JP Chandrababu

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Chandrababu

JP Chandrababu (1932–1974) - Tamil film comedian-actor, singer and dancer, whose chaplin-style on-screen movements and unique singing style, with some humorous yet philosophical Tamil lyrics and a bass voice, made him popular from the late 1940's to the early 1970's.

He was often likened to the styles of Jerry Lewis, the famous Hollywood comedian-actor. His slapstick style of comedy was then used by later generation actors like Prabhu Deva in Kaadhalan movie. Chandrababu's eloquence in Madras Bashai, a dialect unique to the lower socio economic status, was incomparable for a long time until Kamal Haasan could do it, a couple of decades later. Many of Chandrababu’s songs have remained popular through the generations to this day - to the old and young alike.

Chandrababu’s family originally hailed from Tuticorin, India - from the Tamil Paravas community - however, he was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where his father worked for a Tamil daily published there, during the British colonial days.

Chandrababu made his way to Chennai (Madras) in India, and eventually came into the Tamil film world, which gave him a chance to unleash his many talents.

Chandrababu with MGR

Chandrababu occupied the second tier of popular Tamil film comedians, after N.S. Krishnan but before Nagesh. Though multi-talented and successful in his career, he could not emulate the same level of success in his personal life - he became addicted to alcohol after a failed marriage and died in 1974, at the relatively young age of 42 - still making a mark in the world of Tamil arts. Unfortunately and surprisingly, his successor Nagesh, who is still alive and acts in films on and off, is also an alcohol addict.