Nagesh
Nagesh in 2005
Born	Cheyur Krishnarao Nageshwaran (1933-09-27)27 September 1933[1] Dharapuram,Coimbatore District,British India (nowTiruppur DistrictTamil Nadu,India)
Died	(2009-01-31)31 January 2009 (aged 75) Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1958– 2008
Spouse	Regina ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 2002)​ [2]
Children	3 includingAnand Babu

Cheyur Krishnarao Nageshwaran (27 September 1933 – 31 January 2009),^[1][3] popularly known asNagesh, was an Indian actor and comedian mostly remembered for his comic roles in Tamil films during the 1960s. He acted in over 1,000films from 1958 to 2008, performing in a variety of roles as comedian, lead roles,supporting actor, and antagonist. He has also acted inTelugu,Malayalam,Hindi andKannada films. Nagesh's style of comedy was largely inspired by Hollywood actorJerry Lewis. Similarities between Nagesh and Lewis earned Nagesh thesobriquet the "Jerry Lewis of India".^[4] He was also nicknamed as the King of Comedy due to his comedic timing and body language.^[5][6] He featured regularly in the film projects ofM. G. Ramachandran andSivaji Ganesan even at a time when there was a massive rift between the two leading actors in Tamil cinema at that time.^[7]

He has a unique distinction of sharing screen with lead actors belonging to three generations of Tamil film industry, starring with MGR and Sivaji Ganesan in the 1960s; Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth in the 1980s:Vijay andAjith Kumar in the 1990s and 2000s before his death.^[8]

He was also a dancer. The song "Kanni Nathiyoram" in the movieNeerkumizhi shows some of his dance skills.

Nagesh was born as Cheyur Krishna Nageshwaran to Kannadiga Hindu parents inDharapuram.^[9] His parents were Krishnan Rao and Rukmani Ammal. Nagesh was born inDharapuram. He completed his schooling in Dharapuram. He left Dharapuram at an early age and moved to Madras city in search of a career. His roommates, the writerVaali and actorSrikanth, later established themselves as prominent personalities in Tamil cinema. He worked as aclerk in theIndian Railways.^[10]

Early in his life, he saw the Tamil playKamba Ramayanam, enacted by his colleagues, and felt that he could do a good job. He persuaded the secretary of the railway's cultural association to give him the role of a man suffering from stomach pain.MGR, then chief guest, seeing this play, in his speech praised Nagesh for his performance. From then onwards, Nagesh played small roles in various drama troupes.^[11]

In 1958, producer Balaji spotted Nagesh and gave him his first break in a film calledManamulla Marudhaaram. The film did not do well at the box office.^[10] Moreover, Nagesh had only a small role to play in the movie.^[12]

Nagesh won critical acclaim for his performance in the 1961 movieThayilla Pillai. But it was his 1962 hitNenjil Or Aalayam which launched his career in the Tamil film industry.^[13] Nagesh was seen playing the lead role inServer Sundaram (1964), directed byKrishnan–Panju, adapted from a 1963 play of the same name written by the legendK. Balachander. The movie was a hit and proved to be a turning point in his career. The song from this film "Avalukenna... Azhagiya Mugam...", written byVaali was a hit.

Server Sundaram marked Nagesh's rise to prominence. The film was about a restaurant waiter, "server" Sundaram, who struggles to make ends meet.^[14]

The success ofServer Sundaram ensured that Nagesh was one of the most sought-after actors in the 1960s. At the height of his career, he acted in as much as 35 movies in a single calendar year, at one time shooting six movies simultaneously. He appeared in a cameo in the 1965 mythologicalThiruvilayadal, in which he portrayed the poor, simpleton temple priest Dharumi.^[15] He followed the success with supporting roles in films such asKaadhalikka Neramillai, where he wants to direct a film under his own production house, Oho Productions (but until the climax he does not make a film),Anbe Vaa,Shanthi Nilayam,Pattanathil Bhootham andVietnam Veedu. He played Mohan inMajor Chandrakanth, which was a hit and won for its lead actorSundararajan the nickname "Major" Sundararajan. His portrayal of the detestable pimp Vaidhy inThillana Mohanambal was noted for the way in which Nagesh blended humour with villainy. In most of his comic films, Nagesh paired with the actressManorama. In 1967, Nagesh acted in his firstHindi movie,Farz.

