Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 5 hrs ago
Singer Mano reflects on four decades in film music and plans mentoring programme
Singer Mano, born Nagoor Babu, grew up in Vijayawada in a family involved in theatre and music.
He began performing in plays as a child and appeared in films as a child actor.
In 1979, he got an unexpected chance to sing when S. P. Balasubrahmanyam could not reach a recording studio on time.
Music director M. S. Viswanathan encouraged him, and Mano later moved to Madras to pursue music.
His first film singing opportunity came with the Tamil film Velaikkaran, released in 1987, and composer Ilaiyaraaja gave him the name Mano.
Since then, he has sung more than 27,000 film songs, mostly in Tamil and Telugu, and has also dubbed Rajinikanth’s voice in Telugu films.
He plans to launch a singing mentorship programme in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for people interested in singing.
The programme is intended to help talented singers who may not have had proper training.
Singer Mano is reflecting on a career spanning four decades in the music industry.
He has sung more than 27,000 film songs, most of them in Tamil and Telugu.
Mano began performing in plays as a child and initially pursued acting.
He says music composer Ilaiyaraaja gave him the name Mano and helped him achieve success.
He plans to launch a singing mentorship programme in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Who
- Singer Mano, whose birth name is Nagoor Babu.
- What
- He is reflecting on his four-decade career and plans a singing mentorship programme.
- When
- The interview was published on October 11, 2026; the programme is planned for soon, with no date stated.
- Where
- The interview took place in Vijayawada. The programme is planned for Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Mano says he is reflecting on his career and plans to mentor people interested in singing; a more specific reason for the programme is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Singing is not just a passion, it is like the air I breathe
Until then, I used to be a dummy singer. I had sung nearly 1,500 songs in recordings.
Those words are etched in my memory
Mano began performing in plays.
Mano appeared as a child artiste in the film Needa and was offered a singing opportunity while working on O Aadadi O Magadu.
Mano left Vijayawada for Madras.
Velaikkaran, Mano’s first singing opportunity for a film, was released.
Mano plans to launch a singing mentorship programme in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Career span
- Four decades
- Film songs
- More than 27,000
- First film singing opportunity
- Velaikkaran
- Velaikkaran release
- 1987
- Mentorship programme locations
- Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
Sources
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