- Mohan (actor)
-
Mohan Born 23 August 1956 Other names Kokilam Mohan, Silver Jubilee Star, Mike Mohan Occupation Actor, producer Years active 1977 - 1987
1998 - 2000
2008 - presentMohan (Kannada: ಮೋಹನ್; Tamil: மோகன், born 23 August 1956 as Mohan Rao) is a popular Kollywood actor. He hails from the Udupi district of Karnataka. He derived his name Kokila Mohan after debuting in a film called Kokila, which starred Kamal Haasan in the lead role.[1][2] He considers Balu Mahendra as his mentor.[3] He has acted in Kannada films, Telugu films and Malayalam films, but his main contribution was to Tamil cinema where he has acted in over 80 films.
Contents
Early life
Mohan was born and brought up in ITI Colony, Bangalore. His father was a restaurateur who owned restaurants at various places in south Karnataka and in Bangalore. He completed his education in Bangalore.
Career
From 1978 to 1987, the Mohan phenomenon swept the Tamil movie world off its feet and the hysteria he generated was unlike anything seen before and after. At one point, three films of Mohan’s were released on the same day, at the same theater complex all three ran for more than a hundred days and created a record which has never been broken by any actor to date. Mohan’s films were competing against his own films during his days.
Mohan’s entry into the field of acting was accidental. Mohan was introduced in to the world of theater by B. V. Karanth and trained by the likes of G. V. Iyer. Mohan was spotted by B. V. Karanth at a restaurant and asked to join the theater group. Mohan’s first stage play was praised by critics from places like Delhi. Mohan was introduced to the cinema by Balu Mahendra in his movie Kokila in 1977 alongside Tamil actor Kamal Haasan.[4]
Kokila was a hit and Mohan was catapulted into the limelight, where he played a friend of Kamal Haasan, the hero; ever since then he has become one of the biggest-grossing box-office stars of the Tamil cinema industry. He is called the "Silver Jubilee Star" since almost all movies featuring him witnessed a fantastic run. He holds the record in the Tamil film industry for acting in more than 25 films which became Silver Jubilee hits.
After Kokila, Mohan starred in a Malayalam movie titled Mathalasa. Furthermore, immediately after the success of the Malayalam movie, Mohan went on to sign a Telugu film titled Thoorpu Velle Railu, which was a remake of the Tamil film Kizhakkae Pogum Rail. The Telugu version was directed by Bapu. After that Mohan was introduced in the Tamil film Nenjathai Killathey by director Mahendran. In 1980 he acted in dual roles for the first time in Gandar Golam which was directed by director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao.[3]
Nenjathai Killaadhey marked the beginning of the peak of Mohan's career. Kilinjalgal by Durai ran for more than 25 weeks. Mohan’s sensational hit Payanagal Mudivathillai ran for 500 days. Most of the movies which Mohan starred in since then were either Silver Jubilee or ran for over 200 days.
Mohan became a major star through Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982) [4] The trio of Ilaiyaraaja, S. P. Balasubramanyam and Mohan created history in the Tamil music world with consistent hits.
At the peak of his career, Mohan took up challenging negative roles in films like Nooravadhu Naal (1984) and Vidhi (both were blockbusters in 1984). He also performed in comedies like Sahadevan Mahadevan and Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (likewise blockbusters). In fact, Mohan played the role of a wonderful lover and husband in Mouna Raagam[5] and in Rettaival Kuruvi he portrayed a man who cheats his wife and ending up being with two wives.
Thereafter till 1987, it looked like he was steady. But there was more to him than just his mannerisms as he built an image of a gentle romantic. Mohan even portrayed negative characters in the movies Vithi, Nooravathu Naal, Nan Ungal Rasigan and December Pookal and those films were box-office hits as well. The audience accepted him as a hardcore romantic villain and also as a good comedian.
Payanangal Mudivathillai was perhaps his greatest ever performance as a singer and a man stricken with cancer. As he went from strength to strength, even his guest appearances in Sri Raghavendra (1985) alongside Rajinikanth and Nanpadum Padal generated more hysteria. Mohan has worked with top heroines of the day like Suhasini, Poornima, Radha, Amala, Radhika, Kushboo, Ambika, Revathi, Nalini, Nadiya, Jeyashree, Lizy and Archana.
He also created a record in 1984, when 19 of his films were released and most were hits.[3] Mohan played a major role in the life of the production company Motherland Pictures.
