Mamuka Kikaleyshvili Director, actor Date of Birth: 10.08.1960 Country: Georgia

Biography of Mamuka Kikalashvili

Mamuka Kikalashvili was a Soviet and Georgian actor of theater and cinema, as well as a film director. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Mamuka was the son of Leila Dzugrashvili, a renowned Georgian actress, and Andro Kikalashvili, who was the director of the theater they worked in.

Mamuka Kikalashvili graduated from the acting department of the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University in 1981. That same year, he made his film debut in Vladimir Grigoriev's melodrama "Since We've Been Together." In 1984, Mamuka left the theater and became an actor at the Georgia Film studio, where he appeared in several films, including the comedy-fantasy "The Tale of an Old Pilot," the ironic action film "Gentlemen Adventurers," and the musical comedy "Men and All the Others."

Mamuka Kikalashvili gained recognition after his role in the 1988 comedy "Scoundrel," directed by Vagif Mustafaev. He portrayed the character Hattam, who quickly rises from a worker to the director of a souvenir factory, wanting to escape mockery and the image of a loser. For this role, Mamuka Kikalashvili was awarded a prize at the Gabrovo Film Festival. He further solidified his success by playing the role of Sancho Panza in Rezo Chkheidze's film "The Life of Don Quixote and Sancho."

In 1990, Mamuka Kikalashvili established his own studio and made his directorial debut, co-directing the film "Fallen Angel" with L. Uzunyan. During the early 90s, Mamuka appeared in numerous films, often portraying comedic and eccentric characters. His mischievous, joyful, and sometimes cunning personas endeared him to many viewers. Recognizable on the streets, Mamuka's name itself perfectly suited him, as "Mamuka" means "sunrise" in the language of the Georgian mountains. People speaking this affectionate name could never be angry with him.

In the late 90s, Mamuka Kikalashvili had to leave Georgia and move to Moscow. While in Moscow, he appeared in various films and TV series, including Villem Novak's comedy "Princess on Rollers," Igor Maslennikov's adaptation of Ioanna Khmelevskaya's detective novel "What the Deceased Said," and Eldar Ryazanov's comedy "Old Nags." He also worked as an advisor at the Embassy of Georgia in Moscow and served as a guardian of the All-Russian Public Foundation named after Nikolay Ozerov, frequently meeting with people.

In Moscow, Mamuka Kikalashvili lived with his wife Tatiana, whom he described as his happiness. However, he continued to yearn for his homeland, where his son Andro remained. Mamuka expressed his desire to return to Moscow for work and film shoots, just as he did twenty years ago.

In his later years, Mamuka Kikalashvili tirelessly worked on creating his own TV show called "At Mamuka's." The idea for the show originated during the lifetime of Vlad Listyev, and they had already filmed some parts. Mamuka envisioned the show to be similar to what Benny Hill and Charlie Chaplin did, combining humor, tears, sadness, and joy. Unfortunately, Mamuka Kikalashvili passed away on the morning of May 3, 2000, before the completion of his TV show.

Throughout his career, Mamuka Kikalashvili was able to bring laughter, tears, and joy to his audience. His talent and charisma made him a beloved figure in Georgian and Soviet cinema.