Babu | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1963 |
| Died | (aged 60) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1990–1991 |
Babu (c. 1963 – 19 September 2023) was an Indian actor who appeared in Tamil films. After making his debut inBharathiraja'sEn Uyir Thozhan (1990), Babu appeared in a few more Tamil films before being paralysed following a failed stunt sequence.
Babu made his acting debut inBharathiraja's 1990 filmEn Uyir Thozhan, portraying the leading role in a cast featuring rookie actorsThennavan andRama. About his performance, a critic noted "Babu beautifully essays his character", "understanding the complexities of the character, Babu forcefully brings out the intensity associated with his fanaticism yet never loses the innate guileless nature of Dharma" and "Babu makes the role his own with his body language, unique facial expressions and dialogue delivery".[1] Though the film did not perform well upon release, it has since garnered attention as a "cult classic".[2] He then went on to play the lead role inVikraman'sPerum Pulli (1991) featuring alongside actressSuman Ranganathan and another role inThayamma (1991). His final release till date wasPonnukku Sethi Vanthachu, which released in late 1991.
Following a stunt sequence gone wrong when shooting for a film namedManasara Vazhthungalen, Babu suffered spinal injuries and became paralysed in the early 1990s.[3] He subsequently stopped working as an actor.[4] In 1997, he worked as a dialogue writer for the unreleased film,Smile Please starringPrakash Raj, which would have marked the debut for filmmakerRadha Mohan.[5] Babu was cast in the role of a disabled nobleman inKamal Haasan'sMarudhanayagam, but the film was shelved in the late 1990s.[6]
In June 2004, directorPonvannan revealed that he was going to make a film based on the life of his friend, Babu, and that he would use the profits from his filmGomathy Nayagam to fund the venture. However, the film eventually did not materialise.[7]
Babu died on 19 September 2023, at the age of 60.[8]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | En Uyir Thozhan | Dharma | |
| 1991 | Perum Pulli | ||
| Thayamma | Babu | ||
| Ponnukku Sethi Vanthachu |