Kovai Babu

Indian comedian and actor

Kovai Babu
NationalityIndian
Years active1993–present
GenresComedy

Kovai Babu is an Indian Tamil actor and comedian. He was well known for acting as a replacement to veteran actor Vivek in Kamal Haasan starrer Indian 2 who suddenly succumbed to death in 2021 due to a side effect caused by a vaccine which he injected as a precaution against the infection of COVID-19 pandemic. Vivek's scenes were completed with Kovai Babu being the body double and his face digitally morphed to resemble Vivek.[1][2]

Career

Kovai Babu initially became insanely popularly for his comedy track sequence in the role of Minor Kunjumani where he eventually shared screenspace with veteran stalwart comedian actor Vivek for the film Kadhal Sadugudu (2003). He also went onto act in numerous films in his acting career, albeit in predominantly minor roles with relatively less screentime allocated for him by the filmmakers.[3] He also made his presence felt in television soap operas with his hilarious performances in Star Vijay sponsored television soap opera Raja Rani.

Due to Vivek and Venu's deaths before production of Indian 2 could be completed, Shankar decided to use visual effects to complete their remaining scenes. Vivek's unprecedented death during the middle of the principal photography meant that the remaining portions involving Vivek had to be wrapped up by bringing on board another person resembling similar to Vivek and as a result the director of the film S. Shankar roped in Kovai Babu as a like-to-like replacement.[4][5] Kovai Babu eventually completed his film portions in both Indian 2 and Indian 3 by acting as a Body double for late actor Vivek.[6][7]

Filmography

Films

  • Parvathi Ennai Paradi (1993)
  • Shahjahan (2001)
  • Kadhal Sadugudu (2003)
  • Military (2003)
  • Sindhamal Sitharamal (2003)
  • Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam (2005)
  • Ilakkanam (2006)
  • Pazhani (2008)
  • Sirithal Rasipen (2009)
  • Agam Puram (2010)
  • Palakkattu Madhavan (2015)
  • Adhibar (2015)
  • Vindhai (2015)
  • Veera Sivaji (2016)
  • Hara Hara Mahadevaki (2017)
  • Kathanayagan (2017)
  • Veeran (2023)
  • Indian 2 (2024)
  • Indian 3 (2025)

Television series

  • Raja Rani (2017-2023)
  • Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari (2018)
  • Kannedhirey Thondrinal (2022-2023)[8]

References

  1. ^ "How Late Actor Vivek's Portions In Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 Were Shot". News18. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Here's how Shankar filmed late actor Vivek's portion in 'Indian 2'". www.msn.com. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  3. ^ Cineulagam (29 July 2022). Legend-ல Vivek Sir Dupe-ஆ நான்தான் நடிச்சிருக்கேன் | Kovai Babu Interview | Minor Kunju | The Legend. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Indian 2 director Shankar brings back late actor Vivek to life in Kamal Haasan starrer; Here's how". PINKVILLA. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Here's how Shankar filmed late actor Vivek's portion in 'Indian 2'". The Times of India. 19 July 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  6. ^ astroulagam.com.my https://astroulagam.com.my/videos/vF8C21CDA/kovai-babu-shares-his-experiences-about-indian-2-movie-and-journey-acting-serials-x9390no. Retrieved 11 September 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ "இந்தியன் 2 படத்தில் விவேக்கிற்கு டூப் போட்டு நடித்தது இந்த நடிகரா.?". News18 தமிழ் (in Tamil). 18 July 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Actor Kovai Babu announces his exit from the TV show 'Kannedhirey Thondrinal'; Arvind Venkat to play the new Manivannan?". The Times of India. 18 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  • Kovai Babu at IMDb