Voice
Despite becoming fluent in Tamil after acting in more films, his voice was usually dubbed. He dubbed in his own voice for the first time in Paasa Paravaigal after the insistence of M. Karunanidhi, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. From then on, he usually dubbed for his character and even spoke literary Tamil for Pasamazhai.[3]
His 1986 Tamil film, Mouna Raagam won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Comeback ventures
He attempted a comeback by producing, directing, and playing the lead role in Anbulla Kadhalukku. However, the movie flopped. He took a new avatar as the producer of tele-serials and managed to come out with a serial on the prominent Tamil satellite channel Sun TV. Mohan again played the hero after a hiatus of nine years in the moderate success film Sutta Pazham, a low-budget production.
Also in 2008, Mohan's Civic Cinema produced a Malayalam movie named Thalappavu, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Lal, the debut directorial venture of popular actor Madhupal, based on the controversial and real-life confession of police constable Raveendran Pillai who gunned down the Naxalite leader Varghese on 18 February 1970, in the jungles of Wayanad in North Kerala.
Mohan made a comeback to Kannada film with Ghautham (2009), directed by Rajeev Prasad and starring Prem Kumar, Sara, and Ananth Nag. His Kannada film Asokavana is scheduled for an early 2011 release.
Filmography
Year Film Language Co-Stars Notes 1977 Kokila Kannada Kamal Haasan, Shobha, Roja Ramani 1979 Mathalasa Malayalam 1979 Thoorpu Velle Railu Telugu Jyothi 1980 Nenjathai Killathey Tamil Sarath Babu, Suhasini, Pratap Pothan 1980 Hennina Sedu Kannada Srinath, Geetha 1980 Muniyana Maadari Kannada Shankar Nag, Rajyalakshmi, Rajan - Nagendra 1981 Gaali Maathu Kannada Jai Jagadish, Lakshmi, Rajan - Nagendra 1981 Kilinjalgal Tamil Poornima Jayaram 1982 Ponmudy Malayalam Prem Nazir, Sharada 1982 Kadhoduthan Naan Pesuven Tamil Sripriya 1982 Kadavulukku Oor Kadidham Tamil Suhasini, Radha, S. V. Shekher 1982 Idho Varukiren Tamil Sulokshana, S. V. Shekher, Silk smitha 1982 Kathalithupaar Tamil Radha, Y. Gee. Mahendran 1982 Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai Tamil Poornima Bhagyaraj, Silk Smitha 1982 Payanangal Mudivathillai Tamil Poornima Bhagyaraj, S.V.Sekar, Rajesh Won, Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award 1982 Lottery Ticket Tamil Prabhu Ganesan, Suhasini, Silk Smitha 1982 Chinnan Chirusugal Tamil Prabhu Ganesan, Sulokshana, Silk Smitha 1982 Gopurangal Saayvathillai Tamil Suhasini, Radha, S.V.Sekar 1983 Jothi Tamil Ambika, Silk Smitha, Vanitha 1983 Nenjamellam Neeye Tamil Radha, Poornima Jayaram, Charu Haasan 1983 Andha Silanatkal Tamil Poornima Bhagyaraj, Silk Smitha 1983 Manaivi Solle Mandiram Tamil Nalini, Pandiyan, Ilavarasi 1983 Naalu Perukku Nandri Tamil Poornima Jayaram 1983 Saranalayam Tamil Nalini 1983 Thungatha Kannendru Ondru Tamil Ambika, S. V. Shekher, S. Varalaksmi 1983 Ilamai Kaalangal Tamil Sasikala 1984 Oh Mane Mane Tamil Urvasi 1984 Anbe Odivaa Tamil Urvasi 1984 Nirabarathi Tamil Madhavi 1984 Nenjathai Allitha Tamil Sadhana, Lakshmi 1984 Nalam Nalamariya Aaval Tamil Saritha 1984 Magudi Tamil Nalini, Nagesh 1984 Vidhi Tamil Poornima Bhagyaraj, Sujatha, Jaishankar 