Thavasi (actor)
| Thavasi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Thavasi Anna |
| Born | 1960 Madura District, Madras State, India |
| Died | 23 November 2020 (aged 60) Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Years active | 1993-2020 |
| Genres | Comedy |
Thavasi Anna (1960 – 23 November 2020) was an Indian Tamil actor and comedian. He was known primarily for his appearances in comedic roles, often playing minor characters. His film career spanned more than three decades.[1]
Biography
Thavasi was born in 1960. According to the BBC,Tamil was from the village of Mattaparai, near Nilakkottai in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India.[2][3] However, a few sources have interpreted that his family was originally from Theni and there are confusions pertaining to his actual roots as some have speculated he may have been from Madurai.[4]
Career
He began his film acting career with Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993) directed by Bharathiraja.[5] He established himself as a supporting actor, often playing the role of a Hindu priest in remote rural areas.[4] He was acclaimed for his body language, method acting, strong composure, rough tone, and comedic timing. He maintained a long moustache, which became his trademark.[2]
He rose to prominence for his role as Soori's father, a priest, in the film Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (2013), where he gives his advice, thought process, and recommendations to his devotees by analyzing astrology.[6] He also became well known for his portrayal and mannerisms in giving solutions to the devotees by seeking permission and consent from god Karuppuswamy. His one-line punch dialogue "Karuppan Kusumbukaran" (transl. Karuppan means 'mischievous') in the comedy sequence after his predictions went wrong became viral meme material, and it has since been used on social media platforms by users.[7][8]
His posthumous film release was Annaatthe (2021) directed by Siva, starring Rajinikanth in the lead role.[5]
Death
He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and died on 23 November 2020 after an eight-month-long battle with the illness.[9][10] Almost a week before his death, he requested financial assistance from fellow actors and well-wishers to undergo surgeries and medical treatment.[11][12] He was admitted to Saravana Hospital in Madurai, where he was pronounced dead.[13] During the later stage of his life, he had to shave his beard and mustache and also had his head shaven to undergo medical treatment as per the doctor's prescription to survive the cancer.[2]
References
- ^ "Thavasi anna told me he is back; I'm sad he is no more: Robo Shankar". The Times of India. 2020-11-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
- ^ a b c "நடிகர் தவசி மரணம் - தமிழக அரசுக்கு விடுத்த உருக்கமான கடைசி வேண்டுகோள்". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ DIN (2020-11-23). "நடிகர் தவசி காலமானார்". Dinamani (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ a b "புற்றுநோயால் அவதிப்பட்டு வந்த நடிகர் தவசி காலமானார்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ a b "Actor Thavasi succumbs to cancer at hospital". The New Indian Express. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Tamil actor Thavasi passes away after long battle with cancer". www.timesnownews.com. 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "VVS fame comedy actor Thavasi in shocking condition after cancer - News - IndiaGlitz.com". Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
- ^ "Thavasi, Tamil actor who sought financial assistance for cancer treatment, dies at 60". Firstpost. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "I'm very sad Thavasi Anna is no more: Robo Shankar". The Times of India. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Staff Reporter (2020-11-23). "Actor Thavasi dead". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Tamil actor Thavasi dies at 60 after long battle with cancer". India Today. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ பாரிஸ்,என்.ஜி.மணிகண்டன், செ சல்மான் (2020-11-23). "மறைந்தார் நடிகர் தவசி... கலங்கும் திரையுலகம்!". www.vikatan.com/ (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Thavasi, Tamil actor, dies of cancer". The Times of India. 2020-11-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-09-30.