MANISHARMA (BIOGRAPHY)

January 15, 2025

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Yanamandra Venkata Subrahmanya Sharma, known professionally as Mani Sharma, is a highly prolific and influential music director in the Telugu film industry (Tollywood). He is also known for his work in Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. He is fondly called “Melody Brahma” or “Swara Brahma” for his melodious compositions.

Early Life and Background:

Birth: Mani Sharma was born on July 11, 1964, in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Family: He comes from a family with a musical background. His father, Y.N. Sharma, was a renowned violinist who worked with music director Saluri Rajeswara Rao.
Early Interest in Music: Mani Sharma developed an interest in music from a young age, growing up in a musically inclined environment.
Early Career: He started his career in the late 1980s as a keyboard player, working under the guidance of music director Sri Satyam. He toured extensively with renowned playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam as part of his troupe, performing in India and abroad. He also worked as a freelance keyboard player with several prominent music directors in South Indian languages and Hindi, including S. Rajeswara Rao, Chakravarthy, Ramesh Naidu, Ilaiyaraaja, Raj-Koti, and M.M. Keeravani.

Film Career:

Early Film Work: He worked as a programmer and arranger for several music directors before getting his first break as an independent music director. He also did background score work for films like “Raathri” and “Antham,” directed by Ram Gopal Varma.
Debut as Music Director: Mani Sharma debuted as a full-fledged music director with the Telugu film “Super Heroes.”
Breakthrough: His breakthrough came with the film “Preminchukundam Raa” (1997), which was a major musical success.
Prolific Career: Mani Sharma went on to compose music for over 200 films, primarily in Telugu, establishing himself as one of the leading music directors in Tollywood.
Style: He is known for his ability to blend Indian classical music with contemporary sounds, often incorporating elements of Western pop and electronic music. His compositions are known for their catchy melodies, energetic beats, and strong orchestration. He is particularly known for his ability to compose mass appealing songs and background scores that elevate the film’s narrative.
Association with Leading Actors and Directors: He has worked with all the major stars in Telugu cinema, including Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, Jr. NTR, Allu Arjun, Prabhas, and Ram Charan. He has also worked with leading directors like K. Raghavendra Rao, S.S. Rajamouli, and Trivikram Srinivas.
Notable Films: Some of his most memorable works include:
- “Choodalani Vundi”
- “Samarasimha Reddy”
- “Okkadu”
- “Indra”
- “Kushi”
- “Pokiri”
- “Athadu”
- “Jalsa”
- “Magadheera” (background score)
- “Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu”

Awards and Recognition:

Filmfare Awards South: He has won three Filmfare Awards South for Best Music Director.
Nandi Awards: He has received two Nandi Awards for Best Music Director from the Andhra Pradesh government.
Mirchi Music Awards South: He has won three Mirchi Music Awards South for Best Music Director.

Personal Life: