J. P. Chandrababu


Joseph Panimayadas Chandrababu Rodriguez was an Indian film comedian, actor, director, singer and dancer, 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.
There is confusion regarding his full name. He hails from Paravar community and his catholic church christian name is Panimayadasa Rodriguez – which is a normal way of naming in Paravar community. Since most Tamils do not use family name as surname, Indian passport's use of his father's first name, Pichai, is confused as his surname in the media. Both his parents' family names are written in his grave in Tuticorin which followed in some families in Paravar community using Dutch, Portuguese and French cultures in their lifestyle. His father was Joseph Pichai Rodriguez and his mother Roselin Correra.

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. In these early years Chandrababu made acquaintances of the actors Sriram, B. R. Panthulu and, through them, T. R. Mahalingam. They appreciated his talent in singing and mimicry of Hollywood stars such as Charles Boyer. He made his debut with a small role in the 1947 film Dhana Amaravathi but struggled thereafter to obtain parts.
He had spent many days starving himself and searching for a chance in films. In 1952, he attempted suicide by ingesting copper sulphate crystals in the canteen of Gemini Studios. He had written a suicide note explaining his reasons, which included that he had been unable to meet the director S. S. Vasan, and that his body was to be handed over to B. S. Ramaiah, the director of his only film at that date. Suicide was a criminal offence and so he was arrested. But when his case came to trial the judge asked him to prove his acting ability. Chandrababu rendered a Shakespearean monologue that so impressed the judge that he was not jailed. One of those who had assisted him in being taken to hospital at the time of his attempted suicide was Gemini Ganesan. When Vasan came to know of this episode he gave Chandrababu a small role in the 1952 film Moondru Pillaigal, which impressed Vasan so much that he predicted a successful career. for him. Chandrababu also filmed Chinna Durai and Mohana Sundaram in the same year. It is claimed that, as of 2016, he remained the only person capable of yodelling in south Indian cinema,. Chandrababu loved western music and learned the art of yodelling by listening to singers such as Gene Autry and Hank Williams. In Chinna Durai, produced and directed by T. R. Mahalingam, he sang the song Poda Raja Podi Nadaya, the first time that yodelling had been heard in a South Indian film.Chandrababu was paid Rs 200 for his role in Mohana Sundaram. At his peak he was to command over Rs 100,000, becoming the first South Indian comedy actor to command such a sum.
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.
Sabaash Meena was one of the best Tamil comedy movies of its time, in which Chandrababu acted with Sivaji Ganesan, in dual roles. Chandrababu also established himself as a good singer. He was a playback singer rendering voice for himself in films. He lent his voice for S. Balachander for the song Kalyanam Kalyanam... Ullasamagave Ulagathil in Penn and for Sivaji Ganesan for the song Jolly Life Jolly Life in Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari. Another song for Gundu Karuppaiah is I Love You I Love You in Andhaman Kaidhi.
He sang under almost all of the music directors of the 1950s till the 1960s namely K. V. Mahadevan, T. G. Lingappa, G. Govindarajulu Naidu, S. V. Venkatraman, R. Sudharsanam, Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, G. Ramanathan, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, Vedha, S. Rajeswara Rao, T. R. Pappa, P. R. Mani, C. N. Pandurangan, Meenakshi Subramanyam and M. S. Viswanathan.
He sang along duets mostly with K. Jamuna Rani and L. R. Eswari. Other singers include A. G. Rathnamala, Jikki, A. P. Komala, T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas, A. L. Raghavan, P. Suseela, P. Leela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, K. Rani and Manorama.

Marriage

Chandrababu first met Sheila, an Anglo Indian and grand daughter of Coimbatore-based filmmaker Swamikannu Vincent 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 Chandababu became abusive towards Ramachandran's elder sibling M. G. Chakrapani. Chandrababu's final attempt was to direct and act in Thattungal Thirakkappadumin 1966; it was highly acclaimed for its cinematography but was not a box office success. It should be recorded that despite his indifference to the self-destructive life style of Chandrababu. 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 the house of his good friend M. S. Viswanathan, until his death on 8 March 1974. It was Shivaji Ganesan who arranged all his final rites and he was buried in Quibble Island, Chennai.

