Mohan Rangachari (16 October 1952 – 10 June 2019) known professionally as Crazy Mohan, was an Indian actor, comedian, screenwriter and playwright known for his work in Tamil theatre and cinema. An engineer by profession, Mohan started writing plays and established his own drama troupe called "Crazy Creations" in 1979. In addition to dramas and tele-serials, Mohan worked as a dialogue writer on a number of comedy films. Mohan had written over 30 plays, worked on over 40 films, having cameo roles in each film, and written 100 short stories. The Tamil Nadu state government in the year 2004, awarded him the Kalaimamani title for excellence in the field of arts and literature.
Career
Mohan was a student at the College of Engineering, Guindy, where he graduated as a mechanical engineer in 1973. His guide was his classmate S. Ravi, who was the President of Tamil Mandram. Before becoming a full-time writer, Mohan was working at Sundaram - Clayton Limited.
At the College of Engineering, Guindy, in February 1972, he first wrote Great Bank Robbery, a skit for an intra class contest within the Guindy Engineering college for which he received the Best Writer award. It was followed by scripts for his younger brother Maadhu Balaji's drama troupe at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai. The first full-length play he wrote was Crazy Thieves in Paalavakkam for Natakapriya in 1976, which was a runaway hit and gave him the nom de plume "Crazy" Mohan. He also wrote scripts for Tenant Commandments and One More Exorcist.
After writing for other productions, Mohan decided to start his own troupe and founded Crazy Creations in 1979. The troupe has since created over 30 plays with original scripts and staged over 6,500 shows all over India and abroad. His play Chocolate Krishna had been staged 500 times within three years. His brother Maadhu Balaji, who is an actor, plays the hero in all his dramas.
The first feature film he worked on was K. Balachander's Poikkal Kudhirai for which he wrote the dialogues. The film itself was based on Mohan's drama Marriage made in Saloon. He went on to write dialogues for several comedy films, particularly starring Kamal Haasan, which include Sathi Leelavathi, Kaathala Kaathala, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Apoorva Sagodharargal, Indian, Avvai Shanmughi, Thenali, Panchathanthiram and Vasool Raja MBBS. The 2006 film Jerry had a story and screenplay by Mohan and featured Mohan's entire theatre team, including its director S. B. Khanthan. He has also acted in supporting or cameo roles in the films he wrote the dialogue or script for.
In 1989, he also began producing television comedy series. Serials he produced include Here is Crazy, Kalyanathukku Kalyanam with over 600 episodes and Vidathu Sirippu, with the latter winning the Best Comedy Serial award from Mylapore Academy in 2005. He also wrote 100 short stories.
Mohan was also a distinguished artist who has sketched/painted nearly 60 aesthetic paintings, including portraits of spiritual leaders and eminent personalities, Raja Ravi Verma's portraitures and portraits of Gods and Prophets.
Mohan penned at least one Venba every day—over 40,000 Venbas in his lifetime.
Awards Best Dialogue Writer - 14th Cinema Express Awards for Chinna Mapillai The Tamil Nadu state government in the year 2004, awarded him the Kalaimamani title for excellence in the field of arts and literature. Professional excellence award by Martin O'Malley, the then governor of Maryland, USA, for his outstanding contributions to Tamil literature, fine arts, theatres for more than 38 years.
Personal life Mohan was married and had two sons.
Theatrical works Some of his popular dramas as a dialogue writer and actor are listed below.
Maadhu +2 Jurassic Baby Marriage Made in Saloon Meesai Aanaalum Manaivi Alaavudeenum 100 Watts Bulbum Crazy Kishkintha Return of Crazy Thieves Oru Babiyin Diary Kurippu Kathalikka Maadhu Undu Maadhu Mirandal Madhil Mel Maadhu Chocolate Krishna Satellite Saamiyaar Crazy Thieves in Paalavaakkam Oru Sontha Veedu Vaadagai Veedagirathu Ayya Amma Ammamma Google Gadothgajan Crazy Premier League (CPL) Veetai Maatri Katti Paar Kalyanam Yematri Panni Paar Kudumbam Pirithhu Nadathi Paar
Filmography As a writer Year Film Writer Notes 1983 Poikkal Kudhirai Based on his play Marriage Made in Saloon 1988 Katha Nayagan Uncredited 1989 Apoorva Sagodharargal 1990 Michael Madana Kama Rajan Unnai Solli Kutramillai Indiran Chandiran 1993 Chinna Mapillai 1994 Magalir Mattum Vietnam Colony 1995 Chinna Vathiyar Engirundho Vandhan Sathi Leelavathi 1996 Avvai Shanmugi Uncredited Mr. Romeo 1997 Arunachalam Ratchagan Uncredited Thedinen Vanthathu Aahaa..! 1998 Kaathala Kaathala Kangalin Vaarthaigal 1999 Endrendrum Kadhal Poovellam Kettuppar 2000 Thenali 2001 Little John Tamil version only 2002 Panchathanthiram Pammal K. Sambandam 2004 Vasool Raja MBBS 2006 Idhaya Thirudan Also screenplay assistant alongside Ramesh Khanna and S. Guhan Jery 2010 Kola Kolaya Mundhirika Manmadhan Ambu Uncredited 2012 Naan Ee
As an actor Year Film Role Notes 1989 Apoorva Sagodharargal Car customer Indrudu Chandrudu Mental patient Telugu film 1990 Michael Madhana Kamarajan Grocery shop owner Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari Kannada speaking tourist Telugu film 1992 Thambi Pondatti Kalikaalam 1994 Magalir Mattum Doctor 1995 Chinna Vathiyar Doctor 1996 Indian Parthasarathy Mr. Romeo Shop manager Avvai Shanmughi Interviewer 1997 Sishya Manager Thedinen Vanthathu Bank manager Arunachalam Ayyasamy 1998 Kaathala KaathalaJunior Vikadanantha 1999 Kannodu Kanbathellam Kalaiselvam Endrendrum Kadhal Astrologer 2001 Sigamani Ramamani Sigamani's brother-in-law Dost Astrologer 2002 Pammal K. Sambandam ENT Specialist 2004 Vasool Raja MBBS Dr. Margabandhu 2005 Idhaya Thirudan 2006 Jerry Rukku 2008 Sakkarakatti Librarian 2010 Kola Kolaya Mundhirika Deaf Judge 2012 Naan Ee Dr. Kameshwara Iyer 2013 Puthagam Varadachari Kalyana Samayal Saadham Dr. Kamlesh Final film role
Television Plays Beware of Madhu (1987;Doordharshan) Aachi International (1997;(Sun TV) Here is Crazy Maadhu Cheenu Nil Gavani Crazy (Sun TV) Siri Gama Padhani Crazy Times (Vijay TV) Vidathu Sirippu (2004; Jaya TV) Siri Siri Crazy (2007; Kalaignar TV) Web series Karoline Kamakshi (2019)
Death Mohan complained of stomach pain and breathlessness in the morning of 10 June 2019. After he suffered a heart attack, Mohan was rushed to Kauvery Hospital by Maadhu Balaji. A team of doctors worked on Mohan to revive him, but within 20 minutes, all efforts to revive him failed, and Mohan was declared dead at around 11:00 AM IST the same day.
References
External links Official website