Adieu Vivek, a socially conscious comedian!

Fighting superstitions and elevating the moral calibre of society, actor Vivek, through his films, took several progressive ideas to the masses. He had targeted to plant one crore saplings. The seeds he had sown in his lifetime will grow into big trees over time, turning into a great tribute that time will pay to his immortal soul.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu is in shock after coming to know about the demise of their favourite silver screen comedian Vivek. Hailed as the 'people's artiste,' the end came at 4.35 am on Saturday (March 17). The end came after the actor failed to respond to ECMO treatment provided at SIMS Hospital in Vadapalai, Chennai.

Vivek was a versatile actor with a strong social message

Several leaders, actors, celebrities and legions of fans are paying tributes to the actor for his performances and many have paid tributes online saying that films will not be the same without him.

Meanwhile, doctors have allayed rumours that the actor's death was related to a vaccine shot he had taken on Thursday.

Vivek’s cinema legacy

As Tamil ace comedian ‘Kalaivaanar’ (expert in arts) Vivek, through his comedy and humour in films critiqued superstitious ideas and practices prevalent in society. Vivek, whose film career began in the 1980s used fun, satire, and humour in his films to hit out at superstition and promote rational thinking.

He was fondly called as Chinna Kalaivanar for using comedy to drive social messages

In the film ‘Saami’ (2003), Vivek plays a character who enters his house, carrying an SC child on his head joined in by several children and singing the great Tamil poet Bharathiyar’s song, “A white cat grows in the house.” The character's wife would ask him who the children were to which he replies, “These children are quite tired and hungry. Give them food.”

The character's wife refuses to do so, saying that it was against the social moral code, Vivek's character sees the grandfather (played by ‘Vennira Aadai’ Murthy) calling out to crows with a leaf full of food meant for the birds.

A screen grab from movie Saami (2003) in which he took on social evils

Vivek’s character comments sending out a rationalist message on prevailing social evils, “You people would provide food to crows that you call your ancestors. But you won’t give food to living children.”

In that scene, the grandfather scolds Vivek, saying, “You 'sandaala' (untouchable fellow), don’t talk ill of our sastras.” Vivek would give a counter, saying that the crows would, somehow or other, get food from anywhere but these underprivileged children have only people to provide food.

In the same film ‘Saami’, Vivek would torture in his own humorous way a traffic policeman who would stop Vivek riding a motorcycle and indirectly tries to extort money from him. The comic scene drove home the message of the need for a crusade against corruption – the same theme that was dealt with seriously in Kamal Haasan’s film ‘Indian.’

A screen grab from the same movie about corruption on roads

In films such as ‘Tirumalai’, he would deliver lines satirizing the government bodies like Chennai Corporation.

Vivek is to cinema what Bharathi is to poetry

Lambasting as he did the inequalities prevailing in the society in the name of casteism, Vivek can be hailed as Bharathi of Tamil cinema. For instance, the dramatic monologue that he delivered in the film ‘Paalaiyaththamman’ exposed the drawbacks and defects in society at large.

Madurai’s son of the soil

Born to Angaiyaa Pandian and Maniammal on November 19, 1961, in Madurai, Vivek’s ancestral home town was Iluppaiyoorani at Kovilpatti. He debuted in K Balachander’s film ‘Manathil Uruthi Vaendum’ in 1987.

His alma mater, the American College at Madurai mourned his demise

Having acted in over 200 films, Vivek acted in his last film ‘Thaarala Pirabhu’ in 2020. Among the films that carry his signature humour are 'Puthu puthu arthangal', 'Minnalae', 'Pennin Manathai Thottu', 'Thool', and 'Namma Veetu Kalyanam'.

Socially conscious actor

Apart from propagating socially conscious messages on celluloid, Vivek was a socially conscious citizen in his private life too. Attracted as he was to former President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Vivek was active in various initiatives including Green Kalam scheme planting trees

Under 'Pasumai Kalam Thittam' (Green Kalam Scheme), he aimed to contribute to the mitigation of drought with the planting of saplings.

An artistic impression of his association with Abdul Kalam

After the unfortunate demise of his son in 2015, he started focusing on spiritualism; more particularly, he was immersed in the works of sage Vivekananda.

Vadivelu mourns Vivek's demise

Veteran comedy actor Vadivelu, who is also the contemporary of Vivek, mourned his death stating that he is one among the numerous fans the actor had. "Vivek's words were powerful and leave lasting imprint on audience. He was so frank and friendly with me and we worked in many films together", he said.

Expressing his inability to attend the funeral in person as he is taking care of his mother in Madurai, Vadivelu said that his sudden demise has left him speechless. He urged his fans to be strong and added that, "Vivek has not left us and he will be with us".