Noted stage artist and Tollywood ace comedian Kallu Chidambaram (70) passed away on Monday morning. He was ailing with lung related diseases since last few years and was taking treatment in a private hospital at Vishakhapatnam. Once, he worked in Vizag Port, but he left his job as he developed interest in stage shows (dramas).

He served it for nearly 12 years before entering into film industry in 1989 with film ‘Kallu’ which earns him prestigious Nandi Award. He did more than two dozen movies mainly in comedian roles. He acted in Money, Govinda Govinda, Ammoru, Mrugaraju, Shivangi, Tolipata etc movies during his one and half decades of association with Telugu Film Industry.

He becomes very famous as Kallu Chidambaram. But, his real name is Kollooru Chidambaram. He is a native of Visakhapatnam. His financial condition is reported to be not that good even after doing so many films because he was used to donate money to poor stage artists. His funerals may be performed at Visakhapatnam on Monday. Tollywood express grief for his death. His death would be a great loss to us, says ‘Sakala Kala Samakya’ floated by him for helping needy stage artists in the state.