Mysuru: Noted actor and theatre person Mandya Ramesh of Mysuru city has been selected for the prestigious ‘Panchami Puraskara’ for the year 2025, instituted by Udupi-based Samskruti Vishwa Pratishtana of Panchami Trust.

The award will be conferred on Ramesh during a programme organised at Udupi in January 2025. The award carries a purse of Rs. 1 lakh and a medal.

Mandya Ramesh has been selected for the award in recognition of his service as an actor of big screen and small screen, director, theatre teacher, theatre organiser etc. Ramesh is the Founder of Natana School for Theatre Arts in Mysuru.

Under the tutelage of theatre doyen B.V. Karanth, he has the experience of working with renowned directors such as Rangakayaka, Prasanna, Chidambara Rao Jambe, K.V. Subbanna, Fritz Bennewitz and other top-notch directors.

Ramesh has held theatre plays and workshops right from villages, towns and cities in the country to global cities like New York, California, Washington DC, London, Dubai, Singapore and in countries like Australia, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Japan.

He has won many awards and prizes including State-level Best Supporting Actor, Aryabhata Award, Rangabhishma Award and Karnataka Nataka Academy Award. He had also served twice as a Visiting Professor of Gubbi Veeranna Chair, University of Mysore and as a Member of the Expert Committee on Art Traditions of the Union Ministry of Culture.