Singing, acting, and beyond: Mano’s four-decade film sojourn
Singer Mano reflects on his four-decade career in the Indian film industry, detailing his transition from child actor to playback singer. Despite early aspirations in acting, he found his true calling in music under the mentorship of industry legends.
Why it matters
This profile provides cultural insight into the evolution of the South Indian film industry and the career trajectories of its prominent artists.
“Singing is not just a passion, it is like the air I breathe,” says singer Mano, reflecting on his journey, spanning four decades, in the music industry. Yet Mano's initial interest was acting, not singing.
For Mano, who was named Nagoor Babu, grew up watching his mother, a theatre artiste, and father, a harmonium player, recite dialogues and practice their scenes at home in Vijayawada, acting, reciting poetry, and singing came naturally. He started performing in plays at the age of seven.
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