Tamil actor and comedian Vivek, who was admitted to a hospital in Chennai on Friday after suffering a cardiac arrest, died on Saturday morning. He was 59. Vivekh, one of the most loved comedians in Tamil cinema, was being treated at the SIMS Hospital at Vadapalani, where he was brought to by his family members after he fainted on Friday morning. He was on Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygen or ECMO support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After the news of Vivekh's death, a shattered southern film and music industry poured their hearts out on social media. A while ago, Suriya with his wife Jyothika, Karthi, Shankar and Chiyaan Vikram were papped as they arrived to pay last respects to the late actor, Vivek.
In 2009, the Government of India awarded Vivek with the Padma Shri award for his contribution to the arts. Vivek is known for launching Green Kalam, an initiative he started under the guidance of former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He had set a mission of planting a billion trees for billion people all over the state. Superstar Rajinikanth, who co-starred with Vivekh in the 2007 hit Sivaji and Uzhaippali, mourned the actor, who was popularly known as Chinnakalaivanar, with these words: "The passing away of Chinnakalaivanar, social worker and my dear close friend Vivekh is very painful. Every day I spent with him during the filming of Sivaji are unforgettable days in my life. My condolences to the bereaved family. Let his soul rest in peace." Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, with whom Vivekh worked while shooting for the forthcoming film Indian 2, tweeted his eulogy that read: "An actor's duty does not end with acting, friend Vivek believed he needed to do something beyond for society and he did. Vivekh was a believer in APJ Abdul Kalam's high ideals and a green warrior, his death is a huge loss." Vivekh, an actor, comedian, singer and an activist, was known for his performances in films such Sivaji, Run, Saamy and Perazhagan.