Ace actor and director Manobala's mortal remains were cremated on Thursday - May 4 in Chennai amid a sea of people. Manobala had passed away on Wednesday at his residence at the age of 69 due to liver related ailments. Being a renowned artist with rich cinematic career, his sudden demise has shocked the fans and fraternities.

His mortal remains were kept at his residence in Saligramam, Chennai and thousands of people had queued up to pay homage. From veteran actors to political leaders, scores of people have paid tribute to the deceased and expressed condolences to the bereaving family members. A league of stars including director Mani Ratnam, actor Vijay, Sasikumar, Samuthirakani, AL Vijay, Goundamani, Soori, AR Murugadoss, Vijay Sethupathi, and Lokesh Kanagaraj had paid their last respects.

While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his condolences through a social media message, Tamil Nadu Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin and Ma Subramanian had visited his residence on Wednesday and paid their last respects. On Thursday, Manobala's family has started making preparations for the final rites amid a sea of people including celebrities who came to bid a farewell and join the funeral procession. 

At around 12 pm on Thursday, the funeral procession started from his residence and Manobala's body was brought to the electric crematorium at Valasarawakkam in Chennai where he was cremated. His son Harish has done the final rituals as per their customs as the entire Tamil Nadu had bid a teary farewell to an act actor. 

Manobala, a veteran artist, had been a successful icon in Kollywood and was well known for his comic scenes. Besides directing 20 movies, he has also featured in hundreds of movies and his appearances before the camera were vital in buidling a successful career in the cinema. He was deeply respected and admired by the fellow celebrities and followers. As a protege of legendary director Bharathiraja, Manobala has inspired every artist in the industry and made fans through his hilarious comedies and humours.

He was under treatment for heart and liver-related ailment for quite some time and he had also undergone angio treatment earlier this January. He had been under medical treatment at his residence in LV Prasad Road, Saligramam in Chennai for the past two weeks. Amid the medical treatment, Manobala breathed his last on Wednesday. 

Born in Thiruvaiyaru in the Thanjavur district in 1953, Manobala's birth name was Balachander and he began his career as an assistant director to Bharathiraja. Manobala made his directorial debut in 1982 through the movie "Agaya Gangai" in which Karthik and Suhashini played the lead roles. He has also directed the movie 'Oorkavalan' in which Superstar Rajinikanth played the lead role and some of his other movies include Vijayakanth starred 'Sirai Paravai', Prabhu starred 'Moodu Manthiram', Ramki starred 'Vetri Padigal' and Shivaji Ganesan starred 'Paarambariyam'.

On the front of acting, Manobala has acted in several movies including 'Pithamagan', 'Perazhagan', 'Chandramukhi', 'Anniyan', 'Ghajini', 'Nanban', 'Kalakalappu', 'Thupakki', and 'Aranmanai'. Some of his recent movies include 'Naai Sekar', 'Yutha Satham', 'Oh My Dog', 'Don', and 'Naai Sekar Returns'. His recent movies 'Kondraal Paavam' and 'Ghosty' hit the theatres earlier this year. Manobala had been acting in actor Vijay starred 'Leo', directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Manobala also took an avatar as a producer through bankrolling the superhit 'Sathuranga Vettai'.