Popular Telugu comedian Venu Madhav no more

Hyderabad: Popular Telugu comedian Venu Madhav, known for his rib-tickling performances in films like ‘Chatrapati’ and ‘Sye,’ died here on Wednesday. He was 51.

Venu Madhav, who has been suffering from multiple ailments, including chronic liver cirrhosis, breathed his last at 12.21 am at a private hospital here, hospital sources said.

Madhav, also anacclaimed mimicry artist,made his debut in the movie ‘Sampradayam.’

Recalling his association with Venu Madhav, veteran comedian Ali said the former acted in more than 600 films.

Expressing grief over the demise of Venu Madhav, TDP Chief and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu said the departed actor had liking for the party and its founder N T Rama Rao a lot.

His mimicry performance at TDP’s party conclave ‘Mahanadu’ had won appreciation from late NTR, Naidu said.

Venu Madhav’s demise is a great loss to TDP and the Telugu film industry, he said.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao,state Congress president and MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy, actor-turned-politician and Jana Sena Party founder Pawan Kumar and several other leaders condoled the death of Venu Madhav.

Venu Madhav had a great fan following, Rao said.

Venu Madhav, who belongs to Kodad in Suryapet district, is a pride of Telangana, Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

Pawan Kalyan recollected that he had acted with Madhav in several films.

“He (Madhav) has a very good sense of timing as a comedian,” Kalyan, younger brother of Megastar Chiranjeevi, said in a release.