Chennai: Popular playwright, dramatist and actor Crazy Mohan, during one of his visits to Mambalam, said that he is feeling home sick and miss Mylapore the most. This was his bonding with our neighbourhood. Call it a rude shock as proud son of Mylai breathed his last. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest.
Born and brought up in the neighbourhood, Rangachari aka ‘Crazy’ Mohan had made a name for himself with his hilarious writings be it drama, television or cinema. Mohan started his career as a playwright.
His Crazy Thieves in Paalavakkam for S Ve Shekher’s drama troupe was a massive success. He later formed Crazy Creations. His hit plays include Chocolate Krishna, Jurassic Baby, Maadhu plus Two, Meesai Aanalum Manaivi, Alaavudeenum 100 Watts Bulbum and more.
Besides playwriting, he was known for his collaborations with actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who too is the resident of the neighbourhood (Alwarpet). Kamal and Mohan collaborated on Sathi Leelavathi, Kaathala Kaathala, Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Apoorva Sagodharargal, Indian, Avvai Shanmughi, Thenali, Panchathanthiram and Vasool Raja MBBS.
Condoling Mohan’s demise, Kamal Haasan, said, “There are multiple reasons why I am jealous of my friend Crazy Mohan, most important of all is his childlike heart. Not everyone gets it. Many friends in the name of practising humour have lost this quality.”
Actor S Ve Shekher, said, “It is said that when you make others laugh your lifetime will increase. It is unbelievable to know about the sudden demise of Crazy Mohan, who has made numerous people laugh.”
“When there are other writers who use double-meaning dialogues to evoke laughter, even today the epitome of clean comedy is Crazy Mohan. He is a good soul and Mohan will continue to live among us with his works.”
“We can’t see a gem of a person like Crazy Mohan. He was a very nice man and nobody can see him angry, he is always jovial and talks humorously with others, which was his best quality,” said his neighbour Padma Ramachandran.
“Crazy Mohan and his family will come to our school to vote. I had read in an article that he like wearing T-shirts and once when he came here I asked ‘Ippovum T-Shirt thana? For that he immediately replied, “Yes this is my brother’s T-shirt, Thambi Udayan T-Shirt ku Anjaan,” which made everyone around us laugh. It was an unforgettable incident. We all will miss his jokes,” says Dhanammal, headmistress of Chennai Public school, Sringeri Mutt Road.