Famous comedian and character artist C.K. Nagesh, who died recently in Chennai, was one of the very few actors who carved a niche for themselves in more than one film industry. Originally hailing from Karnataka, Nagesh made it big in Tamil cinema before securing a special place in Telugu and Kannada cinema.

Being from Andhra oops! Andhra Pradesh, I watched only his Telugu assignments apart from a few dubbed Tamil films. Timing was Nagesh's biggest asset and there were films where he appeared only for a few minutes, yet made an everlasting impression. One such film was Kamal Hassan's Indrudu Chandrudu where Nagesh appeared in climax and had the audience in splits. Similarly, he played cameos in Rajendra Prasad's Brindavanam, Madam and Brahmachari Mogudu, and Mohan Babu's Allari Mogudu. I still remember my grand father and my uncles talking high about Nagesh's role as a house owner who is fooled in Brindavanam during the film's release.

Nagesh was more than a comedian. He was someone who added a new dimension called comedy to a character artist's role. He was brilliant as family head in Toli Prema, One by Two and Subhkankshalu. He essayed a variety of roles from a sidekick to heroes - his role as NTR's sidekick in Vetagaadu was superb - to serious roles like the one played in Kamal Hassan's Professor Viswam (Nammavar in Tamil). His other major films were Kamal's Bhamane Satyabhamane, Panchatantiram and Michael Madana Kamaraju (where he played villian).

His death is an irreparable loss to South Indian film industry.

May his soul rest in peace.