J. P. Chandrababu
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J. P. Chandrababu | |
---|---|
Tuticorin, India | |
Died | 8 March 1974 , Tamil Nadu, India | (aged 46)
Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor, director, playback singer |
Years active | 1947—1973 |
Joseph Panimayadas Chandrababu Rodriguez (1927–1974) was an Indian actor, comedian, director, singer. whose Chaplinesque-style on-screen movements and singing style made him popular from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. He had a mastery of the Madras Bashai, a dialect unique to the Madras region. His slapstick style of comedy has been emulated by subsequent actors. Many of his songs have remained popular.
Early life
Chandrababu was born to a wealthy and eminent
Film career
Chandrababu was very passionate about acting despite opposition from his family members. His friend Ganapathy was the only person who motivated his acting skills. From his childhood, he was an expert in singing and whenever he got together with his friends or family, Chandrababu was asked to sing. Sri Lanka had a very western outlook in those times and Chandrabubu picked up on western styles of singing and dancing while there.
He had spent many days starving himself and searching for a chance in films. In 1952, he attempted suicide by ingesting
When A. V. Meiyappan filmed Sahodhari, he found that it lacked an ingredient that would ensure box office success. Chandrababu was called and after watching the film he added a comedy track for himself, wrote it and also sang the song Naan oru muttalunga, converting the film into a hit. It was Chandrababu who first spoke and popularised the Madras Baashai in films. He learned this dialect from the rickshaw pullers and street vendors near his home in Triplicane and later in Mir Sahib Pet.
Marriage
Chandrababu first met Sheila Diane, an Indo-Italian and step-daughter of
Financial misfortune and death
Chandrababu had arranged with a financier, to direct his first film Maadi Veettu Ezhai with
Due to his personal problems, Chandrababu spent his last days penniless. During his last years he stayed in a flat under support of A P Nagarajan, until his death on 8 March 1974, Chandrababu's own blood brother informed this in a recent interview , . It was Sivaji Ganesan who arranged all his final rites and he was buried in Quibble Island, Chennai.[1]
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1947 | Dhana Amaravathi | ||
1951 | Mohana Sundaram | Gopu | |
1952 | Moondru Pillaigal | Music director | |
Chinna Durai | Secretary | ||
1953 | Kangal | Arivumani | |
Vazha Pirandhaval | |||
1954 | Ratha Kanneer | Kantha's assistant | |
Vedan Kannappa | Tribal dancer in a song | Partially reshot version of Kannada film Bedara Kannappa
(Tamil version only) | |
1955 | Gulebakavali | Gulam | |
Maaman Magal | Thandavam | ||
Nalla Thangal | |||
1956 | Marma Veeran | ||
1957 | Mahadevi | Mariappan | |
Pudhaiyal | Thukkaram | ||
Pudhumai Pithan | Arivumani | ||
Pathini Deivam | |||
Manamagan Thevai | Chandrababu | ||
1958 | Pathi Bakthi | Kalaipithan | |
Pathi Bakthi | Telugu dubbed | ||
Kathavarayan | Mannaru | ||
Nadodi Mannan | Sagayam | ||
Sabaash Meena | Shekar & Mookan | ||
1959 | Sahodhari | Anandakonar | |
Pandithevan | |||
Naan Sollum Ragasiyam | Doctor Shailak | ||
Maragatham | Gundan | ||
1960 | Kavalai Illaadha Manithan | Muthu | |
Petra Manam | |||
1961 | Sri Valli | Valli's brother | |
Kumara Raja | |||
1962 | Paadha Kaanikkai | Veerasamy Pillai's son | |
Annai | Dayanidhi | ||
Policekaran Magal | Maari | ||
Bandha Pasam | Vasu | ||
Senthamarai | |||
1963 | Kadavulai Kanden | Valli's brother | |
Yarukku Sontham | |||
1964 | Aandavan Kattalai | Chitti Babu | |
1965 | Preminchi Pelli Chesuko | Chitti Babu | Telugu dubbed |
1966 | Thattungal Thirakkappadum | Adaikalam | Also director |
1967 | Valiba Virundhu | Babu | |
Hanthakuni Hatya | Telugu dubbed | ||
1968 | Nimirndhu Nil | ||
1970 | Paadhukaappu | ||
1972 | Neethi | Eattu Kannaiya | |
1973 | Bharatha Vilas | Doctor |
Discography
He sang under almost all of the music directors of the 1950s till the early 1970s.
