SheldonTopper4 at 13:52, 4 April 2026

2026-04-04T13:52:34Z

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{{short description|Indian stage and film actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mahanadi Shankar
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|1|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1992 –present
| spouse = Selvi
| children = 3
}}

'''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 film)|Mahanadhi]]'' (1994), ''[[Baashha]]'' (1995), ''[[Ratchagan]]'' (1997), ''[[Amarkkalam]]'' (1999), and ''[[Dheena]]'' (2001). The success of the former film meant that he used the title as a prefix to his stage name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/kollywood-unknown/hindi-pandit.html |title=The most famous unknowns! - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Slide Shows - Varadakkutti Ennattha Kannaiya Trouser Paandi Saamiii Mayavi Suriya Michael Madana Kamarajan Kameswaran |publisher=Behindwoods.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-10 |archive-date=15 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200545/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/kollywood-unknown/hindi-pandit.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Angry-Crazy-Gemini-and-Cho/articleshow/4949730.cms?prtpage=1|title = Angry, Crazy, Gemini and Cho |website = [[The Times of India]]| date=30 August 2009 }}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{Citation |title=Stunt நடிகர்களின் போராட்ட வாழ்க்கை {{!}} Mahanadi Shankar Exclusive Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t172m4JoucI |access-date=2023-12-23 |language=en |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223140924/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t172m4JoucI |url-status=live }}</ref> He worked as an assistant to established stunt masters, including [[FEFSI Vijayan]], [[Vikram Dharma]], and [[Raju Sundaram]] during this time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Navaneethakrishnan |first=Stalin |title=Mahanadi Shankar: 'காதல் தோல்வி: என் இளமையின் வலி' -மகாநதி சங்கர் சங்கடம்! |url=https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/fighter-and-actor-mahanadi-shankar-interview-131675096798577.html |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Tamil Hindustan Times |language=ta |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223140924/https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/fighter-and-actor-mahanadi-shankar-interview-131675096798577.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kungumam.co.in/VArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=9776&id1=40&issue=20191108|date=8 November 2019|access-date=14 June 2024|website=Kungumam|language=ta|title=மகாநதி - மகாநதி சங்கர்|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200707155955/http://kungumam.co.in/VArticalinnerdetail.aspx?id=9776&id1=40&issue=20191108|url-status=live}}</ref>

Shankar received the opportunity to act in the film ''[[Mahanadhi (1994 film)|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.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

