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Vadivelu Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth10 October 1960

Age64 Years

BirthplaceMadurai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu)

ProfessionActor, Playback Singer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilySon and three daughters; mother Vaitheswari (died January 2023); brother Jagatheeshwaran (died August 2023)

Vadivelu Biography

Vadivelu is a veteran Indian actor and playback singer best known for his comic timing in Tamil cinema. Over a career spanning more than three decades he’s

Early life and background

Vadivelu was born on 10 October 1960 in Madurai, then part of Madras State. He grew up in Madurai and later moved into the Tamil film industry, where his roots and regional identity have remained an important part of his public persona. He earned the nickname Vaigai Puyal, a reference to the Vaigai River near his hometown, reflecting the strong association between his on-screen image and his Madurai origins.

Before films, Vadivelu helped run his father’s glass-cutting business and took part in local stage plays as a child, often performing comic roles. Those early experiences on stage shaped the exaggerated, self-deprecating comedic style he would later be known for on screen.

Career

Vadivelu made his on-screen debut in En Thangai Kalyani (1988) and began appearing in supporting comedy parts that steadily raised his profile. A breakthrough moment came with his performance as Vasanth in Kadhalan (1994), which introduced his comic persona to a wider audience. He also appeared in notable early films such as En Rasavin Manasile (1991), Chinna Gounder (1992) and Singaravelan (1992), frequently sharing screen space with other leading comedians of the period.

Across a long and prolific career he has acted in more than 300 Tamil films. While much of his work was in supporting and character comic roles, he moved into lead roles on occasion. His first film as a lead was Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (2006), in which he played a dual role. He went on to headline Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008), Tenaliraman (2014), Eli (2015) and Naai Sekar Returns (2022), among others.

Vadivelu has also worked as a playback singer in several films. His first song credit came in 1995, and he continued to lend his voice to film songs through the 2000s and into the 2020s, including tracks for films such as Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996), Magalirkkaga (2001) and Naai Sekar Returns (2023). For Maamannan (2023) he recorded the song "Raasa Kannu" with composer A. R. Rahman.

His comic timing and distinctive delivery earned both popular and critical recognition. He won multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Comedian across different years, and he received Filmfare Awards for Best Comedian for his work in Chandramukhi (2005) and Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (2006). Other awards include honours from Ananda Vikatan and Vijay for comedic performances in the mid-2000s, as well as additional state-level awards through the 2000s.

Vadivelu’s career has included shifts between supporting work and leading roles. After some lead actor projects that did not meet commercial expectations, he returned to supporting parts and regained prominence with roles in films such as Kaththi Sandai (2016) and Shivalinga (2017). Following a period away from acting, he returned in 2022 with Naai Sekar Returns, which marked a comeback and was met with a positive response.

Public profile

Vadivelu’s comic lines and expressions have become part of popular culture; his dialogues are frequently reused in social media memes and have even inspired film titles. Outside of cinema, he has been publicly associated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politically.

His personal life has been covered in the press: he is married and is a father to a son and three daughters, the youngest of whom is named Kalaivani. His mother, Vaitheswari, died in January 2023. He had two younger brothers, one of whom, Jagatheeshwaran, died in August 2023.

The actor has also had periods of controversy that received media attention, including a 2008 incident in which his Chennai residence was attacked and a later legal dispute with colleagues that led to a temporary industry ban related to his departure from the production of a sequel to Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei. He additionally filed a complaint in 2020 about alleged defamatory remarks made on a YouTube channel, a matter reported in the press.

Latest updates

In 2022 Vadivelu returned to acting with the titular role in Naai Sekar Returns after a multi-year absence. He followed that with a prominent role in Maamannan (2023), where he again drew attention for both his performance and his musical contribution alongside A. R. Rahman.

In February 2023 he was honoured with an honorary doctorate in the entertainment category by the International Council on Anti-Corruption and Human Rights, a recognition reported in the press.

Over a career that spans roughly thirty years, Vadivelu remains one of Tamil cinema’s most recognizable comic performers, with a body of work that includes memorable supporting turns, leading roles, and several songs recorded as a playback singer.
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Recent Work

Naai Sekar Returns

Vadivelu returned to the Tamil film industry in the titular role after a multi-year absence; the film received a positive response.

2022
Maamannan

Vadivelu played a titular role and recorded the song "Raasa Kannu" with A. R. Rahman.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted as an actor in En Thangai Kalyani (1988)
  2. Became widely known after Kadhalan (1994)
  3. First lead role in Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (2006)
  4. Acted in over 300 Tamil films
  5. Multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards for comedy
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Vadivelu born?

10 October 1960

What is Vadivelu known for?

Actor, Playback Singer

What is Vadivelu’s marital status?

Married