Nagesh
Gunddu Rao on September 27, 1933 and died on January 31, 2009) was 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. He found a small time job in the Railways, but he was not satisfied.
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.
He passed away on 31 st January, 2009 at the age of 77 due diabetes and a heart ailment. He is survived by three sons, including actor Anand Babu
MGR at the inauguration of Theatre Nagesh
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.In this movie,he played a poet who had fallen into bad times. When Sivaji who played Siva in the film saw it he asked the director to retain it in full without a cut.
MGR with Actors Nagesh & S.A.Ashokan
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.
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.
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.
This was even before KB ever became a film director and was still doing stage plays (as recounted by KB himself in Kofee with Anu).
Highs and lows
Nagesh was a self-taught man who believed that an actor could learn from watching life and its characters. He would often sit in his car on busy roadsides and watch the people on the streets to grasp the mannerisms of people that he would later re-enact on screen.
On the personal front 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.
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. He still exhibits glimpses of the old Nagesh in the rare film appearances he makes but in his personal life he remains a loner.
MGR with Nagesh (June 27, 1984)
Filmography
Dasavathaaram (2008)
Saravanan (2007)
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006) - Dr.
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.