A superstar J.P Chandrababu
Joseph Panimayadasan Rodriguez better known as Chandrababu hailed from the south Indian town of Tuticorin attending St Joseph's Colombo from the early to the late 1940's. His connection to the Colombo school was a twist of fate in the wake of World War 2 which involved the then colonial British India government (and possibly the Government of Ceylon).
Rodriguez (snr) a publisher of an Indian newspaper had supported the Indian Independence / satyagraha movement that prompted the Indian government of the day to force the family into exile in Sri Lanka. Young Chandrababu gained admittance to St Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 during the tenure of Rev.Fr.Le Goc. The Rodriguez family residence was at Forbes Road in Maradana presently known as Devanampiyatissa Mawatha which is opposite the school. It was said that there were 11 children in the family but only Chandrababu appears to have attended SJC . It is further said that he had attended Aquinas College Borella too, but this could be due to classes having being conducted for students of SJC at the above location in the face of World War 2. Chandrababu however by this time was conversant in spoken Sinhala!
With the cessation of the war hostilities, the family had repatriated themselves to Tuticorin where the strong ambitions of young Chandrababu took firm root in movie acting. By the early 1950's he had spiralled into being one of the most famous and sought after actors in the South Indian cinema. At his heyday it is said he commanded a higher price than the famous MGR (M G Ramachandran). Additionally Chandrababu was a talented singer and dancer too, who recorded over 50 songs for the Indian cinema.
As a dancer and comedian his movies drew audiences to packed houses. Chandrababu’s versatile acting performing the perennial hit song 'pamarak kanaley kaatal' is a class by itself. Even the well known song 'Dingiri dingale' (thankfully not the Sinhala version!) too is thought to have been sung by him. It is further mentioned that he even sang Sinhala songs for early Sri Lankan cinema.
Despite all the glamour and glory of the silver screen, Chandrababu in later years plunged into a financial abyss which resulted from a failed marriage and misfortunes in some of his movie production ventures. This moved the once generous and accommodating actor to near poverty. He however was fortunate to count on the great Indian movie legend Gemini Ganeshan in his later years as a genuine friend.
His untimely demise was on the 8th of March 1974 at the age of 46 years. The remains were laid to rest at the Quibble Island Roman Catholic cemetery in Chennai amidst a vast gathering. Even to this date fans pay homage at his grave.
