Vadivel Balaji

{{Short description|Indian television personality and actor (1975–2020)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Vadivel Balaji

| image =

| native_name_lang = Tamil

| birth_name = Balaji

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1975|02|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|9|10|1975|2|17|df=y}}

| death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

| nationality = Indian

| occupation = Television personality, actor, Mimicry artist

| known_for = Kalakka Povathu Yaaru
Adhu Idhu Yedhu

| spouse = Jyothilakshmi(?.2020)

| children = 2

| family =

}}

Vadivel Balaji (17 February 1975 – 10 September 2020) was an Indian television comedian, mimicry artist and actor. He received the nickname Vadivel after gaining fame among audience for imitating popular Tamil comedian Vadivelu's voice in television programmes.{{Cite web|last=Bhasin|first=Shriya|date=10 September 2020|title=Comedian Vadivel Balaji dies due to heart attack in Chennai|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/regional-cinema/comedian-vadivel-balaji-dies-due-to-heart-attack-in-chennai-648592|access-date=10 September 2020|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}} He was well known for his works in the television field and appeared in prime time Star Vijay television programmes such as Kalakka Povathu Yaaru (Season 4), Siricha Pochu in Adhu Idhu Yedhu.{{Cite news|title='Kalakka Povadhu Yaaru Champions' all set for its grand finale|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/kalakka-povadhu-yaaru-champions-all-set-for-its-grand-finale/articleshow/67691984.cms|access-date=10 September 2020|website=The Times of India|date=25 January 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-vadivel-balaji-kalakkapovadhu-yaaru-fame-passes-away-42-132745|access-date=10 September 2020|website=www.thenewsminute.com|title=Actor 'Vadivel' Balaji of 'Kalakkapovadhu Yaaru' fame passes away at 42|date=10 September 2020}} He also took part as a contestant in the eighth season of the reality television show Jodi Number One.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/comedian-vadivel-balaji-dies-at-45-in-chennai-1720431-2020-09-10|title=Comedian Vadivel Balaji dies at 45 in Chennai - Movies News|website=India Today|date=10 September 2020|author=Logesh Balach|accessdate=6 January 2021}} He and his wife participated in Mr & Mrs Chinnathirai season 2, he also appeared in Start Music segments shortly before his demise.{{cite web |last1=Demu |first1=Blessey |title=Mr & Mrs. Chinathirai 2 |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/chennai/article/tamil-actor-vadivel-balaji-passes-away-due-to-heart-attack-condolence-messages-pour-in/650718 |website=www.timesnownews.com |publisher=www.timesnownews.com |accessdate=7 October 2020}}

Personal life

He was married to Jyothilakshmi. They have a son Srikanth and a daughter Sridevi.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Death

On 24 August 2020, Balaji was admitted in two private hospitals; Billroth Hospital and Vijaya Hospital which were located in Chennai.{{Cite web|date=10 September 2020|title=Tamil comedian Vadivel Balaji dies at 45 in Chennai|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-tamil-comedian-vadivel-balaji-dies-at-45-in-chennai-2842238|access-date=10 September 2020|website=DNA India|language=en}} Balaji reportedly suffered a cardiac attack two weeks ago and was facing severe health complications after that. On 10 September 2020, he was moved to a government hospital just prior to his demise.{{Cite news|title=Actor Vadivel Balaji aged 45 passes away due to heart attack; Celebs Rio Raj, Bala Saravanan and others mourn his demise|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/actor-vadivel-balaji-aged-45-passes-away-due-to-heart-attack-celebs-rio-raj-bala-saravanan-and-others-mourn-his-demise/articleshow/78036921.cms|access-date=10 September 2020|website=The Times of India|date=10 September 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite news|title=நடிகர் வடிவேல் பாலாஜி மரணம் - கடைசி காலத்தில் மருத்துவ கட்டணம் செலுத்த முடியாமல் தவித்த குடும்பம்|language=ta|work=BBC News தமிழ்|url=https://www.bbc.com/tamil/arts-and-culture-54100654|access-date=10 September 2020}} He died that morning, at the age of 45.{{Cite web|date=10 September 2020|title=நடிகர் வடிவேல் பாலாஜி உடல்நலக்குறைவால் மரணம்|url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/entertainment/cinema-actor-vadivel-balaji-died-msb-343979.html|access-date=10 September 2020|website=News18 Tamil}}{{Cite web|title=Comedy actor Vadivel Balaji passes away|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/sep/10/comedy-actor-vadivel-balaji-passes-away-at-42-20188.html|access-date=10 September 2020|website=Cinema Express}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Film

! class="unsortable" |Role

2011

|Sabash Sariyana Potti

|Himself

2013

|Yaaruda Mahesh

2016

|Sutta Pazham Sudatha Pazham

2018

|Kolamavu Kokila

|Remo Kumar

2022

|Pen Vilai Verum 999 Rubai Mattume

Television

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Program

! class="unsortable" |Role

! class="unsortable" |Channel

! class="unsortable" |Notes

! class="unsortable" |{{Tooltip|Ref.|References}}

2008

|Kalakka Povathu Yaaru (Season 4)

|Contestant

|Star Vijay

2009

|Comedy Puram

|Contestant

|A Comedy Show presented by Symphony Recordings.

They have also released a music DVD.

|{{Cite web |title=Comedypuram Music DVD - Price In India. Buy Comedypuram Music DVD Online at Flipkart.com |url=https://www.flipkart.com/comedypuram/p/itmdqy5vyzggctdg |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Flipkart.com |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Comedypuram Vol 2 Part 2 {{!}} Tamil Comedy {{!}} Mimicry {{!}} Vadivelu Balagi |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6RULV6F2Kw |language=en |access-date=2022-08-04}}

2009-2020

|Adhu Idhu Yedhu (Siricha Pochu)

|Performer

| rowspan="7" |Star Vijay

2015

|Kitchen Super Star (Season 4)

|Contestant

2016

|Kalakka Povathu Yaaru (Season 5)

|Judge

|only a few episodes

2017-2019

|Kalakka Povathu Yaaru Champions (Season 1 & 2)

|Performer

2018

|Jodi Number One (Season 8)

|Contestant

2019

|Mr and Mrs Chinnathirai (Season 2)

|Contestant

2019

|Start Music (Season 2)

|Performer

Awards and honors

Star Vijay Television Award - Best Comedy Team (Siricha Pochu)
Kalakka Povathu Yarru Champions (Session 1) - Winner Team Pulikesi (Team Captain)
Kalakka Povathu Yarru Champions (Session 2) - Best Comedian