J. P. Chandrababu

Who was J. P. Chandrababu?

Joseph Panimayadas Rodriguez Chandrababu was a Tamil film comedian, actor, director, singer and dancer, whose Chaplinesque style on-screen movements and singing style made him popular from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. His style has also been likened to that of Jerry Lewis. He had a mastery of the Madras Bashai, a dialect unique to the Madras region His slapstick style of comedy has been emulated by subsequent actors, such as Prabhu Deva in Kaadhalan movie. Many of his songs have remained popular.

There is confusion regarding his full name. His last name has been variously given as Chandrababu, Rodriguez and Fernando, whilst his middle name has been shown as Panimayadas or Pichai, and his first as Joseph or Jacob. His father was Joseph Pichai Rodriguez and his mother Roselin Fernando.