Nagesh

Infobox actor
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name = Nagesh


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birthdate = September 27, 1933
location = IND
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Nagesh (b. Gunddu Rao on September 27, 1933) is a veteran Indian comedian actor in Kollywood. Even today the name evokes a mixed response in the minds of Tamil filmgoers, not just as a comedian who had them rolling in the aisles, but also as a character artiste who moved them to tears with his sensitive performance in films like "Neer Kumizhi", "Yarukkaga Azhuthan" and "Edhir Neechal".

Personal life

Born as Gunddu Rao in a Brahmin community, Nagesh was born to Kannada speaking Brahmin Madhwa parents. He walked out of his house telling his parents that he would be back only after establishing himself in some career. In Chennai, he stayed in a one-room bed-sit at West Mambalam (then a remote area) with lyricist Vaali and veteran actor Srikanth. He found a small time job in the Railways, but this was not satisfactory to him.

One day, he saw a Tamil play 'Kambar Ramayanam' enacted by his colleagues, and felt that he could do a good job. He persuaded the secretary of the Railways cultural association to give him the role of a man suffering from stomach pain. MGR, then chief guest, seeing this play, in his speech praised Nagesh for his performance. From then onwards, Nagesh played small roles in various drama troupes and kept himself busy.

Film career

It was producer Balaji who spotted him and gave him his first break in films. The most memorable performance of Nagesh out of the 1000 odd films he has acted in is his role in Thiruvilayaadal in which he speaks a soliloquy that is one of the most memorable scenes in the film. He played a poet falling on bad times in the film. When Sivaji who played Siva in the film saw it he asked the director to retain it in full without a cut.Directors like Sridhar and Balachander were those who brought out the acting talents of Nagesh. In 'Kathalika Neramillai' Nagesh narrates a story to Baliah and the way it was narrated brought down the theatre in laughter. The movie 'Server Sundaram' portrayed Nagesh in the role of a restaurant waiter who later becomes a successful movie actor; case of life imitating art and art imitating life for this great comedian. Yet another memorable performance was as the villainous comic pimp in 'Thillana Mohannambal' starring Sivaji and Padmini. In 'Aboorva Raagangal' (1975) he plays a drunkard who talks to his shadow and then finishes his dialogue by saying "Cheers" and throwing the cup on the wall. In the theatres where the film was shown the audience imitated him and threw cups on the wall of the lobby during interval. Telgu legend NTR accoladed nagesh by saying if Tollywood would have add one MRRadha,a Nagesh,a MN Nambiar and Manorama it would have added another new dimension to Telgu Cinema

His professional connection with Kamal Hassan is of great relevance. He was one of the four bad guys in 'Apoorva Sagodharargal' (1989), where Kamal played three characters. In Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), where Kamal played four characters, Nagesh showed his funny side in his impeccable style. His character of Avinashi uttering rib tickling dialogues and great punchlines was an example of his ever lasting brilliance. Later he played a dead man in 'Magalir Mattum' (1993) produced by Kamalhassan.

A perfect accolade that he received was that from Kamal Hassan himself. Kamal Hassan used to say that he was very much jealous about Nagesh. Apparently when Kamal Hassan used to work with Balachander, at instances when he found it difficult to bring the emotions in front of the screen, KB used to say "had this scene been done by Nagesh, he would have done this in the first shot". This lets us know what a great actor Nagesh has been.

Balachander says that, once Nagesh was driving very fast in the Radhakrishnan salai (those days it was not that busy as it is now) with him, when KB asked him why are you driving so fast, for which Nagesh replied "Don't get scared! I know I have the responsibility that I am holding - the life of one of the India's great future directors". This was before KB ever became a film director and was still doing stage plays (as recited by KB himself in Kofee with Anu).

Highs and lows

Nagesh is a self-taught man who believes that an actor can learn from watching life and its characters. He often sat in his car in busy roadsides and watched the people on the streets to grasp the mannerisms of people that he would later reproduce on screen.

