Veteran Tamil writer and actor Crazy Mohan passes away at 67

Popular Tamil actor, writer and comedian Crazy Mohan passed away on Monday, 10 June, of a massive heart attack. He was 67.

According to family sources, Mohan was rushed to Kauvery hospital in Chennai on Monday afternoon after he suffered the attack. He was declared dead at 2 pm after efforts to revive him with a defibrillator failed.

Born Mohan Rangachari in 1952, Mohan became a writer in college when he wrote the script for Great Bank Robbery, a skit for an inter-college fest. He then started writing scripts for his brother Maadhu Balaji’s drama troupe.

Mohan wrote his first full-length play called Crazy Thieves in Paalavakkam in 1976, thereby earning the nickname 'Crazy'. Three years later, thanks to his successful writing, he formed his own drama troupe and called it Crazy Creations.

Crazy Creations has created over 30 plays which have been staged over 6,500 times till date. One of their popular creations is Chocolate Krishna which has been staged over 500 times.

In 1983, Mohan forayed into cinema as he turned dialogue writer for K Balachander’s Poikkal Kuthirai (1983), which was based on Mohan’s own play Marriage Made in Saloon. The film featured Kamal Haasan in a cameo. 

Mohan, as a writer, was best known for his association with Kamal Haasan on multiple Tamil comedies, including Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989), Micheal Madhana Kamarajan (1990), Sathi Leelavathi (1995), Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Indian (1996), Kadhala Kadhala (1998), Tenali (2000), Pancha Thanthiram (2002) and Vasool Raja MBBS (2004).

Mohan also forayed into television and produced comedy serials in 1989. The serials he produced include Here Is Crazy, Kalyanathukku Kalyanam and Vidathu Sirippu.

With over 40 films, 30 plays and 100 short stories to his credit, Mohan was awarded the Kalaimamani award by the Tamil Nadu government for excellence in the field of art and literature.