Tamil film star Vivek, Dies In Chennai At 59

Tamil film star Vivek died in a Chennai hospital in the early hours of Saturday. He was 59.

Vivek was admitted to hospital in Vadapalani on Friday.

Leading film critic Sreedhar Pillai commented on Twitter: “Shell shocked to hear that actor, comedian and social worker #Vivek is no more. He passed away around 5AM today morning after being admitted in hospital yesterday, following a massive cardiac arrest. #Omshanti.”

Political commentator Sumanth Raman said on Twitter: “You were one of the best. Thank you for making millions laugh for so many years. Thank you for all the good work that you did for society. Om Shanti.”

On Friday, Vivek suffered a severe heart attack and was critical in hospital, a day after he took a Covaxin shot at a government facility, triggering talks about a reaction due to the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, doctors and Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan took pains to explain that his condition “may not be” related to the vaccination.