Chennai

Notable supporting star and Tamil actor Pandu who was getting treated for COVID 19 in a private hospital, passed away on Thursday. He was admitted to the hospital along with his wife after they both contracted the virus.

In his career spanning about four decades, Pandu has performed comedy roles in 500-plus movies, mainly in Tamil and his late 1980s television serial in Doordarshan 'Panju, Pattu, Peethambaram' was hugely popular. His debut movie was 'Karai Ellam Shenbagapoo' in the early 1980s. Pandu who gained popularity after playing a cameo role along with Ajith Kumar in Agathiyan's Kadhal Kottai, was recently seen in 'Itly' alongside Kovai Sarala and Urvashi.

The news of his demise was announced by actor Manobala on his Twitter space. Apart from his notable projects in film industry, Pandu is known to have designed the Tamil Nadu Tourism Logo 'Umbrella' and the 'Twin Leaves' party logo for AIADMK.

He is survived by a wife and 3 sons.

The DMK and AIADMK condoled his death. DMK chief M K Stalin said Pandu, besides being an excellent comedian was also an artist who held a doctorate in the subject and he had developed a unique style of comedy. Pandu's death was a huge loss to the film industry and to the world of drawings, paintings, Stalin said in a statement.

AIADMK top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami hailed Pandu for his acting skills and said he was well known to party founder and late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran.

Expressing grief, they prayed for the comedian's soul to rest in peace

(inputs from PTI)

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