Tamil actor and comedian Nellai Siva died late on Tuesday night in Tirunelveli after suffering a heart attack. He was 69.
Known for his excellent comic timing and distinct Tirunelveli accent, the artiste, who was born Sivanathan Shanmugavelan Ramamoorthy on 16 January 1952, made his debut in Aan Paavam (1985).
Over the years, he established himself as a familiar face on the silver screen with comic performances in films like Anbe Sivam (2003), Saamy (2003), Imsai Arasan 23 M Pulikesi (2006) and Kireedam (2007), among literally hundreds of others.
In addition to films, he appeared in Tamil television serials such as Pandian Stores and Mama Mapillai.
The actor was a bachelor, and his last rites will be performed by his brother's family.