Shankar eventually made his fully-fledged acting debut in ''Mahanadhi''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revisiting Mahanadhi: A look-back at arguably the most poignant Tamil film ever; lesser-known facts, rare pics |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2020/jan/16/revisiting-mahanadhi-alook-back-at-arguably-the-most-poignant-tamil-filmever-lesser-known-facts-853.html |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |language=en |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223140924/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2020/jan/16/revisiting-mahanadhi-alook-back-at-arguably-the-most-poignant-tamil-filmever-lesser-known-facts-853.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/vindhai/movie-review/47390209.cms|title=Vindhai Movie Review {1/5}: Critic Review of Vindhai by Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/audio-beat-sankarapuram-good-vs-evil/article5321294.ece|title = Audio Beat: Sankarapuram - Good vs. Evil|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 6 November 2013|last1 = Kumar|first1 = S. R. Ashok|access-date = 14 April 2017|archive-date = 3 March 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200303051242/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/audio-beat-sankarapuram-good-vs-evil/article5321294.ece|url-status = live}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=When Mahanadi Shankar Met Ajith Kumar On The Sets of Thunivu |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/when-mahanadi-shankar-met-ajith-kumar-on-the-sets-of-thunivu-7181977.html |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615034910/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/when-mahanadi-shankar-met-ajith-kumar-on-the-sets-of-thunivu-7181977.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-21 |title=20 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பின் அஜித் உடன் இணையும் 'மகாநதி' சங்கர் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/802536-mahanadhi-shankar-to-reuite-with-ajith-after-20-years-in-ak-61.html |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223140924/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/802536-mahanadhi-shankar-to-reuite-with-ajith-after-20-years-in-ak-61.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He made a reunion with Ajith after a gap of 22 years with the film ''[[Thunivu]]'' (2023), in which he played a police constable.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-20 |title=அஜித் 61 அப்டேட்: 20 ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு மீண்டும் இணையும் 'தல' காம்போ! |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/mahanadi-shankar-to-play-a-role-in-ajith-61-directed-by-h-vinoth |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''[[Amma Vanthachu]]'' (1992)
*''[[Singaravelan]]'' (1992)
*''[[Mahanadhi (1994 film)|Mahanadhi]]'' (1994)
*''[[Namma Annachi]]'' (1994)
*''[[Vanaja Girija]]'' (1994)
*''[[Aasai]]'' (1995)
*''[[Baashha]]'' (1995)
*''[[En Pondatti Nallava]]'' (1995)
*''[[Ragasiya Police]]'' (1995)
*''[[Indian (1996 film)|Indian]]'' (1996)
*''[[Panchalankurichi (film)|Panchalankurichi]]'' (1996)
*''[[Senathipathi]]'' (1996)
*''[[Vaazhga Jananayagam]]'' (1996)
*''[[Vishwanath (1996 film)|Vishwanath]]'' (1996)
*''[[Abhimanyu (1997 film)|Abhimanyu]]'' (1997)
*''[[Pagaivan]]'' (1997)
*''[[Pasamulla Pandiyare]]'' (1997)
*''[[Ratchagan]]'' (1997)
*''[[Thadayam]]'' (1997)
*''[[Golmaal (1998 film)|Golmaal]]'' (1998)
*''[[Dhinamdhorum]]'' (1998)
*''[[Veeram Vilanja Mannu]]'' (1998)
*''[[Pudhumai Pithan (1998 film)|Pudhumai Pithan]]'' (1998)
*''[[Thullatha Manamum Thullum]]'' (1999)
*''[[Amarkkalam]]'' (1999)
*''[[Adutha Kattam]]'' (1999)
*''[[Malabar Police]]'' (1999)
*''[[Unnai Thedi]]'' (1999)
*''[[Kann Thirandhu Paaramma]]'' (2000)
*''[[Manu Needhi]]'' (2000)
*''[[Dheena]]'' (2001)
*''[[Dosth (2001 Tamil film)|Dosth]]'' (2001)
*''[[Alli Thandha Vaanam]]'' (2001)
*''[[Alli Arjuna]]'' (2002)
*''[[Red (2002 film)|Red]]'' (2002)
*''Amaiyappan'' (2002)
*''[[Charlie Chaplin (2002 film)|Charlie Chaplin]]'' (2002)
*''[[Ivan (2002 film)|Ivan]]'' (2002)
*''[[Shree (2002 film)|Shree]]'' (2002)
*''[[Arputham]]'' (2002)
*''[[Maaran (2002 film)|Maaran]]'' (2002)
*''[[Game (2002 film)|Game]]'' (2002)
*''[[Ramanaa]]'' (2002)
*''[[Ramachandra (film)|Ramachandra]]'' (2003)