1984 Vai Pandhal Tamil Urvasi, Radha Ravi, Vanitha 1984 Ambigai Neril Vandhal Tamil Radha, Ambika, Vanitha 1984 24 Mani Neram Tamil Nalini, Sathyaraj, Jaishankar 1984 Shanthi Muhurtham Tamil Urvasi 1984 Osai Tamil Nalini, Raadhika, Nizhalgal Ravi, Baby Shalini 1984 Rusi Tamil Swapna, Srikanth 1984 Sattathai Thiruthungal Tamil Sathyaraj, Nalini, Jaishankar 1984 Naan Paadum Paadal Tamil Sivakumar, Ambika, Ilavarasi Guest appearance 1984 Nooravathu Naal Tamil Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Nalini 1984 Kuva Kuva Vathugal Tamil Sivakumar, Sulochana, Pandiyan Supporting role 1984 Vengaiyin Mainthan Tamil Vijayakanth, S. V. Shekhar, Urvasi 1984 Panam Pathum Seiyum Tamil S. Ve. Shekhar, Urvasi, Srividya 1985 Anbin Mugavari Tamil Sasikala, Sathyaraj, Viji 1985 Annee Tamil Jaishankar, Saritha, Deepa, Nizhalgal Ravi, 1985 Deiva Piravi Tamil Radhika, Urvasi, Radha Ravi 1985 Naan Ungal Rasigan Tamil Radhika, Nalini, Meena, Rajiv 1985 Unakkaga Oru Roja Tamil Ambika, Rajeev, Suresh 1985 Thendraley Ennai Thodu Tamil Jayashri 1985 Kunguma Chimil Tamil Revathi, Ilavarasi, Vagai Chandrasekar 1985 Sri Raghavendra Tamil Rajinikanth, Lakshmi Special appearance 1985 Idaya Kovil Tamil Ambika, Radha, Suresh, Goundamani 1985 Udaya Geetham Tamil Anandbabu, Revathi, Lakshmi 1985 Pillai Nila Tamil Jaishankar, Nalini, Radhika, Baby Shalini 1986 December Pookal Tamil Revathi, Nalini, Nizhalgal Ravi 1986 Paru Paru Pattanam Paru Tamil Ranjani 1986 Uyire Unakkaka Tamil Nadhiya, Sujatha 1986 Unnai Ondru Ketpen Tamil Amala 1986 Mouna Ragam Tamil Karthik Muthuraman, Revathi 1986 Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu Tamil Amala, Radha 1986 Ayiram Pookkal Malarattum Tamil Seetha 1987 Paadu Nilave Tamil Nadhiya 1987 Ore Ratham Tamil 1987 Neram Nallarukku Tamil Ramarajan, Nirosha, Pandiarajan, Deepa Guest Appearance 1987 Theertha Karayinile Tamil Rupini, Roshini 1987 Ninekka Therintha Maname Tamil Roopini, Chandrasekar 1987 Rettai Vaal Kuruvi Tamil Radhika, Archana 1987 Ananda Aradhanai Tamil Suhasini, Srividya, Lizy 1987 Krishnan Vanthan Tamil Sivaji Ganesan, K.R. Vijaya, Rekha 1987 Idhu Oru Thodarkathai Tamil Amala, Rekha 1988 Sahadevan Mahadevan Tamil S.V.Sekar, Maduri, Pallavi 1988 Vasanthi Tamil Mathuri 1988 Choopulu Kalasina Subhavela Telugu Naresh, Aswani, Sudha 1988 Paasa Paravaigal Tamil Sivakumar, Raadhika, Lakshmi 1988 Kunguma Kodu Tamil Suresh, Nalini, Ramyakrishnan 1989 Paasa Mazhai Tamil Urvasi, Raadhika, Rekha 1989 Manidhan Marivittan Tamil Chitra 1989 Mappillai Sir Tamil Rekha 1989 Thalaivanukkor Thalaivi Tamil Rekha, Vaishnavi 1989 Idhaya Dheepam Tamil 1989 Sondham 16 Tamil 1990 Jagadala Prathapan Tamil Divya 1990 Valiba Vilayattu Tamil Sadhana, Srividya, Divya 1991 Uruvam Tamil Rupini, Moorthy Horror film 1999 Kattu Gudhirai Tamil Y. Vijaya 1999 Anbulla Kadhalukku Tamil Bhavana, Latha, Visu, Anand Babu 2008 Suttapazham Tamil Subha Punja 2009 Ghautham Kannada 2011 Shikari Kannada Awards
- 1982 - Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award for Payanangal Mudivathillai.[3]
References
External links
Categories:- Indian actors
- Kannada film actors
- Kannada people
- 1956 births
- Telugu film actors
- Tamil film actors
- Living people
- Filmfare Awards South winners
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
