Actor Vadivelu

Vadivelu is a Tamil film actor and playback singer. Post-2000, he has dominated Tamil films as a comedian in various Tamil films. During his career, Vadivelu has won several Filmfare Awards and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. He is renowned for his slapstick comedies.

Born in the southern city of Madurai, Vadivelu is popularly known as (Vaigai Puyal - meaning the storm from the Vaigai River, which flows through the city for his high sense of humor). Starting as a sidekick to the famed Goundamani-Senthil comedy duo, he rose to prominence after his role in Kadhalan. His Madurai Tamil accent (Tamil spoken in Madurai, a district in Tamil Nadu) is born to a father who was extremely poor and worked in a glass factory in Madurai. This forced Vadivelu to seek help from actor Rajkiran who was also from the same place as him. Actor Rajkiran taking pity on him brought him to Chennai, and made him an office boy in his studio. This soon caught the attention of one of the versatile actors of Indian Cinema Kamal Hassan, who was fascinated by the antics of this man and offered roles to him in his future movies like Devar Magan and Singaravelan. These movies catapulted Vadivelu to instant stardom, making him hard to ignore. Post Devar Magan it is said that Tamil film Stalwart and Legend Sivaji Ganesan had predicted that this guy would become a great actor that people would find it hard to ignore him. This was purportedly told to Prabhu Ganesan his son also an actor. Also Superstar Rajinikanth was so impressed by him that he personally asked makers of Chandramukhi to sign him, describing him as Charlie Chaplin of the Tamil Comedy Industry. This Vadivelu claimed as a great honor bestowed upon him of a legend by a legend.

In most movies, Vadivelu plays a simpleton with good intentions but lands in trouble because of circumstances or eccentricities of the people he comes across. These roles involve heavy use of slapstick and puns, which has led him to being typecast. His comedy sequences typically end with him getting soundly trashed and a closing one-liner from him bemoaning his situation or antagonists. "Aaha oru guruppa thaaanya alayaraanga" (this roughly translates to: These people seem to roam around in groups to pick on him), "vanduttangayya, vandutanngya" (In Tamil this announces the arrival of his soon-to-be tormentors).

His part in movies like Friends, Bharathi Kannamma, Vetri Kodi Kattu and Winner and Chandramukhi, Aadhavan are typical of his performances that have brought him laurels and accolades from the Tamil movie-goer. Apart from acting, he has also lent his voice to songs in his movies. Some of his popular songs are "Ettana Irundha", "Orendu Onne" and "Kundakka Mandakka".
,br>Cashing in on his popularity, he starred in the lead role of the historical comedy spoof, Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi. The movie was declared a blockbuster and was widely acclaimed for its clean comedy. The movie features Vadivelu in a dual role, playing twin brothers. As can be expected in such plots, one of them is a laidback, cowardly king and the other is his brother, who grows up away from the palace into a well-informed and brave rebel, only to exchange places later. His next venture as lead star was in the movie Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan which flopped in the box-office. His comedy flick from the movie "Marudhamalai", has acquired him laurels for his excellent hilarious play. The phrases from this movie are very famous among his fans and people in Tamil Nadu. To name a few, "Naan Appdiye Shock Ayitten!!" (I got completely shocked) and his butler English phrases like "Chut up youvar blady mauth and releasemm immediaatlee" (Shut your bloody mouth and release him immediately), adds another feather to his hat. His funny body language and the comical gestures are his big assets.
,br>He is also a very good singer who often renders traditional Tamil village singing and dappan koothu. He is very famous for his songs "Ettana Eruntha", "Oonam Oonam" (a song that inspires the physically challenged) and the hilarious "Alwa Kudukuran."