*''[[Naam (2003 film)|Naam]]'' (2003)
*''[[Galatta Ganapathy]]'' (2003)
*''[[Anjaneya (film)|Anjaneya]]'' (2003) as Kulithalai Samy
*''[[Ottran]]'' (2003)
*''[[Gajendra (2004 film)|Gajendra]]'' (2004)
*''[[Arasatchi]]'' (2004)
*''[[Giri (film)|Giri]]'' (2004)
*''[[Jaisurya]]'' (2004)
*''[[Jananam]]'' (2004)
*''[[Iyer IPS]]'' (2005)
*''[[Sukran]]'' (2005)
*''[[Chanakya (2005 film)|Chanakya]]'' (2005)
*''[[Mazhai]]'' (2005)
*''[[Kusthi]]'' (2006)
*''[[Vanjagan]]'' (2006)
*''[[Perarasu (film)|Perarasu]]'' (2006)
*''[[Vathiyar]]'' (2006)
*''[[Thottal Poo Malarum]]'' (2007)
*''[[Thiru Ranga]]'' (2007)
*''[[Marudhamalai (film)|Marudhamalai]]'' (2007)
*''[[Kannamoochi Yenada]]'' (2007)
*''[[Tharagu]]'' (2008)
*''[[Vasool]]'' (2008)
*''[[Siva Manasula Sakthi]]'' (2009)
*''[[Brahmadeva (film)|Brahmadeva]]'' (2009)
*''[[Sirithal Rasipen]]'' (2009)
*''[[Engal Aasan]]'' (2009)
*''[[Sindhanai Sei]]'' (2009)
*''[[Vedappan]]'' (2009)
*''[[Munnar (film)|Munnar]]'' (2009)
*''[[Sura (film)|Sura]]'' (2010)
*''[[Tamizh Padam]]'' (2010)
*''[[Oru Kal Oru Kannadi]]'' (2012)
*''[[Mirattal]]'' (2012)
*''[[Etho Seithai Ennai]]'' (2012)
*''[[Aachariyangal]]'' (2012)
*''[[Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara]]'' (2013)
*''[[Amara (film)|Amara]]'' (2014)
*''[[Vellaikaara Durai]]'' (2014)
*''[[Yaamirukka Bayamey]]'' (2014)
*''[[Kalkandu]]'' (2014)
*''[[Vindhai]]'' (2015)
*''[[Eli (2015 film)|Eli]]'' (2015)
*''Vandha Mala'' (2015)
*''[[Veera Sivaji]]'' (2016)
*''[[Vaaliba Raja]]'' (2016)
*''[[Sutta Pazham Sudatha Pazham]]'' (2016)
*''[[Jackson Durai]]'' (2016)
*''[[Azhahendra Sollukku Amudha]]'' (2016)
*''[[Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva]]'' (2017)
*''[[Julieum 4 Perum]]'' (2017)
*''[[Senjittale En Kadhala]]'' (2017)
*''[[Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen]]'' (2017)
*''[[Padaiveeran]]'' (2018)
*''[[Irumbu Thirai (2018 film)|Irumbu Thirai]]'' (2018)
*''[[Dev (2019 film)|Dev]]'' (2019)
*''Shree Atharvana Prathyangira'' (2019; Kannada)
*''[[100 (2019 film)|100]]'' (2019)
*''[[Jackpot (2019 film)|Jackpot]]'' (2019)
*''[[Petromax (2019 film)|Petromax]]'' (2019)
*''[[Butler Balu]]'' (2019)
*''Sollunganne Sollunga'' (2020)
*''Chithirame Solladi'' (2020)
*''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]'' (2021)
*''[[Parris Jeyaraj]]'' (2021)
*''[[IPC 376]]'' (2021)
*''[[Gulu Gulu]]'' (2022)
*''[[Thunivu]]'' (2023)
*''[[Pallu Padama Paathukka]]'' (2023)
*''[[Kulasami]]'' (2023)
*''[[Jailer (2023 Tamil film)|Jailer]]'' (2023)
*''Tha Naa'' (2024)
*''[[Uyir Thamizhukku]]'' (2024)
*''[[Kadaisi Ulaga Por]]'' (2024)
*''[[Maargan]]'' (2025)
*''[[Good Bad Ugly]]'' (2025) as a narrator
*''[[Gandhi Kannadi]]'' (2025; uncredited)
*''[[Lucky the Superstar]]'' (2026)
*''[[Sandakkari]]'' (2026; unreleased)<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2019 |title=Shooting of Sandakkari now happening in Kerala |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/shooting-of-sandakkari-now-happening-in-kerala/articleshow/70203636.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716124614/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/shooting-of-sandakkari-now-happening-in-kerala/articleshow/70203636.cms |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=2 February 2025 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref>
*''[[Leader (2026 film)|Leader]]'' (2026)
{{div col end|3}}

==Television==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Channel
|-
| 2013–2015 || ''[[Nadhaswaram (TV series)|Nadhaswaram]]'' ||Neliandavar||rowspan=2| [[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2018 || ''[[Maya (2018 TV series)|Maya]]''||Pasupathi (Saalappaa)
|-
|''[[Nandini (TV series)|Nandini]]'' ||Sathyanarayan||[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] <br> [[Udaya TV]]
|-
|2020–2024||''[[Vanathai Pola (TV series)|Vanathai Pola]]''||Sankarapandi||rowspan="2"|[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
|-
|2024–Present||''[[Annam (TV series)|Annam]]''||Saamydurai
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|4787137}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shankar, Mahanadi}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Tamil comedians]]
[[Category:Actors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1955 births]]

Mahanadi Shankar - Revision history

SheldonTopper4 at 13:52, 4 April 2026