On Saturday, the film industry lost a gem with the demise of actor and musician Madhan Bob. He was indeed the king of smiles, as his laugh alone cracked up millions. With a filmography of over 600 films, the actor has left behind a legacy of countless memories of laughter.
In an interview with The New Indian Express in 2016, the actor shared insights about himself and his career. The youngest of eight siblings, Madhan was born as Krishnamoorthy. His journey into the spotlight was anything but conventional. With time on his hands and curiosity in his heart, he taught himself everything from yoga and hypnotism to Western and Carnatic music. “It’s important to be a good student in life,” he said in the interview.
Before cinema called, Madhan dabbled in several careers, from being a medical representative to a sales officer, but music was his first love. Trained under legends like S Ramanathan, Harihara Sharma, and ‘Vikku’ Vinayakam, he composed music for plays and serials and even won the Best Music Award for the Hindi serial Sangarsh. “I was the first to play the guitar on Doordarshan in Chennai, back in 1975,” he recalled proudly.
His foray into acting was serendipitous. While composing music for serials, directors began casting him in small roles. A friend’s father recommended him to director K Balachander, and despite initial hesitation, Madhan landed his debut role in Vaname Ellai (1992). He remembered the moment vividly: “I told him I didn’t know acting, but Balachander sir insisted on meeting me. Later, I came home one day to find his car outside. I was stunned when they offered me the role.”
His second film, Thevar Magan (1992), remains unforgettable for a different reason. Sharing screen space with his idol, Sivaji Ganesan, left him awestruck. “I had to deliver a sharp line to him and felt terrible. I added a line apologetically on set: ‘Edha sola enakku vayasu pathadhu.’ Sivaji sir, came up after the shot and appreciated my performance. I didn’t know how to react!”
Known for his timing, expressive face, and distinct laugh, Madhan carved a niche in comedy. He often said comedy had become like songs in Tamil cinema, a guaranteed draw. “Sometimes the film doesn’t work, but the comedy scenes do. That’s what makes you a successful comedian,” he noted.
He admired comedians who could carry solo tracks, calling them rare. “Goundamani, Senthil, Vadivelu, Vivek, Santhanam, and now Soori, they all use the situation itself in their humour. That’s why they succeed.”
Despite acting in over 645 films, Madhan never took his success for granted. “You have to sustain yourself in the industry. People shouldn’t get bored with your gimmicks,” he said, even as he juggled multiple projects even in his later years.
Madhan was also a teacher, quite literally, to none other than AR Rahman. During a 2008 Madhan Utsav event, director K S Ravikumar shared that Rahman had once called Madhan his guru. “If Rahman hadn’t said that, no one would have known. It just shows his magnanimity,” he said.
What endeared him most to those around him was his humility. He remembered Kamal Haasan, during the shoot of Thevar Magan, adjusting makeup for co-stars. “He’s a man of intellect. You can speak to him for hours if you match his wavelength.” Rajinikanth, too, left a deep impression. “Once during a conversation about spirituality, he bent down to touch my feet. I was stunned and ran away. That’s Rajini, egoless and grounded.”
Madhan Bob’s life was a story of reinvention, humour, and heart. Whether strumming a guitar, lighting up a scene with his wit, or mentoring behind the scenes, he was a multi-hyphenate who believed in showing up with full commitment.
“If you had asked me before I got into acting, I would’ve chosen music. But now, I can’t choose,” he once said. These words and his memories paint a picture of a man who lived with contentment, laughed with joy, and left the world with more happiness than he found it.