2004. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Enakae Enaka Tamil Movie Preview cinema review stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes". www.indiaglitz.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ kavirayani, suresh (15 July 2017). "Mani Chandana's second innings". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ Focus, Filmy. "Mani Chandana the new Character actor! - Filmy Focus". Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
External links
[edit]Mani Chandana
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Early career
Entry into Telugu cinema
Mani Chandana made her debut in Telugu cinema with an uncredited role as Anil's fiancée in the 1998 romantic drama Tholi Prema, directed by A. Karunakaran and starring Pawan Kalyan.[2] She followed this with a supporting role as Kajol in the 1999 comedy Pilla Nachindi, directed by E. V. V. Satyanarayana and featuring Srikanth and Rachana. Chandana entered more prominent roles in 2000 with a supporting role in Pellam Vachindi, a comedy-drama directed by G. R. Krishna Reddy and starring Suman and Radhika Chowdary.[5][6] In this low-budget production, she portrayed a family-oriented character, contributing to the film's domestic narrative centered on marital and household dynamics.[7] That same year, she gained further visibility in Manasichanu, a romantic comedy directed by Pramod Kumar, where she played the lead actress opposite Ravi Teja, embodying a romantic interest in the story's lighthearted exploration of relationships and humor.[8][9] Chandana continued with supporting roles in Tensionlo Tension, a drama directed by D. Ranga Rao and starring Ajay, where her performance added to the film's tense emotional and familial conflicts.[10][6] She also appeared in NTR Nagar, a comedy directed by Babji and featuring Raj Kumar, Tanikella Bharani, and Brahmanandam, taking on a comedic supporting part that highlighted her versatility in ensemble-driven, low-budget entertainers focused on everyday dramatic and humorous scenarios.[11][6] In 2001, she made a special appearance in Little Hearts, a Telugu drama directed by Srikanth.[12] These early appearances established her screen presence through relatable, secondary characters in modest productions, often involving romantic or familial elements.[3]Expansion to Kannada and Tamil films
Following her initial foray into Telugu cinema, Mani Chandana expanded her career to Tamil and Kannada films between 2000 and 2003, taking on supporting roles that highlighted her range in romantic dramas, comedies, and spiritual narratives.[1] In her Tamil debut, she portrayed Devi, a supporting lead in the 2000 romantic drama Vanna Thamizh Pattu, directed by P. Vasu and starring Prabhu and debutante Vaijayanthi, where the story revolves around family dynamics and forbidden romance in a rural setting. This role marked her entry into Tamil cinema as a versatile performer capable of handling emotional supporting parts alongside established stars.[13] Chandana's Kannada debut came the same year with Kiladi, a comedy-drama directed by Om Sai Prakash and led by Jaggesh and Archana, in which she contributed to the film's lighthearted ensemble dynamics centered on clever schemes and romantic entanglements.[14] She followed this with appearances in Vamshakobba (2002), another Kannada comedy-drama directed by C. H. Balaji Singh featuring Jaggesh and Sujitha, where she played a supporting character in a tale of family rivalries and humorous village life.[15] Later that year, she featured in Nammoora Yajamana, a Kannada drama directed by K. Venkatasamy starring Charan Raj and Damini Basu, portraying a role in a story exploring rural leadership and community conflicts.[16] These Kannada projects often cast her in comedic or rural-themed supporting roles, showcasing her adaptability to regional storytelling styles and ensemble casts typical of the industry at the time.[1] During this period, Chandana continued with Telugu extensions, including a supporting role in the spiritual drama Devi Nagamma (2002), directed by Alahari and starring Prema, which focused on themes of devotion and family redemption.[17] She also made a special appearance as a dancer in the item song "Rathalu Rathalu" in the action-drama Nijam (2003), directed by Teja and starring [Mahesh Babu](/page/Mahesh Babu), adding to the film's high-energy musical sequences amid its narrative of vengeance and justice.[3][18] Overall, these multilingual roles from 2000 to 2003 demonstrated Chandana's willingness to explore diverse genres and languages, though they primarily positioned her in supporting capacities without achieving widespread commercial breakthroughs in Kannada or Tamil cinema.[1]Career trajectory
Hiatus from the industry
