Veteran actor, comedy writer and playwright Crazy Mohan passed away in Chennai on June 10 following an acute cardiac arrest. He was 66. He has worked in over 40 memorable films and several stage plays. His untimely death came as a shock to all.
Kamal Haasan, who worked with Crazy Mohan on some of his best comedies including Aboorva Sagodharargal, Sathi Leelavathi, Panchathanthiram and more wrote a tribute on Twitter:
“Among the many things I envy about my friend Crazy Mohan is his child-like heart. It is not easy to have such a heart. Many friends have lost that child-like simplicity in their attempt to become worldly-wise.
Actually, the title ‘Crazy’, does not suit him at all. He is a ‘genius’ in humour. The fact is, he diluted his genius to reach the common people in order to make them happy.
On many occasions, he has openly shown his affection for me, saying, “Like we have ‘Charuhasan and Chandrahasan’, we can have ‘Mohanhasan’, too”.
With that feeling, I, along with his brother Balaji, bid farewell to him today, keeping my hand on his forehead. Friendship does not come to an end. Will friendship live only if the person is alive? Mohan’s humour will live through his fans. I will also be with them.
Theirs is a wonderful joint family; no comforting words will assuage their sorrow. I wish they will get the strength of mind to bear this loss.”
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 10, 2019
Comedians Senthil and Goundamani’s popular dialogues in Chinna Vadhiyaar, Indian and other films were also written by Crazy Mohan. Goundamani was among the first to visit Mohan’s house this afternoon and pay his last respects.
Theatre and film actor YGee Mahendra, who also regularly worked with Mohan, told The Hindu, “Humour has lost a great advocate. I have lost a great friend of over five decades. He was so close to my dad and I. His special brand of innocent humour brought out the child in everyone. One big pillar of Tamil theatre has fallen. Tamilians all over the world will miss him.”
Actor-comedian Charle condoled his death and reportedly said, “He was the kind of comedian who conveyed sensitive messages with humour.”
Director Suresh Krissna, who worked with Crazy Mohan on Aahaa (1997), wrote, “A simple, down to earth person, a great friend, brilliant writer, actor, playwright, never there will be one like him again.” He also visited his house this evening.
Crazy mohan no more!! Shocking! A simple, down to earth person, a great friend, brilliant writer, actor, playwright, never there will be one like him again.. you will be missed terribly.. RIP
— sureshkrissna (@Suresh_Krissna) June 10, 2019
Directors Seenu Ramasamy, Suseenthiran and Venkat Prabhu, cinematographer KV Anand, and actors Prasanna, GV Prakash, Khushboo, Gayathrie, Siddharth and Harish Kalyan also tweeted their condolences.
Even few days back when I met my friend dir @rs_prasanna we were talking about #CrazyMohan sir and how he added value to our film #KSS his writings and performances have always been top notch. His comedy sense non stop. A fantastic human. RIP Crazy sir. Will miss u
— Prasanna (@Prasanna_actor) June 10, 2019
என் மனம் கவர்ந்த எழுத்தாளர் திரு,கிரேசி மோகன் அவர்களுக்கு இதய அஞ்சலி. pic.twitter.com/Nj7AQgTXvq
— Seenu Ramasamy (@seenuramasamy) June 10, 2019
OMG #crazymohan saar!!! My deepest condolences to the family. #ripcrazymohan
— venkat prabhu (@vp_offl) June 10, 2019
#RIPCrazyMohan pic.twitter.com/7Hyih13vND
— Suseenthiran (@dir_susee) June 10, 2019
News just coming in about the demise of #CrazyMohan .. they could not revive him very unfortunately.. a genius has left behind a legacy.. deepest condolences to his family.. may his soul rest in peace.. ???
— KhushbuSundar ❤️❤️❤️ (@khushsundar) June 10, 2019
No one can ever replace you #crazymohan sir … a legendary writer who will be missed for ever … condolences to the family … #RIPCrazyMohan pic.twitter.com/KoWtJr2kb9
— G.V.Prakash Kumar (@gvprakash) June 10, 2019
RIP #GirishKarnad #Crazymohan I Have huge admiration for them.
