Veteran director turned actor Manobala has been hospitalized after sudden illness. The Nadigar Sangam Vice President Poochi Murugan visited him at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai where 69 year old apparently underwent angio treatment. His condition is said to be stable and will return home soon according to reports.

Manobala an erstwhile assistant director of Bharathiraja has directed over 40 films that include Sivaji Ganesan's 'Parambariyam', Superstar Rajinikanth's 'Oorkavalan', Sathyaraj's 'Malluvetti Minor', Vijayakanth's 'En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan', Mohan's 'Pagal Nilavu' and Jayaram's 'Naina'.

Manobala has also produced films such as H. Vinoth's 'Sathuranga Vettai' and the Keerthy Suresh-Bobby Simha starrer 'Paambu Sattai'. His 'Sathuranga Vettai 2' starring Arvind Swamy and Trisha is complete but its release has been delayed for several years.

However to the younger generation Manobala is better known for his comedy roles in several hit films such as 'Kalakalappu', 'Thamizh Padam 1 & 2', 'Aranmanai 2' and others. He was recently seen in the Telugu blockbuster 'Walter Veeraiya' starring Chiranjeevi and Shruti Haasan.