Comedy actor Vivek has passed away. His tragic loss was sudden and came as a shock to not only his wife Arulselvi and daughters Amirthanandini, Tejaswini, but also to the entire Tamil film fraternity. Vivek was known as 'Chinna Kalaivanar' (a junior version of the 40s-50s comedian NS Krishnan) because he included social messages in his bits.

This became Vivek's signature after the 2000 movie Thirunelveli and taking about the same in 2017, Vivek was quoted as saying,

"After my debut, I had to struggle for seven years to establish myself in the industry. Vadivelu clicked instantly, as he had the rustic style. It was in Thirunelveli that I tried to bring in socially relevant meaningful messages and also social satire. It worked. Since then, I have tried to create awareness among people"

At one point in his career, when Vivek was even trolled to be a 'Karuthu Kandasamy' (someone who bores with messages), the comedian took that criticism in his stride and played a character of the same name on-screen. Vivek may be no more now but the legacy he has left behind with his message filled comedy, is something that will be cherished forever. Here is a lock-back at some such tracks:

1. Thirunelveli (2000) - Periyar Concepts

After Vaali's success where Vivek portrayed the downside of being a medical representative, the actor was seen preaching Periyar concepts. From blind superstitions to caste-jingoism to the importance of education in rural areas, everything was touched upon.

2. Palayathu Amman (2000) - Godmen

The movie that gave Vivek's popular dialogue, "Chennai enna poda vennai endradhu", Palayathu Amman had Vivek emphasizing people to believe in the divine but not in people who loot in the name of divinity. This meant he spared no one from godmen to divine stones to numerology to vastu shastra.

3. Saamy (2003) - Caste Discriminination

Vivek played an upper caste Brahmin in this movie, preaching inclusion, education and development of the underprivileged lower castes. The performance won him an award from the Tamil Nadu state government.

4. Run - (2002) - Importance of Respecting Parents/Elders

Movies and its ill-effects on youth have often taken center stage in Tamil Nadu and at one such instance, Vivek came up with another state award winning portrayal, which shows that life is a circle and what you sow is what you will reap eventually.

 5. Kadhal Sadugudu - Rape Law/Female Infanticide/Rural Development

Vivek took on an important task of addressing outdated rape laws in rural parts of Tamil Nadu, thereby for the first time take a stand against letting the rapist marry the victim as portrayed in multiple Tamil movies. He also showcased how several issues plague rural parts of our state and how they stand in the way of people's development.

Besides these movies, Vivek has also suggested efficient ways of spreading Tamil language in Alli Thandha Vaanam (2001), how to avoid borewell accidents in Bale Pandiya (2010) and how to handle dowry demanders in Perzhagan (2004).