Latest news with #Mano
BusinessToday
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BusinessToday
Renowned Kopitiam Sitcom Actor Mano Maniam Passes Away
Malaysia has lost one of its most beloved cultural icons. Mano Maniam, the veteran actor best known for his warm portrayal of Uncle Chan in the iconic 1990s sitcom Kopitiam, passed away peacefully on May 30 at the age of 79. His younger brother, Madi Maniam, confirmed the news to Bernama , saying Mano died of natural causes due to old age. 'Further details are still being arranged with the family,' he said, adding that the funeral is expected to take place this Monday at Bliss Gardens, Shah Alam. Born on Nov 15, 1945, Mano was more than just a familiar face on Malaysian television, he was a pillar of the local performing arts scene. With a career that spanned six decades, Mano wore many hats: Actor, director, playwright, acting coach and voice-over artist. His dedication to the craft touched generations of Malaysians, and his legacy continues to shape the country's creative landscape. In addition to his work on local TV and theatre, Mano left his mark on the international stage. He appeared in Hollywood's 'Anna and the King' and the Netflix historical drama 'Marco Polo', showcasing Malaysian talent to a global audience. His distinct voice also brought life to Tok Din in the English-language adaptation of Lat's animated classic Kampung Boy . Even in his later years, Mano remained active, conducting acting classes for senior citizens at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and lending his voice to various projects. He was a cherished mentor to many young artists and a vocal advocate for inclusivity and cultural preservation in the arts. In a poignant twist, Mano was scheduled to receive an award on May 31 in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the Indian community and Malaysian performing arts. As tributes pour in from peers and fans alike, Mano is remembered not only for his unforgettable characters and commanding stage presence, but also for his deep humanity, humour and the warmth he brought to every role. Malaysia mourns the loss of a true legend, but celebrates a life that inspired and united generations through storytelling, compassion and art. Related
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Friends, co-stars fondly remember Mano as a 'man for all seasons'
KUALA LUMPUR: The late veteran actor Mano Maniam has been hailed as a "man for all seasons" by his friends and co-stars, and a truly Bangsa Malaysia entertainer. Mano, who passed away yesterday at the age of 79, coincidentally starred in a play titled A Man For All Seasons back in 1991. Throughout his illustrious, five-decade acting career, he made his mark across various mediums – television, film, and theatre. Douglas Lim, actor and comedian, who co-starred with Mano in Kopitiam, described the Ipoh-born screen legend as a great "sifu" (master) and friend. "I first met him while we were starring in Kopitiam back in the 1990s, and he was always kind, friendly, helpful, and fun," said Lim. "I'm honoured to have known and worked with him, for he always encouraged me to aim high and helped introduce me to the entertainment industry." Lim also noted Mano's superb sense of humour. While they didn't work together often in the last decade, Lim will always cherish Mano's friendship and guidance, describing his death as a significant loss to Malaysian showbiz. Kopitiam's main actress, acting coach Joanna Bessey, remembered Mano as a great mentor and father figure. "Mano was always a teacher and a friend to me. We actually met in a play called Witness For The Prosecution before Kopitiam began, and I was instantly struck by his jovial, chatty, and playful demeanour," said Joanna, who also highlighted Mano's extensive knowledge. "Over the years, we met many times, and I learnt a lot from him. He taught performing arts in colleges and universities, as did I, and when he couldn't conduct his classes or workshops, he got me to stand in for him!" In 2019, Joanna, Lim, and Mano reunited for Kopitiam Double Shot, reprising their roles as Marie, Steven, and Uncle Chan respectively. Joanna described Mano as one of Malaysia's "brightest stars" in showbiz, who bridged the gap between television, film, and theatre, as well as English, Malay, and Tamil entertainment. "He was truly a Bangsa Malaysia icon in entertainment, and we will all miss him," she added. A PILLAR OF MALAYSIAN ARTS Datuk Faridah Merican, founder of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC), shared that Mano had been a close friend for five decades. "We first met in the 1970s, and he played my father, a circus owner, in a play titled He Who Gets Slapped," she recalled. "I was impressed not only by his brilliant acting but also his passion for the arts and all-round friendliness." She added that they worked together in many plays over the decades, and he