On the personal side Nagesh was one of the few comedians to have acted with both MGR and Sivaji and he has prudently invested his money in real estate. Later on, he had a fall out with MGR and it led to his removal from many films. He became an alcoholic and began to slide down in his career. Nagesh theatre owned by him in Chennai was on the verge of getting seized for non-payment of dues but he met MGR and was bailed out.

Though financially he was saved his career had become a thing of the past and he then moved on to character roles after getting himself cured of alcoholism. He has had to face many sorrows in his personal life the greatest tragedy being when he drove down to see his mother in his new imported car stacked with money and found his mother's last rites being performed on the banks of Amravathi.

His son Anand Babu known for his dancing prowess made an impressive start as a hero but soon lost out and is now said to be hitting the bottle. For having married a Christian, Nagesh was kept out of his family. He still exhibits glimpses of the old Nagesh in the rare film appearances he makes but in his personal life he remains a loner.

Filmography

*Dasavathaaram (2008)
*Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi (2006) .... Mokkayappar
*Kadhal Konden (2003) .... Fr. Rozario
*Panchathanthiram (2002) .... Annoying father-in-law
*Minnale (2001) .... Subbuni (Grandfather)
*Rhythm (2000)
*Subhakankshalu (1998)
*Desiya Geetham (1998)
*Tholi Prema (1998)
*Avvai Shanmugi (1996) .... Joseph
*Nammavar (1995) .... Nirmala's Father
*Brahmachari Mogudu (1994)
*Gandeevam (1994)
*Magalir Mattum (1994) .... Dead body
*Madam (1993)
*Allari Mogudu (1992)
*Brundavanam (1992)
*Michael Madana Kamarajan (1991) .... Avinashi
*Adisaya Piravi (1990)
*Apoorva Sahodarargal (1989)
*Indrudu Chandrudu (1989)
*Kachchi Kali (1987)
*Karu Diddina Kapuram (1986)
*Padikkathavan (1985)
*Justice Chowdhary (1982)
*Devudu Mamayya (1981)
*Gadasari Attaha Sosagara Kodalu (1981)
*Kadal Meengal (1981)
*Kondaveeti Simham (1981)
*Thillu Mullu (1981) .... Nagesh
*Valarthu Mrugangal (1981) .... Nanu
*Oru Nadigai Naadagam Paarkiraal (1978)
*Indradhanusu (1977)
*Manushulanta Okkate (1976) .... Ganapathi
*Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1975) .... R. K. Viswanatha Sarma
*Aboorva Raagangal (1974) .... M.R. Bhairavi's friend and doctor
*Papam Pasivaadu (1972)
*Vasantha Maligai (1972)
*Vietnam Veedu (1970) .... Son
*Ethir Neechal (1968) .... Maadhu
*Soappu, Seeppu, Kannadi (1968)
*Thaamarai Nenjam (1968)
*Thillana Mohanambal (1968) .... Vaithy
*Jewel Thief (1967)
*Aalayam (1967)
*Anubavi Raja Anubavi (1967)
*Athey Kangal (1967)
*Bama Vijayam (1967)
*Bhavani (1967)
*Engalukkum Kaalam Varum (1967)
*Farz (1967)
*Iru Malargal (1967)
*Pattanathil Bhootham (1967)
*Anbe Vaa (1966)
*Chitthi (1966) .... Widower's son
*Major Chandrakant (1966) .... Mohan
*Yarukaka Azhudan (1966) .... Joseph
*Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum (1965)
*Thiruvilayadal (1965) .... Tharumi
*Kadalikka Neramillai (1964)
*Server Sundaram (1964) .... Sundaram
*Thayilla Pillai (1961)
*Panan Padaitthavan
*Galaattaa Kalyaanam
*Nawab Naarkaali
*Ooty Vari Uravu
*Sumaithaangi
*Ninaivil nindraval
*Neerkkumizhi
*Navagraham

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