Performer Asokan Muniyandy, known as ‘Singapore Sivaji’, dies aged 60
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Asokan Muniyandy (left) could transform himself into a lookalike of Tamil cinema legend Sivaji Ganesan (right).
PHOTOS: SINGAPORE SIVAJI/FACEBOOK, NANDHA GA
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SINGAPORE – Asokan Muniyandy, best known for his work impersonating the late Tamil cinema legend Sivaji Ganesan, has died at the age of 60.
Also known as “Singapore Sivaji”, Asokan began his journey as a mimicry artiste in 2000 when he performed at a grassroots event.
He went on to perform in various charity and grassroots events in Singapore, Malaysia and India.
Footage of Asokan’s purported final performance circulating on social media shows him lip-syncing to the song Ullam Rendum from Sivaji’s 1974 film Sivagamiyin Selvan, along with a female performer.
Asokan can be seen clapping and waving to the audience as the music ends. As the event’s emcee begins speaking and approaches the performers, Asokan falls forward and the video cuts.
According to a Facebook post from Shastra Funeral Services, Asokan died on Oct 12, leaving behind his wife, two children and two grandchildren.
His wake is being held from Oct 13 to Oct 15, and his body will be cremated on Oct 15.
In an interview with Tamil weekly newspaper Tabla! in 2009, Asokan said he began impersonating Sivaji only after being told they looked similar.
Using make-up such as foundation, lipstick, kohl and blusher, Asokan could transform himself into a lookalike of the Tamil movie star, who died in 2001 aged 72.
Asokan Muniyandy is best known for his work impersonating the late Tamil cinema legend Sivaji Ganesan.
PHOTO: TABLA!/FACEBOOK/SINGAPORE SIVAJI
He said in the interview then that he was performing “nearly every weekend” in Singapore or Malaysia, charging $400 for a 30-minute show here and RM1,500 (S$456) for his shows across the Causeway.
In addition to memorising about 80 songs from Sivaji’s films, Asokan also had nearly 100 costumes made by seamstresses in Singapore and Malaysia housed in his five-room flat at the time, all copies of the outfits the actor had donned.
A Tabla! reader told the newspaper then that “everyone who has seen (Asokan) has commented that they feel Sivaji Ganesan has been reborn”.
Fans of Asokan left condolences on videos of his performances on social media. “He died doing what he loved,” mused a TikTok user.
Former Member of Parliament Yee Chia Hsing, in a Facebook post on Oct 15, recalled Asokan’s performance at a Nanyang Community Club event in 2018.
“I remember him to be very engaging and definitely a natural entertainer,” said Mr Yee. “Rest in peace, Singapore Sivaji.”