— anand k v (@anavenkat) June 10, 2019
Why is this happening?! ?#RIPGirishKarnad
Hoping #CrazyMohan sir wins this battle and comes back home healthy!— Gayathrie (@SGayathrie) June 10, 2019
#CrazyMohan sir is no more. What a sad day for cinema, theatre, laughter and life. There will never be another like him. Prayers for his soul.Deepest condolences to the family. He was a huge part of our collective #Tamil consciousness and our ability to make or laugh at a joke.??
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) June 10, 2019
A great loss to art. We will miss you immensely #CrazyMohan sir. Condolences to his family and many generations of fans of his charming personality, theatre, writing, wit and acting.
— Santhosh Narayanan (@Music_Santhosh) June 10, 2019
RIP!! The witty writer & actor #CrazyMohan sir.
— Harish kalyan (@iamharishkalyan) June 10, 2019
#CrazyMohan Anna….??? ?????? why why why…. OMG…
— Rajhesh Vaidhya (@RajheshVaidhya) June 10, 2019
I cant belive this ?met uncle just 20days before for our project discussion…only problem he had was eyesight…omg life is so unpredictable? #Shocking #CrazyMohan #CrazyMohanRIP #CrazyMohanLeavesAVoid pic.twitter.com/l1k5MZKTgv
— Actress Harathi (@harathi_hahaha) June 10, 2019
RIP #CrazyMohan
The master of one-liners, wordplay, puns and PJs.
In other words, the King of Twitter even before Twitter was invented.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 10, 2019
A major part of my childhood memories left today. You’re in a better safer happier place #CrazyMohan sir??? you will be missed ?
— Chandramouli.P.S (@moulistic) June 10, 2019
Can’t believe ?Rip #CrazyMohan sir pic.twitter.com/HxKDMzrtQ5
— RK SURESH (@studio9_suresh) June 10, 2019
Many fans of Kamal tweeted famous Crazy Mohan dialogues and clips from his films and said he would be remembered forever.
"Onakku enna prachanai theiryuma. Oru chinna vishayathai perusu panna paakare! " The best line for #KSS came as a generous gift from Crazy Mohan sir who had meticulously noted at least ten setup-pay off word gags in the margins of the scene paper. #CrazyMohan +
— R S Prasanna (@rs_prasanna) June 10, 2019
#CrazyMohan You are immortal pic.twitter.com/UW5iWGqMr8
— B@B@_Y@G@ (@PoovarasanMari) June 10, 2019
Kandipa keep than ! Athan Anandku left la porale!! Nama oorla #keepleft thane !! Wonder if anyone could ever write such a hilarious one liner in the world of slapstick and adult humours #CrazyMohan pic.twitter.com/7OB6zkq4YU
— Vignesh (@vignesh98336591) June 10, 2019
Crazy mohan thinks?crazy level dialogues
RIP crazy mohan #CrazyMohan ? pic.twitter.com/DjYPOXoL15— santhosh (@santhoshk090) June 10, 2019
Among the more poignant tributes was the one from artist Keshav; Mohan would write a venbaa every day, for Keshav’s Krishna series of paintings.
He had a child like innocence and was at awe about every new thing he heard or saw. He used to write a venba everyday for @keshav61 ‘s painting every morning. Such a rare human being #CrazyMohan
— maithriim (@maithriim) June 10, 2019
மற்கடக் குட்டியே, மாதா ரமணரை
நிற்க அனுமதிப்பாய் நின்னுள்ளே -வர்கத்தின்
பேதங்கள் போகும் பிறவிப் பிணிதீரும்
மோதுங்கள் அண்ணா மலை’’…!
வந்த மனக்குரங்கு வாயுள்ளே வாத்ஸல்யம்
சந்திர வம்சத்து சூரியன் -பந்தமறுப்பு:
முற்றும் துறக்க முனிவனாய் மாறலாம்
கற்ற களவை மற…கிரேசி மோகன்…! pic.twitter.com/c8aumHEerE— Keshav (@keshav61) June 10, 2019
Image Courtesy: Lehren.com