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For the gangster, see Boxer Vadivelu.
Vadivelu
Vadivelu at Trailer & HD Songs Launch of Kaththi... Sandai .jpg
Vadivelu in 2016
Born Kumaravadivel Natarajan
12 September 1960 (age 60)[1]
Paravai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India[2]
Nationality Indian
Years active 1988- present
Spouse(s) Sarojini
Children
KannigaparameswariKarthigaKalaivaniSubramaniyan
Parent(s)
Natarajan
Vaitheswari
Kumaravadivel Natarajan, known professionally as Vadivelu, is an Indian film actor, comedian and playback singer. Since the 1990s, he has performed in supporting and lead roles as a comedy actor in Tamil films.
While having worked in more than 200 films, Vadivelu received awards in the Best Comedian category for his performances in Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996), Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Thavasi (2001), Chandramukhi (2005), Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi (2006), Pokkiri (2007), Marudhamalai (2007) and Kathavarayan (2008). His popularity led to his media-coined nickname, Vaigai Puyal, meaning "Vaigai storm",[3] referring to the river that flows through his hometown Madurai.
Contents
1 Early life
2 Career
2.1 Early stage (1988–1997)
2.2 Superstardom in comedy (1998–2008)
2.3 Controversies and decline (2008–2017)
2.4 Banning (2018–2021)
3 Acclaim
3.1 Acting style
3.2 Popularity
4 References
5 External links
Early life
Vadivelu was born on 12 September 1960[1] in Madurai, Tamil Nadu[2] to Natarajan and Vaitheswari. Vadivelu has a spouse, Sarojini, four children, three daughters, Kannigaparameswari, Karthiga,[4] Kalaivani,[5] and a son, Subramaniyan.[6]
Vadivelu did not have a formal education, instead he worked in his father's glass cutting business and continued it with his brothers after his father died. In his free time, he participated in local stage plays, usually in a comic role.[7]
Career
Main article: Vadivelu filmography
Early stage (1988–1997)
In 1988, he was launched through a small character in T. Rajendar’s En Thangai Kalyani.[8]
Vadivelu met Rajkiran on a train while on his way to Chennai to visit his bride-to-be. Rajkiran later recalled that he was so amused by their conversation during the train ride that he agreed to give Vadivelu a role in his upcoming film, En Rasavin Manasile (1991), directed by Kasthuri Raja. It was also the beginning of the Goundamani-Senthil-Vadivelu combination that produced a few skits in the early 90s.[9]
Actor Vijayakanth was the person who supported Vadivelu during his early career. He has say has it that he was substantial in casting Vadivelu in Chinna Gounder (1992).[10]
In 1992, he played contrasting characters in both Kamal Haasan films. Vadivelu joined Goundamani and Charle in the comedy film Singaravelan. In this movie, Vadivelu’s role was very interesting, talking butler English with curling hair.[11] Then in the movie Thevar Magan, Vadivelu played a worker in patriarch Sivaji Ganesan’s household.[12][13]
Vadivelu’s first solo came in director Shankar’s Kadhalan (1994), in which he played the friend of Prabhu Deva’s college student character.
He won his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian in Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996).[14]
The following year, Vadivelu acted in many films, but his work in Bharathi Kannamma (1997) was successful and its combination with actor Parthiban.
Superstardom in comedy (1998–2008)
Vadivelu has played as many as 15 to 20 movies a year in the late 90s. He is known to assist directors, with his own input being used during sets. The hallmark of his trade was self-deprecation. Vadivelu’s characters thought very highly of themselves – they were clownish versions of the gang leader.[15]
He starred in movies as Kaathala Kaathala (1998), Kannathal (1998), Viralukketha Veekkam (1999), Nesam Pudhusu (1999), Mudhalvan (1999), Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa (1999) and Paattali (1999).
As the 2000s began, Vadivelu became the undisputed "king of comedy".[16] He later went on to perform numerous roles, including Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000), Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai (2000), Friends (2001), Middle Class Madhavan (2001), Manadhai Thirudivittai (2001) and Thavasi (2001).[17]
Vadivelu did comedy scenes with Vivek too. After a certain stage of his success, he started to act as a solo comedian, with some small comedians accompanying him.[18]
During his peak in the mid-2000s, Vadivelu’s imagination knew no bounds. By this phase, he was a colossus in the Tamil film world, which came with the freedom to meddle with scripts and override even established directors. He has acted with almost all the top heroes in Tamil cinema.[19]
His part in movies like Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Friends (2001), Winner (2003), Chandramukhi (2005), Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (2006), Pokkiri (2007), Marudhamalai (2007) and Kathavarayan (2008) are typical of his performances view more