# M. Balayya

Mannava Balayya (9 April 1930 – 9 April 2022) was an Indian actor, writer, director, and producer known for his work in Telugu cinema. He appeared in 300 films during his career.

## Early life and career

Mannava Balayya was born in Chavupadu, Amaravathi mandalam, Guntur district to Mannava Annapurnamma and Guravayya Chowdary. He studied Engineering B.E. (mechanical) at Guindy Engineering College in Chennai. Inspired by the drama during his college days, Balayya ventured into movies with guidance from Tapi Chanakya.
He made his debut as an actor with Ethuku Pai Ethu, a social film directed by Tapi Chanakya and made by Sarathi Studios. Films such as Parvati Kalyanam established him as an actor. He acted in nearly three hundred films and established Amrutha Films in 1970.
He penned a play, Nalupu Telupu, later made into Chelleli Kapuram, for which he received the Gold Nandi Award from the Andhra Pradesh Government. He also penned films, including Neramu Siksha and Annadammula Katha. He was awarded the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2012.

## Filmography

This is partial filmography of M. Balayya. Please help by expanding it.

### Actor

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1958 | Ettuku Pai Ettu | |
| 1958 | Parvathi Kalyanam | Lord Shiva |
| 1959 | Bhagya Devata | Doctor |
| 1959 | Manorama | |
| 1960 | Chivaraku Migiledi | Prakash Rao |
| 1960 | Kumkuma Rekha | |
| 1961 | Krishna Prema | Lord Krishna |
| 1962 | Mohini Rukmangada | |
| 1962 | Sri Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnuvu Katha | |
| 1963 | Irugu Porugu | Ramu / Johnny |
| 1964 | Babruvahana | Balarama |
| 1964 | Bobbili Yudham | Dharmarayudu |
| 1964 | Vivaha Bandham | |
| 1964 | Manchi Manishi | DSP |
| 1965 | Pandava Vanavasam | Arjuna |
| 1966 | Shri Krishna Pandaviyam | Yudhishthira |
| 1966 | Paduka Pattabhishekam | Bharata |
| 1966 | Mohini Bhasmasura | Narada |
| 1966 | Monagallaku Monagadu | |
| 1966 | Palnati Yudham | |
| 1968 | Nene Monaganni | |
| 1970 | Lakshmi Kataksham | Vinayadandudu |
| 1970 | Suguna Sundari Katha | Shiva |
| 1971 | Vikramarka Vijayam | |
| 1972 | Bala Bharatam | Mahendra |
| 1973 | Neramu Siksha | Chinnaiah |
| 1974 | Alluri Seetharama Raju | Ghantam Dora |
| 1975 | Annadammula Katha | Satyam |
| 1976 | Bhakta Kannappa | Lord Shiva |
| 1976 | Ramarajyamlo Raktapasam | |
| 1977 | Kurukshetram | Yudhishtira (DharmaRaja) |
| 1977 | Chiranjeevi Rambabu | Raghavaiah |
| 1978 | Sahasavanthudu | Srinivasa Rao |
| 1980 | Bebbuli | Temple Priest |
| 1983 | Nijam Chebithe Nerama | Commissioner of Police |
| 1986 | Tandra Paparayudu | |
| 1986 | Simhasanam | |
| 1987 | Jaganmatha | Lord Shiva |
| 1988 | Prithviraj | Kameswara Rao |
| 1990 | Doctor Bhavani | |
| 1992 | Peddarikam | Sukanya's father |
| 1992 | Alexander | |
| 1993 | Ankuram | Sindhura's father |
| 1993 | Radha Saradhi | |
| 1993 | Major Chandrakanth | |
| 1993 | Gaayam | Chari |
| 1994 | Pachcha Toranam | |
| 1994 | Neram | |
| 1994 | Yamaleela | Brahma |
| 1994 | Gharana Alludu | Prakash Rao |
| 1994 | Yes Nenante Nene | D.I.G. |
| 1995 | Muddayi Muddugumma | |
| 1995 | Real Hero | |
| 1995 | Telugu Veera Levara | Ramaraju's father |
| 1996 | Sarada Bullodu | Chief Engineer |
| 1997 | Annamayya | Narayana Suri |
| 1997 | Allari Pellikoduku | |
| 1997 | Pelli Sandadi | |
| 1998 | Suprabhatam | Vasundhara's father |
| 1998 | Pandaga | |
| 1998 | Yuvaratna Rana | |
| 1998 | Sri Ramulayya | |
| 1998 | Sreevarante Maavare | |
| 1999 | Sambayya | |
| 2002 | Manmadhudu | Abhiram's grandfather |
| 2002 | Tappu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Zamindar Bhupathi |
| 2003 | Okariki Okaru | Swapna's grandfather |
| 2004 | Malliswari | Ram Mohan Rao |
| 2004 | Seshadri Naidu | |
| 2004 | Mass | Anjali's grandfather |
| 2006 | Veedhi | |
| 2006 | Bharati | Bharati's grandfather |
| 2007 | Yamagola Malli Modalayindi | |
| 2008 | Pandurangadu | |
| 2009 | Neramu Siksha | Judge |
| 2009 | Mitrudu | Aditya's grandfather |
| 2010 | Prasthanam | Dasaradha Rama Naidu |
| 2011 | Sri Rama Rajyam | Vasishta |
| 2012 | Devaraya | Mahamamthri Thimmarusu |
| 2013 | Ramachari | Chief Minister Harishchandra Prasad |

### Producer

| Year | Movie title | Actors | Info |
| 1971 | Chelleli Kapuram | Sobhan Babu, Vanisri, Nagabhushanam | Also Story Writer |
| 1973 | Neramu Siksha | Krishna, Bharati | Also Story Writer |
| 1975 | Annadammula Katha | | |
| 1977 | Eenati Bandam Yenatido | Krishna, Jaya Prada | Music: S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1978 | Prema Paga | Murali Mohan | |
| 1980 | Chuttalunnaru Jagratha | Krishna, Sridevi | |
| 1981 | Oorukichina Maata | Chiranjeevi, Madhavi, Kavitha | |
| 1983 | Kirayi Alludu | Krishna, Jayasudha, Satyannarayana | |
| 1986 | Pasupu Taadu | Mannava Tulasiram Prasad, Sarath Babu, Radha | |
| 1987 | Allari Paandavulu | Mannava Tulasiram Prasad, Ashwini | Music: Raj–Koti |

### Director

| Year | Movie title | Actors | Info |
| 1983 | Nijam Chebite Nerama? | Krishnam Raju, Jaya Prada | |
| 1986 | Pasupu Tadu | | Story Writer and Screenplay |
| 1994 | Police Alludu | | |

### Story writer

| Year | Movie title | Actors |
| 1971 | Chellili Kapuram | Sobhan Babu, Vanisri |
| 1973 | Neramu Siksha | Krishna, Bharati |
| 1981 | Chuttalunnaru Jagratha | Krishna |
| 1985 | Wafadaar | Rajinikanth, Shakti Kapoor |
| 1986 | Pasupu Tadu | |

## Awards

* Nandi Award for Second Best Story Writer – Oorukichchina Maata (1981)