'Kaka' Radhakrishnan dead

‘Kaka’ Radhakrishnan, a comedian and character actor, passed away in Chennai on June 14. He was 86.

He acted in over 400 films in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. He played a variety of roles with several top actors of yesteryear Tamil cinema. He was at his zenith in the 1940s and 1950s.

It was a role in the film ‘Mangayakkarasi’ that earned him his nickname ‘Kaka’ (crow). Radhakrishnan introduced Sivaji Ganesan to his theatre group and also acted with him in the much-acclaimed ‘Manohara’.

There was a lull in his career after 1990 and it was Kamal Haasan who brought him back to the limelight. Kamal believed younger generations should not miss watching such talent. His second innings saw him performing in Kamal’s ‘Guna’, ‘Thevar Magan’ and ‘Vasool Raja’.

His portrayal of the disgruntled patriarch in ‘Thevar Magan’ won him accolades. He outdid even Sivaji, Kamal and Nasser. In ‘Vasool Raja’, he stole the show playing Crazy Mohan’s aged father obsessed with carrom. Radhakrishnan was one who belonged to a rare breed of actors and his passing away is an irreparable loss to Tamil cinema.

He leaves behind two wives, three sons and five daughters.