Nagesh To Soori: How Tamil Comedians Have Performed In The Lead

In Varuthapadaatha Vaalibar Sangam (2013), Sivakarthikeyan delivers a lengthy monologue supporting a social cause. Soori, who plays his friend, cheers him from the sidelines. But when Sivakarthikeyan asks him to voice out, Soori backs off, adding, “Na sonna sirichuruvaanga pa,” (If I say all of this, they will laugh), reiterating the general myth that comedians cannot be accepted in profound roles. Yet a decade later, Soori proves his own dialogue wrong, as he makes us feel his grief and anguish as the innocent yet strong-willed cop in Viduthalai Part 1. 

Soori, however, has not been the first comedian to bust this myth in Tamil cinema. Many comedians in Kollywood have eventually played leading roles but their performances, impact and audience acceptance have been varied. Comedians such as Nagesh, Kovai Sarala, Vivek, and Yogi Babu have forayed into dramas and thrillers, playing serious roles with emotional heft. But there have been a few like Vadivelu and Santhanam, who have stuck to doing what they do best, even in leading roles. 

On the other hand, actors Satish and VTV Ganesh have had their one-off attempts at playing the lead — in Naai Sekar and Inga Enna Solluthu, respectively — but the films didn’t turn out to be as entertaining as their comedic parts. A special mention in this list goes to Sivakarthikeyan, who began his journey in the big screen with movies such as 3 and Marina after his successful stint as a television anchor. 

On that note, let’s take a look at how Kollywood's iconic jesters have fared as leading stars. 

Nagesh

Nagesh was fondly known as the “Jerry Lewis of India”, for he shadowed the latter’s brand of self-deprecating humour. Such a style of humour has now become clichéd in Tamil cinema, but it was Nagesh who introduced the concept to Kollywood. 

As much as he is known for his rib-tickling timing, his versatile lead roles have their own fan following. Six years after his debut in 1958, Nagesh played his first lead role in the comedy-drama Server Sundaram, which saw him play a comical hero for the most part but also a person with big ambitions. And the best of his acting skills can be enjoyed in the film’s song ‘Avalukenna…Azhagiya Mugam.’

Over five decades and 1000 films into the industry, he managed to juggle comedic supporting roles and starring parts. Some of his best lead performances include his superb antagonist in Kamal’s Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989) and his dual roles in Kai Niraya Kasu (1974) — a hilariously staged action sequence at a crucial point in the film, featuring Nagesh in dual roles, is a scene to look out for.

Yogi Babu

Yogi Babu, who started out as a comedian, managed to sail through different roles in Tamil cinema, including his career-best performance in the National Award-winning political satire Mandela (2021). 

Take Love Today, Varisu and Bommai Nayagi, for instance. These films released within a span of three-four months. Yet, each of them sees Yogi Babu playing a different role. Be it the discreet brother-in-law who masks his pain amidst laughs in Love Today, the funny house help who doubles up as Vijay’s trusted friend in Varisu or the strong-willed father who navigates caste prejudices in Bommai Nayagi — his acting gambles have always paid off. 

Kovai Sarala

Kovai Sarala has always amused us with her choices of films, even as a comedian. Sample this for size: when she was in 10th grade, she played a 32-year-old pregnant woman in Mundhanai Mudichu, and just two years later, followed it up by playing a 65-year-old mother in Chinna Veedu. 

With her puzzled eyes often popping out in shock and her Coimbatore slang aiding her tone, a Kovai Sarala film has always been nothing short of a firecracker in Tamil comedy. For beginners, you could always start with Karagattakaran (1989), Poovellaam Kettuppar (1999) or the famous Kanchana series of films; her scenes are sure to leave you in splits. 

But some of her leading roles — paired opposite Kamal Haasan in Sathi Leelavathi (1995) and as a middle-class woman in several multi-starrers such as Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai and Kaalam Maari Pochu — have shown her acting prowess. In the latter films, she essays a series of bold women who fight back against domestic violence and women who stand up for their kids, all the while keeping us entertained. But her latest film is nothing like her previous outings — apart from Sarala’s indelible body language and ever-infectious laughter, Prabhu Solomon’s Sembi also gave us a gritty yet doting 70-year-old woman fighting for her granddaughter.

Vivek

Vivek has enjoyed a unique status in Tamil cinema, with his humour often focused on social satire. His comedy tracks are a genre unto themselves, with his standout dialogues trending as meme fodder till date. Some of his best quips can be enjoyed in Saamy (2003), Run (2002) and Sivaji (2007). 

While Vellai Pookal and Paalakaatu Madhavan are some of his popular starring titles, little do many know that Vivek donned the hat of a hero for the first time in his eighth film, Sendhoora Devi, paired alongside Karakattakaran fame Kanaka. Like Sarala, he went on to star in many multi-starrers centred around middle class families — Viraluketha Veekam and Namma Veetu Kalyaanam, to name a few.

His other films including Naan Thaan Bala and Ezhumin were message-driven comedies that tanked at the box office. It was the investigative thriller Vellai Pookal that made audiences see Vivek in a different light. The film follows Vivek’s retired police officer trying to settle down with his estranged son in Seattle, who is eventually pulled into a world of crime. Vellai Pookal, to Vivek, was what Sembi was to Sarala.