Following her role in the 2003 Telugu film Nijam, where she appeared in an item number, Mani Chandana took an extended break from acting, with no credited film roles for the subsequent 14 years until her return in 2017.[19][3] The primary reason for this career hiatus was her marriage, after which she opted for a sabbatical from the film industry to focus on personal life.[3][20] Specific details about the marriage date or further personal motivations remain undocumented in available sources, though the break aligned with a period of personal transition common among actresses in South Indian cinema during the early 2000s. Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Chandana maintained no known involvement in major film projects, television serials, or other media endeavors, as evidenced by her complete filmography records.[21][22] This prolonged absence contributed to her reduced visibility in the industry, overshadowed by the influx of emerging talent and evolving production trends in Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil cinema.[3]Return and contemporary roles
Mani Chandana marked her return to Telugu cinema in 2017 after a long hiatus, appearing in the comedy film Ungarala Rambabu, directed by Kranthi Madhav, where she essayed a key supporting role alongside lead actor Sunil.[23][1] This comeback vehicle highlighted her ability to contribute to ensemble dynamics in lighthearted narratives, as the film explored ideological clashes through humorous situations.[3] She continued her post-return trajectory in 2018 with Achari America Yatra, a comedy directed by G. Nageswara Reddy, in which she took on an ensemble supporting part amid the story of a priest's misadventures abroad.[24][25] The film's focus on group antics allowed her to engage in comedic ensemble sequences, reinforcing her presence in feel-good entertainers.[23] In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Chandana shifted toward more dramatic roles, often portraying maternal or strong female supporting characters. In Burra Katha (2019), directed by Diamond Ratna Babu, she played Abhi's and Ram's mother in a sci-fi romance blending dual personalities and family bonds. Her performance added emotional depth to the narrative's exploration of identity and relationships. She followed this with Naandhi (2021), a legal thriller directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, where she depicted Meenakshi's mother, providing crucial familial support in the protagonist's fight against injustice.[26][27] In Atithi Devobhava (2022), a romantic drama helmed by Polimera Nageshwar, she contributed to the supporting ensemble, enhancing the film's themes of love and personal fears.[28][29] Chandana's recent works in the 2020s underscore her sustained involvement in diverse genres, including comedies, thrillers, and dramas. She appeared in supporting capacities in Unstoppable (2023), a comedy directed by Diamond Ratna Babu; Vidyarthi (2023), a drama tackling caste dynamics in education; Mr. Bachchan (2024), an action comedy where she played Mutyam Prabhavathi; Bachhala Malli (2024), a period tragedy exploring rural strife; Devara: Part 1 (2024), an action drama as Janhvi Kapoor's mother; Kali (2024), a psychological thriller by Siva Sashu; Bhavanam: The Haunted House (2024), a horror-comedy; and Sarkaaru Noukari (2024), where she played Vasaki in a rural drama about societal pressures.[30][31][32][33][34][35] These roles demonstrate her reliability in bolstering character-driven stories across Telugu cinema's evolving landscape. Chandana featured in the romantic comedy Mazaka (2025), directed by Trinadha Rao Nakkina, portraying Bhargav Varma's wife and marking her continued emphasis on prominent supporting characters in contemporary productions.[36][1] Her progression reflects a versatile acting approach, adapting from comedic ensembles to nuanced dramatic supports that enrich narrative depth.[1]Filmography
Telugu films
Mani Chandana began her career in Telugu cinema in the late 1990s with supporting roles before taking a hiatus, returning in 2017 primarily in supporting capacities.[3] Her Telugu filmography, organized chronologically, includes the following entries:| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tholi Prema | Supporting actress as Anil's fiancé |
| 1999 | Pilla Nachindi | Supporting actress as Kajol |
| 2000 | Pellam Vachindi | Supporting actress as Radhika's friend[5] |
| 2000 | Manasichanu | Lead actress opposite Ravi Teja[37] |
| 2000 | Tension Lo Tension | Supporting actress[3] |
| 2000 | NTR Nagar | Lead actress opposite Raj Kumar[11] |
| 2002 | Devi Nagamma | Supporting actress in a devotional role |
| 2003 | Nijam | Supporting actress as Rathalu[1] |
| 2017 | Ungarala Rambabu | Supporting actress in a comic role[3] |
| 2018 | Achari America Yatra | Supporting actress as a family member[1] |
| 2018 | Thugs of Amrica | Supporting actress in a comedic ensemble[38] |
| 2019 | Burra Katha | Supporting actress in a historical drama |
| 2021 | Naandhi | Supporting actress as Meenakshi's mother[4] |
| 2022 | Atithi Devobhava | Supporting actress as a village elder[38] |
| 2023 | Unstoppable | Supporting actress as a mentor figure[4] |
| 2023 | Vidyarthi | Supporting actress in a student-teacher dynamic[39] |
| 2024 | Bachhala Malli | Supporting actress opposite Allari Naresh[39] |
| 2024 | Kali | Supporting actress in a thriller narrative[39] |
| 2024 | Bhavanam: The Haunted House | Supporting actress in a horror comedy[39] |
| 2024 | Sarkaaru Noukari | Supporting actress as a colleague[40] |
| 2024 | Mr. Bachchan | Supporting actress as Mutyam Prabhavathi |
| 2024 | Devara: Part 1 | Supporting actress as Janhvi's mother |
| 2025 | Mazaka | Supporting actress as Bhargav Varma's wife[41] |