was a regular visitor to KLPAC. Faridah further noted that Mano was a great teacher of the arts, conducting acting classes for senior citizens who greatly enjoyed his workshops. "He didn't confine himself to English language theatre and starred in Malay language television dramas and comedies, as well as movies," Faridah said. "One of the main highlights of his career was playing Moonshee in Anna And The King alongside Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat, which was partly filmed in Malaysia in 1999." Faridah believes Mano helped put Malaysian entertainers on the world map. She lamented that Mano was due to receive a special award for his lifetime contributions but passed away before he could attend the ceremony. "Malaysia has lost a giant in entertainment, but he will always be in our hearts – a passionate actor, a great teacher, and a wonderful friend." INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Actor and comedian Datuk Afdlin Shauki said that Mano was an inspiration in his acting career. They both attended the same school, Sekolah Menengah Anglo Chinese in Ipoh. "Both of us were active in our alma mater's music and drama society, which staged many musicals in the 1980s," Afdlin said. "I played Datuk Lat in a musical adaptation of the legendary cartoonist's famous, semi-autobiographical cartoon book Town Boy in 1987, and he commended me for doing a great job." Afdlin added that he learned a lot about acting from Mano and also starred with him in Anna And The King. Afdlin described Mano as one of the country's best-known actors who represented Malaysia in several international movies. "He was one of the few actors who put Malaysian talent on the world map, and I'll always remember him for his love of the arts and great humour."
Barnama
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Veteran Actor Mano Maniam From Kopitiam Dies
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- Veteran actor Mano Maniam, renowned for his role as Uncle Chan in the sitcom Kopitiam, died last night at the age of 79. The news was confirmed by his younger brother, Madi Maniam, when contacted by Bernama today. 'His passing was due to old age and occurred naturally. However, further details have yet to be finalised with the family. The funeral is expected to take place this Monday at Bliss Gardens, Shah Alam,' he said. Born on Nov 15, 1945, Mano was a prominent figure in the local arts scene since 1965, having worn many hats as an actor, director, writer, acting coach and voice-over artist. He also made appearances in international productions, including the Hollywood blockbuster Anna and the King and the Netflix series Marco Polo, in addition to various English- and Tamil-language television dramas produced locally. Even in his seventies, Mano remained active in the performing arts, continuing his voice-over work and offering acting classes for senior citizens at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC). His voice was featured as Tok Din in the English-language adaptation of the animated series Kampung Boy, and he also starred in the local film Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa. Madi also shared that Mano was slated to receive an award tonight at the HGH Convention Hall, Sentul, in recognition of his contributions to the Indian community and the development of the performing arts in Malaysia. -- BERNAMA
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Manidhargal Review: A Short-Film Idea Uncomfortably Stretched Into A Feature
Last Updated: Manidhargal is a story of a bunch of friends trying to get rid of the body of their friend, who died during their drinking session. Read our review. Manidhargal released on May 30. A bunch of friends, after a night of heavy drinking, wake up to find one of them dead. Panic-stricken, the four of them try to get rid of the body, and thus begins their car ride, and the audience's excruciating ordeal that lasts for 100 minutes. Manidhargal, a crowd-funded movie, has a core problem of being an inadequate idea for a feature film. The story is wafer-thin that would have suited a short flick as the sequences are redundant without any major development or revelation. Though Manidhargal is a relatively short feature film, it can feel exhausting to watch, especially as the scenes of grown men crying and panicking become difficult to endure. Kaali (Kapil Velavan) is supposed to be the hard-boiled character in the film, who doesn't break till the end. Mano (Gunavarthan) is the crybaby, who doesn't stop his antics. Sathish (Dhasha) is a relatively sane guy who also starts wailing as the clock ticks. Samba Sivam as Chandru seems to have drunk something potent than Absinthe, because he doesn't seem to sober up. Arjun Dev as Deepan is part of the film because having just three characters would make the painful redundancy obvious. The four lead actors are like emojis that don't change their