Manorama was paired with Nagesh regularly in films with M.G. Ramachandran as lead between 1960 and 1970 such asThaali Bagyam, Vettaikaran,En Kadamai,Kanni Thai,Thayin Madiyil,Kadhal Vaganam,Chandrodhyam,Anbe Vaa,Padagotti,Panathotaam,Kaavalkaran,Kadhal Vagahnam,Vivasaaye,Thaikku Thalaimagan,Ther Thiruvizha,Thanipiravi, Thazhampoo andThozhilali.^[16] Other directors cast the Nagesh-Manorama pair in memorable films beginning from 1962, such asNenjil Or Aalayam, Kungumam, Rakta Thilagam, Panjavarnakilli, Navarathiri, Puthiya Paravai, Anbu Karangal, Anubhavi Raja Anubhavi, Saraswathi Sabadham, Gowri Kalyanam, Galatta Kalyanam, Ner Vazhi, Ninaivin Nindraval, Poojaikku Vandamalar, Deiva Thirumagal, Deivathin Deivam, Shanti, Thenmazhai, Aannavin Asai, Andru Kanda Mugam, Seetha, Mani Makutam, Nagamali Azhagi, Kandan Karunai, Saadu Mirandal, Thaimel Aanai, Kaalam Vellum, Annai Abirami, Thiruvarutchelvar, Karunthel Kannayiram, Kalangarai Vilakkam andAnnamitta Kai.^[17] A few films where they were not paired together includeServer Sundaram,Madras to Pondicherry,Thillana Mohanambaal,Thiruvarul,Bommalattam andNanbargal.

Nagesh rose to prominence throughServer Sundaram (1964) for which he received praise for his evergreen comedy performances as a server in a hotel.^[18] The film was helmed by director duo Krishnan-Panchu and the screenplay had been written by K. Balachander. It also marked the first collaboration between Nagesh and K. Balachander. Since then it led to many successful collaborations between the two.^[19]

Kamal Haasan again gave a role for Nagesh in the comedy flickMichael Madana Kama Rajan. Nagesh played the dishonest secretary Avinashi, who commissions a look-alike, Kameswaran to impersonate his boss, Madan, and lend him money from Madan's account. During the shooting ofMichael Madana Kama Rajan, Nagesh pretended to be disappointed and unhappy over his role as Avinashi and had also argued in jest with Kamal Haasan.^[20][21]

Nagesh had a good relationship withKamal Haasan, with whom he had co-starred in a variety of movies between 1975 and the 2000s.Kamal Haasan cast Nagesh in most of his self-productions regularly.^[22]

Nagesh had a series of supporting roles in the 2000s. Notable among them were those ofVijay's grandfather inPoove Unakkaga,Arjun's father inRhythm,Pawan Kalyan's Uncle Peddhananna inToli Prema,Madhavan's grandfather Subbuni inMinnale, Ajith Kumar's Grandfather inPoovellam Un Vasam, Father Rozario inKadhal Kondain, Srikanth's grandfather inBose, Silambarasan's grandfather inSaravana, Jeeva's father in Pori andKamal Haasan's father inVasool Raja MBBS. His handling of these roles gained him considerable appreciation from the public.

Nagesh acted in Tamil films till a few months before his death in 2009. Notable among some of his later movies werePanchathanthiram,Vasool Raja MBBS,Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi and his last appearance,Dasavathaaram.^[23][24]However, an animated version of him was seen in the 2014performance capture filmKochadaiiyaan.^[25][26][27]

• 1974 —Kalaimamani
• 1994 —National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor forNammavar^[28]
• 1994 —Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize forNammavar^[29]
• 1995 —Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South^[30]

Nagesh was achain smoker and a heavy drinker. However, he gradually gave up these habits when he was dangerously ill during the period 1978–1982. His health began to decline in late 2008 due to progressive heart ailments. In November 2008, his health conditions further deteriorated when he slipped and fell down at his home which also resulted in a severe head injury.^[31] He died on 31 January 2009 at the age of 75 due to diabetes and a heart ailment.^{[2][32][33][24]}

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• Note: not to be confused with the Kannada actor of the same name.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNagesh.

• Nagesh atIMDb
• Veteran comedian Nagesh dead inThe Hindu

• 1930s births
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• Indian male film actors
• Tamil comedians
• Telugu comedians
• Kannada male actors
• Male actors in Tamil cinema
• Male actors in Kannada cinema
• Male actors in Malayalam cinema
• Best Supporting Actor National Film Award winners
• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
• Indian male comedians
• People from Tiruppur district
• 20th-century Indian male actors
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• Male actors from Tamil Nadu
• Male actors in Hindi cinema
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• 20th-century Indian comedians

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