J. P. Chandrababu

Joseph Panimayadas Chandrababu Rodriguez (1927–1974) was an Indian actor, comedian, playback singer and film director. 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 Christian Paravar family in 1927 at Tuticorin, India. His father, a freedom fighter, ran a paper called Sudhandhira Veeran which, along with the family assets, was seized by the British government in 1929 when he was arrested for participating in the satyagraha movement. He and the family were exiled to Colombo, Sri Lanka on his release, where his father worked for a Tamil newspaper. Chandrababu was educated at St. Joseph's College, Grandpass, Colombo and Aquinas College prior to his family moving once more, this time to Chennai in 1943. Here they lived in Triplicane, where his father worked for the Dinamani newspaper.

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. at her residence and subsequently marriage was arranged in 1958. Famous film personalities and politicians including chief minister Kamaraj attended their marriage. The initial days of married life had gone well. One day Sheila confessed that she fell in love with another person. After learning this, Chandrababu was heartbroken and ended up in a confused state. In the subsequent days, she attempted suicide which was foiled by Chandrababu. Considering Sheila's fortune, they divorced formally. He continued to offer support to her until she left for London. After a few days, she married a doctor in London with the acceptance of Chandrababu by a letter communication. In a business mired by sycophancy, he chose not to mince his words and this restricted his opportunities from the 1960s onward. After this, he had decided to take a temporary break from his film career, and he went to Delhi without informing even his close friends. He spent those days consuming alcohol. Later he restarted his career in the industry despite his failed love and marriage.

Financial misfortune and death Chandrababu had arranged with a financier, to direct his first film Maadi Veettu Ezhai with M. G. Ramachandran as the hero. Eventually, he failed on this venture as Ramachandran failed to cooperate with him. The film project was also dropped. The reasons for Ramachandran's non-cooperation is well explained by script writer Aroordhas, in his 2002 memoirs Naan Muham Paartha Cinema Kannadigal. It's because Chandrababu became abusive towards Ramachandran's elder sibling M. G. Chakrapani. Chandrababu's final attempt was to direct and act in Thattungal Thirakkappadum in 1966; it was highly acclaimed for its cinematography but was not a box office success. MGR did offer a helping hand to him, by offering him a comedy slot in his own production, Adimai Penn released in 1969.

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. It was Sivaji Ganesan who arranged all his final rites and he was buried in Quibble Island, Chennai.

Filmography Year Film Role Notes 1947 Dhana Amaravathi 1951 Mohana Sundaram Gopu 1952 Moondru Pillaigal Music director Simultaneously shot in Telugu as Mugguru Kodukulu Chinna Durai Secretary 1953 Kangal Arivumani Vazha Pirandhaval 1954 Ratha KanneerKantha's assistantBedara KannappaTribal dancer 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 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 1966 Thattungal Thirakkappadum Adaikalam Also director1967 Valiba Virundhu Babu 1968 Nimirndhu Nil 1969 Adimaippen 1970 Paadhukaappu 1972 Neethi Eattu Kannaiya Raja Pattabiraman/Seetharaman/Janakiraman 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. Rathnamalaplayback for T. N. Sivadhanu Chinna Durai Poda Raja Podi Nadayaa T. G. Lingappa 1953 Kangal Aalu Ganam Aanal Moolai Gaali S. V. Venkatraman Azhagi Onnu Rendu Moonu Photo Ready P. R. Mani 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 Penn Kalyaanam Kalyaanam... Ullasamagave Ulagathil R. Sudarsanam playback for S. Balachander 1955 Gulebagavali Paraanda Mannar Ellam.... Achi Nimirndha Vandi Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy A. G. Rathnamala Maaman Magal Gova Maambazhame Malgova Maambazhame S. V. Venkatraman 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. Leela1957 Mahadhevi Un Thirumugathey Oru Mugamaa Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy A. G. Rathnamala Thanthanaa Thaalam Poduvom A. G. RathnamalaPudhaiyal Unakkaaga Ellam Unakkaaga Hello My Dear Rani A. L. Raghavan Pudhumai Pithan Araichi Mani.... Thillaana Paatu Paadi Kullathaara G. Ramanathan Jikki Pathini Deivam Aathukku Paalam Avasiyam Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy T. M. Soundararajan Manamagan Thevai Bambara Kannaale G. Ramanathan Samaya Sanjeevi Paper Paper 1958 Padhi Bhakti Rock Rock Rock Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy V. N. Sundaram Indha Thinnai Paechu Veeranidam T. M. Soundararajan Kosari Kosari Padhi Bhakti (Telugu) Rock Rock Rock T. Chalapathi Rao V. N. Sundaram Kosari Kosari Kaathavaraayan Jigu Jigu G. Ramanathan Jikki Thandhane Thana Thandhane Sangili Jingili...Vaarandi Vaaraandi Kutticchaatthaan S. C. Krishnan, A. G. Rathnamala & T. M. Soundararajan Nadodi Mannan Thadukkaadhe Ennai Thadukkaadhe S. M. Subbaiah Naidu K. Jamuna Rani Sabaash Meena Erungammaa Summaa Erungammaa T. G. Lingappa T. G. Lingappa & P. Susheela 1959 Sahodhari Naan Oru Muttaalunga R. Sudarsanam Pandithevan Nee Aadinal C. N. Pandurangan & Meenakshi Subramanyam K. Jamuna Rani Solluradha Solliputten Naan Sollum Ragasiyam Vilaiyaadu Raajaa Vilaiyaadu G. Ramanathan A. P. Komala Maragadham Kunguma Poove Konjum Puraave S. M. Subbaiah Naidu K. Jamuna Rani1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan Pirakkum Podhum Azhukindraai Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy Kavalai Illaadha Manithan Petra Manam Paadi Paadi Paadi S. Rajeswara Rao Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Manathirkugantha Mayile 1961 Sri Valli Aiyo Machaan Mannaaru G. Ramanathan 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 Rani1962 Paadha Kaanikkai Kaadhal Enbadhu Edhu Varai Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela & L. R. Eswari Thaniyaa Thavikkira Vayasu Annai Butthiyulla Manidharellaam R. Sudarsanam Policekaran Magal Porandhaalum Aambalaiya Porakka Koodaadhu Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy L. R. Eswari Bandha Pasam Eppo Vachikkalaam Eppadi Vachikkalaam Senthamarai Thangaadhamma Thangaadhu Samsaaram Thangaadhu K. Jamuna Rani1963 Kadavulai Kanden Konjam Sindhikkanum K. V. Mahadevan L. R. Eswari Ungal Kaigal Uyarattum P. B. SreenivasYarukku Sontham Ennai Theriyalaiyaa 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 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 L. R. Eswari 1972 Needhi Engaladhu Boomi T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela & Manorama