Music composers he sang for
Playback singers he sang with
He sang memorable duets with mostly comical songs K. Jamuna Rani, L. R. Eswari, Jikki, P. Leela P. Susheela, A. P. Komala, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, A. G. Rathnamala, Manorama and K. Rani.
He also sang with other male singers such as T. M. Soundararajan, A. L. Raghavan, V. N. Sundaram, S. C. Krishnan, P. B. Sreenivas and T. G. Lingappa.
The following are some of Chandrababu's songs that have remained popular:
- All of the songs are in Tamil, except otherwise noted.
Year | Film | Song | Music | Co-Singer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1947 | Dhana Amaravathi | Unnalazhagirku Inai Ennatthai Solvadhu | K. V. Mahadevan | |
1951 | Mohana Sundaram | Hello My Dear Darling Hello My Rose Charming | T. G. Lingappa | |
Inbam Konjum Velai | Jikki | |||
1952 | Andhaman Kaidhi | I love you..I love you.. Aasaiyanene Un Mele | G. Govindarajulu Naidu | A. G. Rathnamala playback for T. N. Sivadhanu |
1952 | Chinna Durai | Poda Raja Podi Nadayaa | T. G. Lingappa | |
1953 | Kangal |
Aalu Ganam Aanal Moolai Gaali | S. V. Venkatraman | |
1953 | Azhagi | Onnu Rendu Moonu Photo Ready | P. R. Mani | |
1953 | Vazha Pirandhaval | Cinema Kalaiyai Elidhaaga Enni | S. Rajeswara Rao & G. Ramanathan | |
1954 | Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari |
Jolly Life Jolly Life | T. G. Lingappa | playback for Sivaji Ganesan |
1954 | Penn | Kalyaanam Kalyaanam... Ullasamagave Ulagathil | R. Sudarsanam | playback for S. Balachander |
1955 | Gulebagavali | Paraanda Mannar Ellam.... Achi Nimirndha Vandi | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | A. G. Rathnamala |
1955 | Maaman Magal | Gova Maambazhame Malgova Maambazhame | S. V. Venkatraman | |
1955 | Nalla Thangal |
Unnai Kandu Mayamgaadha Pergal Undo | G. Ramanathan | |
1956 | Marma Veeran | O Aiyaa O Ammaa | Vedha | K. Rani, S. C. Krishnan & Jikki |
Thillaalangadi Kuyile Adi | P. Leela | |||
1957 | Mahadhevi |
Un Thirumugathey Oru Mugamaa | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | A. G. Rathnamala |
Thanthanaa Thaalam Poduvom | A. G. Rathnamala | |||
1957 | Pudhaiyal | Unakkaaga Ellam Unakkaaga | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
Hello My Dear Rani | A. L. Raghavan | |||
1957 | Pudhumai Pithan | Araichi Mani.... Thillaana Paatu Paadi Kullathaara | G. Ramanathan | Jikki |
1957 | Pathini Deivam | Aathukku Paalam Avasiyam | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | T. M. Soundararajan |
1957 | Manamagan Thevai | Bambara Kannaale | G. Ramanathan | |
1957 | Samaya Sanjeevi | Paper Paper | G. Ramanathan | |
1958 | Padhi Bhakti |
Rock Rock Rock | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | V. N. Sundaram |
Indha Thinnai Paechu Veeranidam | T. M. Soundararajan | |||
Kosari Kosari | ||||
1958 | Padhi Bhakti (Telugu ) |
Rock Rock Rock | T. Chalapathi Rao | V. N. Sundaram |
Kosari Kosari | ||||
1958 | Kaathavaraayan | Jigu Jigu Jigu | G. Ramanathan | Jikki |
Thanthaane Thaane Thanthaane | ||||
Sangili Jingili.... Vaaraandi Vaaraandi Kutticchaatthaan | S. C. Krishnan, A. G. Rathnamala & T. M. Soundararajan | |||
1958 | Nadodi Mannan | Thadukkaadhe Ennai Thadukkaadhe | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | K. Jamuna Rani |
1958 | Sabaash Meena | Erungammaa Summaa Erungammaa | T. G. Lingappa | T. G. Lingappa & P. Susheela |
1959 | Sahodhari | Naan Oru Muttaalunga | R. Sudarsanam | |
1959 | Pandithevan | Nee Aadinal | C. N. Pandurangan & Meenakshi Subramanyam | K. Jamuna Rani |
