Nagesh, made generations to laugh, passes away

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 2009, 20:07 GMT]
Born as Gunddu Rao in a Kannada Madhva Brahmin family on 27th September 1933, C.K. Nagesh, the veteran comedian of Tamil cinema, passed away in Balaji Hospital Chennai on Saturday at the age of 76. Started acting in films since 1961 (Thaayilla Pi’l’lai), his career stretched to almost half a century, the last film being Thasaavathaaram in 2008.

Nagesh, who went out of his home in Hosoor to Chennai, challenging that he would return only after coming up in life, enacted more or less his life story in the memorable film of him, Server Suntharam (1964).

One of the early duet hits of the combination of Nagesh and Manorama was the song Cheeddukkaddu Raajaa (Veaddaikkaaran, 1962)

He shined like a diamond in the hands of the directors Sridhar and Balachandar.

Negnchil Oar Aalayam and Kaathalikka Nearamillai (1964) are a few of the notable films of him directed by Sridhar, while Balachandar made the best use of him in the films such as Neerk Kumizhi, Ethir Neechchal (1968), Paamaa Vijayam (1967), Apoorva Raakangka’l (1974) etc.

His memorable films with Sivaji were Puthiya Pa’ravai (1965) as butler, Thiruvi’laiyaadal (1965) in the role of the poet Tharumi and the villainous comedian Vaiththi in Thilaanaa Mokanaampaa’l (1967).

Anpea Vaa (1966) and Pa’nam Padaiththavan are some of his films with MGR.

Many films of Kamal became the arena for his matured skills of acting in his later years: Michael Mathana Kaamaraajan (1991), Avvai Cha’nmuki (1996) and Pagnchathanthiram (2002). Thillu Mullu (1981) is a notable film he acted with Rajani.

Some of the serious art films he acted, Yaarukkaaka Azhuthaan (1966), Chila Nearangka’lil Chila Manitharka’l (1975), Oru Nadikai naadakam Paarkkiraa'l (1978) – all Jeyakaanthan’s novels, fetched him unique recognition.

He is survived with three sons and one of them is actor Anand Babu.

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