expression. It's understandable that the characters are in deep trouble and guilt, but their expressions and lamentations are unrealistic. Even real-life murderers would come to terms with their actions and move on to fixing the problem. But these men are perennially stuck in a loop of crying and lamenting. Mano as Gunavarthan plays an incredibly frustrating character who just doesn't know when to stop. His over-the-top behaviour becomes so overwhelming that it's hard to bear, leaving you wishing he had faced the consequences instead. Director Raam Indhra needed more layers and plot points to sustain this flimsy story. Instead, what we have is a string of contrivances. This is how the film goes: Friends carry the body in the car. Someone or something stops them. Friends cry. Someone or something doesn't do a thing. Friends cry. Friends continue carrying the body in the car. And someone or something stops them. Repeat. There is no progression in the story till the end. Having just a few ideas, like the reason behind the conflict and an open ending, isn't enough to make Manidhargal a truly deep or philosophical film. Yet, Raam Indhra is skilfull when it comes to making great images with mundane things. With cinematographer Ajay Abraham, he creates distinct frames with innovative camera angles that are a visual treat. His creativity reaches its pinnacle in a song full of such abstract images created by superimposing various frames of the car, lights, and the road. Wish such creative energy was directed at coming up with more in-depth characters and plot points. First Published:
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Mano Maniam, revered Malaysian actor and theatre stalwart, dies at 79
Mano Maniam in a 2007 Kuala Lumpur production of 'Krapp's Last Tape' by Samuel Beckett. The distinguished Malaysian actor - a towering figure in theatre, television, and film - passed away last night. He was 79. Photo: The Star/Filepic Mano Maniam, the distinguished Malaysian actor, arts advocate, educator and cultural anthropologist – an extraordinary multi-hyphenate whose presence shaped the nation's performing arts landscape – died last night. He was 79. News of his passing has prompted tributes from PEN Malaysia, theatre contemporary Patrick Teoh, performing arts outfit theatrethreesixty, publisher/filmmaker Amir Muhammad and many others on social media. To the mainstream audience, Mano was best known as the affable 'Uncle Chan' from the beloved late-1990s, early 2000s television series Kopitiam – a role that brought him widespread recognition and endeared him to a new generation of viewers. The cast of the late 1990s TV series 'Kopitiam' (from left): Rashid Salleh, Mano Maniam, Lina Teoh and Douglas Lim. Photo: The Star/Filepic Born in Ipoh in 1945, Mano was a towering presence in the Malaysian performing arts scene for over five decades. His love for the stage began in childhood, enchanted by colourful bangsawan and sandiwara shows (Malay theatre road shows) in Ipoh. At ACS Ipoh in the early 1960s, he discovered Shakespeare – a passion that led him back to the school as a teacher, inspiring others as he once was. With a career that spanned theatre, television, film, education, and cultural discourse, he brought gravitas, warmth, and intellect to every role he inhabited. In 1996, 'Adorations' stood out as a significant local theatre work - an Odissi dance performance framed as a dialogue between guru (Mano Maniam, pic) and disciple (Ramli Ibrahim). Photo: Sutra Foundation Whether commanding the stage in Shakespearean leads or Beckett monologues, or appearing in international productions like Anna and the King and Netflix's Marco Polo , he brought a quiet intensity and presence that transcended language and genre. On the local front, Mano will be remembered for his roles in the cult film Mat Gelap (1990), the gritty big city drama Kolumpo (2013), and the acclaimed Barbarian Invasion (2021). His deep, resonant voice, commanding stage presence, and gentle wisdom made him not just a household name, but also a mentor to generations of theatre practitioners and students alike. Throughout his long career, Mano moved effortlessly between the intimate spaces of theatre and the global reach of screen. On local television, he was a familiar and grounding presence in both English and Tamil dramas, further cementing his role as a cultural bridge across communities. Even in his later years, Mano remained a tireless force in the arts. Well into his 70s, he lent his rich, resonant voice to narration work and found joy in teaching acting to senior citizens at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC), continuing to nurture creativity in others. Just last year, his voice brought poetic dimension to Meniti Cakerawala: The Science & Romance Of The Cosmos, a production that, fittingly, married science and wonder echoing the same balance of intellect and soul that defined his life's work.
