My ambition is to make people happy for as long as I live: Vadivelu

Announcing his comeback with a bang, one of Tamil cinema’s finest and most popular comedians Vadivelu on Friday said that his ambition was to make people happy for as long as he lived.

Participating in a press conference called by Lyca Productions at the Accord hotel in Chennai to announce the launch of their prestigious project Production Number 23 in which he plays the lead, the immensely popular comedian said, “I do not know what to say. However, let me speak my heart. No one would have suffered the pain that I have suffered in the recent past. People call me ‘Vaigai Puyal’ but a hurricane ravaged my life.”

Going on to cite a story to explain the state of mind he had been in recent times, Vadivelu said, “A patient once went to a doctor and told him,’My heart is not at peace. I am unable to sleep. Please give me medicines to heal my sickness.’ To this, the doctor replied,’Today is Saturday. Come back on Monday and I will treat you.’ The patient refused to leave and insisted that the doctor treat him then itself. To this, the doctor offered him an alternative solution. He told the patient that a circus was performing nearby and that a clown in the circus was making everyone laugh. Stating that he had bought two tickets for himself and his wife, the doctor offered to take the patient with him to the circus on his wife’s ticket.

“‘Watching the clown perform there will make your heart light and you will be able to sleep peacefully tonight,’ the doctor advised. However, the patient said,’Sir, I am that clown.’ I too was like that clown.

“In the last four years, I haven’t acted in any film. Not just me, everybody in the world has been affected. The fact that so many of us have gathered here and are sitting together is purely because of God’s grace.

“A dreaded disease called Corona came and brothers couldn’t meet brothers, sons couldn’t see mothers, wives couldn’t meet husbands, Parents couldn’t meet their children. We all went through a torrid time together. It was so bad that a wife had to ask the body of her infected husband to be removed swiftly as she had to fear for the safety of her children. The mayhem caused by Corona made my problems appear smaller. It came and struck fear in the hearts and minds of the people. It made them lose sleep. At such a time, the fact that my comedy served to be a medicine, healing their wounds, brought me some solace.

“Having escaped that terrifying phase, the man who has given me a new lease of life and brought me before you is my brother Lyca’s producer Subashkaran. He has not only given me a new lease of life but has also brought so much joy to the people that he has now become a ‘Sabashkaran’ among them. I express my gratitude to him. From this point on, my journey will be one that will be filled with laughter. My ambition is to make people happy for as long as I live. Let us forget all that has happened because we have all suffered so much. Not just me, the film industry and the whole world has been affected. At this juncture, let me first extend my thanks to my people who have given me this life. Not just that. I also express my heartfelt greetings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. I went and met him and came. From the time I met him, everything appears bright to me. It feels good. I believe everything that happens in future also will be good. I pray for that and also seek all your help in this regard.”

Director Suraj, who will be directing this film, spoke on the occasion as well.

Director Suraj said, “This story is the outcome of several happy, funny discussion sessions that Vadivelu sir and I had when the world was plunged in gloom by Corona. Vadivelu sir hasn’t played the character he is to play in this film before. He wanted his re-entry film to be an out and out hilarious comedy. We developed this story over a period of two years and kept laughing all the way through while developing it. There were several hurdles when we planned to start it. Finally, Vadivelu sir said we’ll talk to Lyca head Subhaskaran sir. Subhaskaran sir, who was in London, said he would come down to resolve the issue for Vadivelu sir. He came and has opened the gates for Vadivelu sir.”

Lyca’s G K M Tamilkumaran, who spoke on the occasion, said, “On behalf of Lyca Productions, I wish to thank Tamil Film Producers Council president Murali, Secretary Radhakrishnan and Mr Mannan for their invaluable help in bringing the issue concerning Mr Vadivelu to an amicable end.”

The speeches were followed by a question and answer session, in which actor Vadivelu and director Suraj took questions from mediapersons