Versatile Murthy aka Venniradai Murthy.

Versatile Murthy aka Venniradai Murthy. Another request from @Chitralaya sriram anna . This time he deserves a kiss in his forehead for this request. I’m excited to write about my favorite artist Mr. Venniradai Murthy. Ironically he is known for his body language, thambriiii and body antics but there is a great man of wisdom behind that comic mask. Murthy born in 1936 in Chidambaram, his father was a leading lawyer and Murthy also completed law. While studying in Chennai Christian college Murthy also stayed in the same Vedanthangal(yes house of film birds) yes the famous club house in T.Nagar. Thus Murthy was destined to meet all the guys who were struggling to make it big in cinema. He met N.C.Chakravarthy (director of U.U.Vaa) because of whom he got the opportunity to meet Director Sridhar. It was in 1965 when Sridhar was getting ready for his new movie. Murthy was confident that he could do comedy roles but Sridhar wasn’t. He did ask Murthy why he wanted to do comedy roles as his face wasn’t funny. Murthy in turn said people say look yields luck but in my case it’s the other way . This statement made Sridhar to think and he decided to create a comic role for him and thus Murthy landed into cinema. In his debut he paired up with Asha/Shailasree. Murthy’s wide eyes and his witty speech will make everyone notable and why not he definitely got noticed and slowly he started to appear in many movies. My first knowledge of him came from the AVM’s comical ride KAsethan kadavulada .. Like every other beginning actor he was offered some elderly roles during his young age but in cinema logic this cannot be avoided but Murthy had the knack of making him noticeable in any character he did. In Kasethan kadavulada he acted as Manorama’s husband and the way he begs for 5 paise to his sons and they way he says “ She has employed me as her husband” all are funny to the core. Even now when I watch the scene between muthuraman, srikanth and Murthy it’s hilarious. Murthy’s nature, knowledge and timing made him gel with all the comedy stalwarts across decades. He has acted with almost all directors, all actors , all major comedians and variety of characters.. Can’t forget Utharavindri ulle vaa , then mazhai (as Gemini’s asst). He floated with time, created a unique identity for himself thus created the unique way of saying the words and funny facial expression. Thambriii , bbaa funny sounds all became his trademark. There are hundreds of movies where we all have laughed at his performance and it will be never ending story if I start to mention all of them but to quote a few Murthy and Kamal in Michael madana kamarajan where in he played a protective father of Kushboo and the scenes followed are hilarious to the core. My childhood friend (even now) Viswanathan and I were mad fan of Murthy and his dialoiuges and we literally ROTFL for his scenes in M.M.K.Rajan. Same can be said of his role in Thangamana purushan wherein he played husband to Aachi manorma (stingy woman) and it’s hilarious to watch him wear a dress made of paper .. funny to the core. He was able to team up with any comedian at any time and still managed to be noticeable. That was his hidden talent. He has acted with NAgesh, Thengai Srinivasan, Cho,Suruli, VKRamasamy, Goundamani,senthil (who can forget the funny scene between Senthil & Murthy in enga ooru paatukkaran), S.S.chandran, Vadivelu, Vivek, manobala and even with young generation comic actors. He acted with everyone with ease. He acted with T.R.Ramachandran, M.R.Radha and many stalwarts. Behind this comedian was an actor too. There were few movies where he was given subtle acting roles as well. Because of his good writing skills he also worked in Chitralaya magazine as well. He has worked over 900 films and still very active which is a great achievement. Apart from films many know him as astrologer as well. Yes he was once predicted by an astrologer that he will make it into films and his words came true and Murthy started picking up astrology books from that astrologer. He claims that his guru is that person because he strictly said to Murthy that he would not teach him but guide him. Murthy says it’s science and he did master it well. He was the first to conduct a TV show named “Astrology and Vaasthu” Apart from films he was successful in TV as well. His comedy series Meendum meendum Sirippu was successful for 11 years. A huge accomplishment. Apart from movies & TV shows Murthy is very well informed . His recent show “Ulagam ivvalavuthan” is a show with tons of information and the way Murthy presents is commendable. I’m lucky to have likeminded friends and above all my DAD who all liked Murthy. Dad & I are huge Murthy fans and never miss his comedy scene or any of his show for that matter. Murthy is very cordial and disciplined. All of his co actors had immense praise for this man. Vadivukkarasi, Kovai sarala and many more always mention Murthy’s name. He is a gentleman to the core, cordial to the drivers who drop him or pick him up for shooting thus yielding a good name and going strong even now. Murthy married veteran actress MAnimala (what a natural beauty she was)at the peak of her career. She quit acting after marriage and still she is the backbone for Mr.Murthy. She came back to do Sindhu bhairavi and the tele series which followed the movie just because of KB. Murthy and MAnimala have a son Mano who is married and they have a grandson. Mano is settled in Australia or America (not sure). Murthy is simple man and often his dialogues tend to have double meaning but that is part and parcel of cinema.. The man within is clean as a crystal and everyone knows it and I take great pleasure in writing about this Man who made millions laugh …. See you soon with another artist. Bye for now Rajesh Lavanya