Comedy is an integral part of Tamil cinema, with a ‘comedy track’ in attendance being par for the course. So when Kollywood’s king of comedy Vadivelu came out of hibernation, there was joy all around. The air seemed to reverberate with cries of “Vanduttangayya, vandutanngya” (he has arrived). Eli, his comeback movie with Sadha as the heroine, was released last month. It didn’t set the Cooum on fire but that has not disturbed Vadivelu’s composure.
In fact, along with his regular dose of slapstick, Vadivelu quietly slipped in a social message in Eli. His going incognito to the theatres convinced him that his brand of comedy is still a hit with the audience.
There must have been sufficient reason for the comedian joining hands again with Eli director Yuvan after the failure of Tenali Raman. Says the Vaigai Puyal, “What impressed me about Eli was the title and the director’s explanation of the small wonder (rat) making good of the available space and striking terror. Much like that, Yuvan had fashioned his screenplay, the character getting vintage space to have a whale of a time at the expense of the smuggling gang.”
Vadivelu’s career had gone into high gear when he essayed the lead in the period film, Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi. Naturally, audience expectations were high for another period film, Tenali Raman, but it did not do well. “The film did not strike a chord for the simple fact that the dialogues were bland with no punch lines to speak of,” explains the ace comedian, adding, “My audience had waited patiently to see the whole of me. Sadly for them, they were left disappointed.”
Vadivelu turned hero long before fellow comedians Santhanam and Vivek started to make a trend of it. So, is the trend healthy? “As an artiste, I’d not like to restrict the boundaries and that should apply to all. At the end of the day, the script has to be the winner,” he says.
Politics and cinema is a potent mix, especially in Tamil Nadu, and we cannot help but shoot questions regarding politics to Vadivelu. Says he: “Five years ago, the equation was different when I had to honour a political commitment. This time, during the shooting of Tenali Raman, I got some threatening calls. Wiser by the experience, I advised producers to switch off cellphones during the shoot.” But then, Vadivelu let slip that if destined, another stint is not ruled out in politics or playing a politician with his comical touch.
Solo comedians holding their own much like the peerless N S Krishnan did for a period, fascinates Vadivelu no end. Comedy is serious business though it is no more than a morning stroll for the screen charmer.
That no one could replace the master comedian in hibernation (as he puts it) goes to emphasise that the comedy king’s throne is intact.