Discography

The following are some of Chandrababu's songs that have remained popular:
YearFilmSongMusicCo-Singer
1947Dhana AmaravathiUnnalazhagirku Inai Ennatthai SolvadhuK. V. Mahadevan
1951Mohana SundaramHello My Dear Darling Hello My Rose CharmingT. G. Lingappa
1951Mohana Sundaram1Inbam Konjum VelaiT. G. LingappaJikki
1952Andhaman KaidhiI love you..I love you.. Aasaiyanene Un MeleG. Govindarajulu NaiduA. G. Rathnamala
playback for T.N.Sivadhanu
1952Chinna DuraiPoda Raja Podi NadayaaT. G. Lingappa
1953KangalAalu u uGanam Aanal Moolai GaaliS. V. Venkatraman
1953AzhagiOnnu Rendu Moonu Photo ReadyP. R. Mani
1953Vazha PirandhavalCinema Kalaiyai Elidhaaga EnniS. Rajeswara Rao & G. Ramanathan
1954Kalyanam Panniyum BrammachariJolly Life Jolly LifeT. G. Lingappaplayback for Sivaji Ganesan
1954PennKalyanam Kalyanam... Ullasamagave UlagathilR. Sudharsanamplayback for S. Balachander
1955GulebagavaliParaanda Mannar Ellam.... Achi Nimirndha VandiViswanathan-RamamoorthyA. G. Rathnamala
1955Maaman MagalGova Mambazhame Malgova MambazhameS. V. Venkatraman
1955Nalla ThangalUnnai Kandu Mayamgaadha Pergal UndoG. Ramanathan
1956Marma VeeranO Aiyaa O AmmaaVedhaK. Rani, S. C. Krishnan & Jikki
1957MahadheviUn Thirumugathey Oru MugamaViswanathan-RamamoorthyA. G. Rathnamala
1957MahadheviThanthanaa Thaalam PoduvomViswanathan-RamamoorthyA. G. Rathnamala
1957PudhaiyalUnakkaga Ellam UnakkagaViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1957PudhaiyalHello My Dear RaniViswanathan-RamamoorthyA. L. Raghavan
1957Pudhumai PithanAraichi Mani.... Thillaana Paatu Paadi KullathaaraG. RamanathanJikki
1957Pathini DeivamAathukku Paalam AvasiyamViswanathan-RamamoorthyT. M. Soundararajan
1957Manamagan ThevaiBambara KannaleG. Ramanathan
1957Samaya SanjeeviPaper PaperG. Ramanathan
1958Padhi BhaktiRock Rock RockViswanathan-RamamoorthyV. N. Sundharam
1958Padhi BhaktiIndha Thinnai Paechu VeeranidamViswanathan-RamamoorthyT. M. Soundararajan
1958Padhi BhaktiKosari KosariViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1958KaathavaraayanJigu Jigu JiguG. RamanathanJikki
1958KaathavaraayanThanthaane Thane ThanthaaneG. Ramanathan
1958KaathavaraayanSangili Jingili.... Vaarandi Vaaraandi KutticchaatthaanG. RamanathanS. C. Krishnan, A. G. Rathnamala & T. M. Soundararajan
1958Nadodi MannanThadukkaadhe Ennai ThadukkaadheS. M. Subbaiah NaiduK. Jamuna Rani
1958Sabaash Meena Erungammaa Summaa ErungammaaT. G. LingappaT. G. Lingappa & P. Suseela
1959SahodhariNaan Oru MuttalungaR. Sudharsanam
1959PandithevanNee AdinalC. N. Pandurangan & Meenakshi SubramanyamK. Jamuna Rani
1959PandithevanSolluradha SolliputtenC. N. Pandurangan & Meenakshi Subramanyam
1959Naan Sollum RagasiyamVilaiyaadu Raajaa VilaiyaaduG. RamanathanA. P. Komala
1959MaragadhamKunguma Poove Konjum PuraaveS. M. Subbaiah NaiduK. Jamuna Rani
1960Kavalai Illaadha ManithanPirakkum Podhum AzhukindraaiViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1960Kavalai Illaadha ManithanKavalai Illaadha ManithanViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1960Petra ManamPaadi Paadi PaadiS. Rajeswara RaoSoolamangalam Rajalakshmi
1961Sri ValliAiyo Machaan MannaaruG. Ramanathan
1961Kumara RajaAan Ondru Aada Penn Ondru PaadaT. R. PappaP. Leela
1961Kumara RajaOnnume Puriyalae UlagathileT. R. Pappa
1961Kumara RajaMoodinaalum ThiranthaalumT. R. PappaK. Jamuna Rani
1961Kumara RajaEnnai Paartha KannuT. R. PappaK. Jamuna Rani
1962Paadha KaanikkaiKadhal Embathu Edhu VaraiViswanathan-RamamoorthyP. B. Sreenivas, P. Suseela & L. R. Eswari
1962Paadha KaanikkaiThaniyaa Thavikkira VayasuViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1962AnnaiButthiyulla ManidharellaamR. Sudharsanam
1962Policekaran MagalPorandhalum Aambalaiya Porakka KoodadhuViswanathan-RamamoorthyL. R. Eswari
1962Bandha PasamEppo Vachikkalaam Eppadi VachikkalaamViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1962SenthamaraiThangadhamma Thangadhu Samsaram ThangadhuViswanathan-RamamoorthyK. Jamuna Rani
1963Kadavulai KandenKonjam SindhikkanumK. V. MahadevanK. Jamuna Rani
1963Kadavulai KandenUngal Kaigal UyarattumK. V. MahadevanP. B. Sreenivas
1963Yarukku SonthamEnnai TheriyalaiyaaK. V. Mahadevan
1963Yarukku SonthamOho Meri Bul BulK. V. MahadevanK. Jamuna Rani
1964Aandavan KattalaiSirippu Varudhu Sirippu VarudhuViswanathan-Ramamoorthy
1966Thattungal ThirakkappadumKanmani PaappaaM. S. Viswanathan
1967Valiba VirundhuOndra Kannu DoriyaR. Sudharsanam
1967Valiba VirundhuVaaliba VirundhuR. SudharsanamT. M. Soundararajan & L. R. Eswari
1968Nimirndhu NilPudichalum Pudhicha Puliyankomba PudichaM. S. ViswanathanL. R. Eswari
1970PaadhukaappuNammalki PyariM. S. ViswanathanP. Susheela
1972NeedhiEngaladhu BoomiM. S. ViswanathanT. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela & Manorama