Solluradha Solliputten | ||||
1959 | Naan Sollum Ragasiyam | Vilaiyaadu Raajaa Vilaiyaadu | G. Ramanathan | A. P. Komala |
1959 | Maragadham |
Kunguma Poove Konjum Puraave | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | K. Jamuna Rani |
1960 | Kavalai Illaadha Manithan | Pirakkum Podhum Azhukindraai | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
Kavalai Illaadha Manithan | ||||
1960 | Petra Manam | Paadi Paadi Paadi | S. Rajeswara Rao | Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi |
Manathirkugantha Mayile | ||||
1961 | Sri Valli | Aiyo Machaan Mannaaru | G. Ramanathan | |
1961 | Kumara Raja | Aan Ondru Aada Penn Ondru Paada | T. R. Pappa | P. Leela |
Onnume Puriyalae Ulagathile | ||||
Moodinaalum Thiranthaalum | K. Jamuna Rani | |||
Ennai Paartha Kannu | K. Jamuna Rani | |||
1962 | Paadha Kaanikkai | Kaadhal Enbadhu Edhu Varai | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela & L. R. Eswari |
Thaniyaa Thavikkira Vayasu | ||||
1962 | Annai | Butthiyulla Manidharellaam | R. Sudarsanam | |
1962 | Policekaran Magal | Porandhaalum Aambalaiya Porakka Koodaadhu | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | L. R. Eswari |
1962 | Bandha Pasam | Eppo Vachikkalaam Eppadi Vachikkalaam | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
1962 | Senthamarai | Thangaadhamma Thangaadhu Samsaaram Thangaadhu | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | K. Jamuna Rani |
1963 | Kadavulai Kanden | Konjam Sindhikkanum | K. V. Mahadevan | L. R. Eswari |
Ungal Kaigal Uyarattum | P. B. Sreenivas | |||
1963 | Yarukku Sontham | Ennai Theriyalaiyaa | K. V. Mahadevan | |
Oho Meri Bul Bul | K. Jamuna Rani | |||
1964 | Aandavan Kattalai | Sirippu Varudhu Sirippu Varudhu | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | |
1965 | Preminchi Pelli Chesuko (Telugu) | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy & B. Shankar Rao | ||
1966 | Thattungal Thirakkappadum | Kanmani Paappaa | M. S. Viswanathan | |
1967 | Hanthakuni Hatya (Telugu) | M. S. Viswanathan & Pamarthi | ||
1967 | Valiba Virundhu | Ondra Kannu Doriya | R. Sudarsanam | |
Vaaliba Virundhu | T. M. Soundararajan & L. R. Eswari | |||
1968 | Nimirndhu Nil | Pudichalum Pudhicha Puliyankomba Pudicha | M. S. Viswanathan | L. R. Eswari |
1970 | Paadhukaappu | Nammal Ki Pyaari | M. S. Viswanathan | L. R. Eswari |
1972 | Needhi | Engaladhu Boomi | M. S. Viswanathan | T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela & Manorama |
References
- ^ a b Kolappan, B. (17 January 2013). "The tragic story of a comedian, J.P. Chandrababu - the Hindu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Guy, Randor (25 September 2009). "Actor with mercurial feet". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ Guy, Randor (7 December 2004). "The Hindu : Book Review / Language Books : Pioneer filmmaker". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
- Aranthai Narayanan: Thamil Cinemavin Kathai, New Century Book House, Chennai, 2002 2nd edition, pp 279–280.
- Aroordhas: Naan Muham Paartha Cinema Kannadigal, Kalaignan Pathipakam, Chennai, 2002, pp 184–201.
- Vamanan: Thirai Isai Alaigal, part 1, Manivasagar Pathipakam, Chennai, 2004 2nd edition, pp 595–605.
- "The agony and ecstasy of being – Chandrababu". Southside. 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Alt URL
- Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "A voice that mesmerised". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- Kolappan, B. (17 January 2013). "The tragic story of a comedian, J.P. Chandrababu". The Hindu.