Santhanam

Santhanam, who started off as a television anchor, was one of the most sought-after comedians for close to a decade (2005-14). His brand of comedy was mostly about rhyming dialogues, something that might out of fashion in Tamil cinema, but still fresh in the television arena. He shifted gears to the lead hero space with Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham in 2014. The film was a remake of SS Rajamouli’s action comedy Maryada Ramanna (2010), which featured Telugu comedian Sunil in the lead.

Centred around an innocent guy rising up to fight for his love, the plot, riddled with the idea of destiny and coincidences, provided ample scope for his performance. But 13 films later, with most of them performing below average, Santhanam is yet to cement his position as a promising hero. Will he prove everyone wrong with his upcoming Tamil-Kannada bilingual Kick? 

Vadivelu

Vaigai Puyal Vadivelu and his iconic characters — Contractor Nesamani, Naai Sekar, Kaipulla, and Alert Arumugam, to name a few  — have a deep-seated place in Tamil pop culture. His depictions of clownish gang leaders, bogus politicians and other such pompous characters have become synonymous with his brand of comedy. And when he decided to pack all these elements into a two-hour-long film  — in the historical comedy Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei  — it was a riot alright. Even if Vadivelu restricted his films to the genre of comedy, there is something about his timing that remained evergreen. And that quality helped him with his future endeavours such as Indiralogathil Na Azhagappan, where he swapped pompousness for naivete in his roles. 

He played a dual role in Tenaliraman (2014) — as both the clever minister Tenali and the King of Vikata Nagaram. Though it didn’t perform as well as Imsai Arasan, he still managed to win several hearts. After a few political controversies and box office duds like Eli (2015), he returned to playing a comedian in Shivalinga and Mersal, proving that he was still the master of comedy. 

His comeback in Naai Sekar Returns (2022), however, did not meet expectations. But don’t fret, his upcoming lineups — Maamannan with Mari Selvaraj and Chandramukhi 2 with Raghava Lawrence — could very well take us back to vintage Vadivelu.

Goundamani

The Goundamani-Senthil duo, widely described as “Tamil cinema’s Laurel and Hardy”  is known for slapstick humour. Goundamani has also been a part of a few multi-starrers, but it’s his roles with Senthil that won him fame in the 80s and 90s. After recovering from a respiratory illness at the age of 76, he played a lead role in the political satire 49-O. The film gave a welcoming comeback to the star. Keeping its flawed writing aside, the film, which follows the revolt of local farmers, featured the actor’s characteristic zeal.

MS Bhaskar

MS Bhaskar, though popularly known for his jester roles, has played several emotionally driven characters in films like 8 Thottakkal, Jalasamadhi and Mozhi. While he plays the role of a father who, shocked by the sudden death of his son, loses his mental stability in Mozhi, his role in Jalasamadhi sees him play an overlooked father. Through such roles, he often moved the audience with his hardened expressions coupled with vulnerability. 

RJ Balaji

With a successful radio jockey and anchor career, RJ Balaji has always been a known face in Tamil pop culture, or let’s say a known voice. But unlike many other names on this list, Balaji coudn’t crack the comedian parts in Tamil cinema. While he managed to deliver in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, his other films didn’t create an impact. And then came RJ Balaji, the lead actor and writer-director. LKG, his first lead film, surpassed expectations. His films Mookuthi Amman and Veetla Vishesham then carried this momentum. His success in films can be attributed to Balaji, the writer, penning stories for Balaji, the actor. 

Manorama

The lady superstar of comedy in Tamil cinema, Manorama has single-handedly ruled much of its comedy space — so much so that writers began writing characters specially for her. Fondly known as Aachi, she has appeared in over 1000 films, yet never brought a sense of monotony to her roles.

From her slang and voice modulation (Remember “Come(u) na come(u), come(u) naati go” and “Gammunnu Keda” dialogue in Visu’s Samsaram Adhu Minsaram?) to her physical comedy (Check out her character in Chinna Gounder where she sports artificial teeth, often scaring Goundamani and Senthil), she has always delivered a complete package.

Although she played her first lead role in Konjum Kumari (five years after her debut), she continued to essay a lot of supporting roles. A testament to her versatility comes in her poised performance in K Balachander’s Unaal Mudiyum Thambi. Married to a speech-impaired husband, her character struggles to strike a balance between her arrogant father-in-law and her fun-loving brother-in-law. Manorama manages to deliver a restrained and effective performance, navigating pressures, and mostly suppressing her own emotions, all for the betterment of her family. 

Karunas

Karunas, whose comedy has always used a sense of vanity to evoke laughs, has had a complete role reversal when starring roles are concerned. In his first film as a lead, Dindigul Sarathy, Karunas plays an insecure husband who is always curious as to why his fair-skinned, highly-educated wife settled for him. With an expression of fear perenially taking over him, Karunas (without his usual quips) realistically portrays the mindset of person struggling with an inferiority complex. Films such as Ceylon and Aadhar further depicted his acting calibre.