Popular Tamil actor and music teacher Madan Bob has passed away in Chennai, according to local sources. Known for his comic timing and unique acting style, he was a beloved figure in South Indian cinema. Industry friends and fans affectionately called him “Madan Bob”, though his real name was S. Krishnamurthy.
Famous for his trademark smile, he earned the nickname Punnagai Mannan, meaning ‘King of Smiles’. Madan Bob acted in over 600 films, mainly in supporting roles. While most people knew him as an actor, few were aware that he was also a trained music teacher.
He reportedly died of cancer.
Madan Bob started his acting journey with Vaname Ellai (1992), directed by K. Balachander. He went on to play memorable roles such as Diamond Babu in Thenali (2000) and Manager Sundaresan in Friends (2000). He was also seen in Thevar Magan, Sathi Leelavathi, Chandramukhi, and Ethir Neechal, among many others.
Though he mainly acted in Tamil films, he also appeared in Telugu movies like Bhama Ne Satyabhama Ne and Bangaram, as well as Malayalam films such as Bhramaram and Celluloid.
Beyond acting, Madan Bob had a deep connection with music. Trained in both Western classical and Carnatic music, he studied under respected teachers like S. Ramanathan, Vikku Vinayakram, and Harihara Sharma. It is also believed that he taught music to Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman in the early stages of Rahman’s career.
Despite his long and diverse career, the musical side of Madan Bob’s life remained largely unknown to the public. His passing is a great loss not only to the film world but also to the music community.
He will be remembered for his laughter, his kindness, and the joy he brought to audiences across languages and generations.
