Those who have followed Vadivelu’s career would know that his was a slow and difficult climb to the top. Having entered the cine field when Goundamani and Sendhil reigned supreme, it was extremely difficult for him but he did succeed – some would say against all odds.
What endeared him to audiences and the film world were his admirable qualities like his humility and simplicity.
In his early days as an actor it was Vijayakanth who opened many doors for him as they both hailed from Madurai. There was a time that the two were very close and enjoyed a very special friendship.
The burning question then is : How did such a strong bond of friendship turn into bitterness and hatred? Such a major disagreement could not have materialized out of nothing.
Most people these days remember the public spat between them when Vijayakanth’s brother-in-law (his sister’s husband) passed away. Vadivelu, who lived on the same street, was annoyed when he saw the many vehicles on the road and assumed that the obstruction had been caused by visitors to Vijayakanth’s house for a political meeting.
He let loose some choice words and kicked some of the cars. Some of Vijayakanth’s well-wishers who were standing outside the house witnessed this and confronted him. That was when an argument ensued and Vadivelu clouted one of these men. They retaliated and this incident became big news.
This saw Vadivelu open charges of assault against the men and a charge of attempted murder against Vijayakanth, saying that Vijayakanth had orchestrated the entire thing.
This is the story that everyone remembers but the incident tells us nothing about why Vadivelu reacted with anger on seeing the cars – clearly signifying that there was a major problem long before this.
Does anyone know? If anyone does, it remains a secret – so that leaves everything to conjecture. Let us look at the two theories about Why Vadivelu’s personality changed:
THEORY 1
Vadivelu’s growing popularity and then his graduation to lead star in Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi transformed him from a humble person to an egotistical, obnoxious person.
It is common knowledge that Vadivelu’s asking rate for each film quadrupled after the release and success of Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi. Together with this new rate came a new attitude – a high-handed, haughty one very unlike Vadivelu’s attitude in the early days of his career.
Evidence of this was when a senior journalist went to the sets of Indhira Logathil Naa Azhagappan – his second film as lead actor. The reporter was seeking a story as a cover story and he wanted Vadivelu to feature on the cover. Without even responding directly to the journalist’s polite request, Vadivelu went to the producer and told him in a loud voice that if he did not get the reporter off the set, he (Vadivelu) would leave the set and not return.
The journalist heard and saw this and could not believe his eyes and ears but he left the sets without a word. The mistake he made was that he did not mention this incident until months later – after Vadivelu had reacted in a similar manner to others in the media.
Another much-publicised incident is the insulting way Vadivelu treated actor Shyam when Shyam approached him to play a role in Anthony Yaar. Apart from the abusive words Vadivelu used on him, he also manhandled him and physically pushed him away.
Shyam was so hurt and angered by Vadivelu’s reaction that he lodged a complaint with the Nadigar Sangam. However, at that that time, Sarathkumar – the head of the Sangam – had an excellent relationship with the DMK and the matter was effectively squashed upon intervention from Karunanidhi’s DMK.
Was Vadiveu’s rise to fame too rapid for him to adapt? Why was he acting in such an obnoxious manner?
THEORY 2
There is a view that two men who were friends would not suddenly break their friendship over something trivial.
This would mean that something serious had to happen between Vijayakanth and Vadivelu (and this was before the days of Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikes)
Since there was no single incident one can point to, the assumption is that something or someone caused these two friends to separate.
Is it just a coincidence that this spat occurred so soon after Vijayakanth announced his entry into the political arena? Is it just a coincidence that this happened 11 days after Vijayakanth publicly declared that he was in opposition to the DMK?
Or….Was this orchestrated by M.Karunanidhi or the DMK to teach Vijayakanth a lesson?
Remember, this is the same group that orchestrated a temporary disagreement between MGR and Jayalalitha just after MGR was expelled from the DMK and announced that he was forming his own party.
The pattern seems all too familiar.
Of course, one must also remember that Vadivelu has also turned enemy against another former close friend, comedian Singamuthu. He has also made some libellous comments against Singamuthu and Singamuthu’s reply was to open a battery of charges against Vadivelu. In turn, Vadivelu opened a charge against Singamuthu, accusing him of plotting his (Vadivelu’s) murder.
Has Vadivelu been the victim of somebody’s master plan or a victim of his own ego?
For the sake of his career and his fans, Vadivelu himself needs to so some soul-searching, find the answer and then work towards a solution.
Note: The above article was written in 2011. Little has changed since then and Vadivelu’s escapades after the release of Maamannan s\is well known. He is too talented an actor to be relegated to the shadows and one hopes that a change of attitude soon occurs.
