The era of Padma Shri actor Vivek has come to an end on Saturday, leaving everlasting darkness in the Indian cinema. Vivek, who was known for his versatility, has passed away in Chennai on Saturday at the age of 59 due to cardiac arrest. A daring soul and charming face had left the fans and fraternities to grief through the untimely demise. 

Vivek was a household name and lived a life of spreading love and change towards art and society. Besides being a comedian on the big screens, he had never failed to inspire and lubricate the young generation through his unparalleled contribution and work towards seeding a change. He had etched a history that needs to be preserved and taught for future generations. His sudden hospitalization and untimely demise had broken the hearts and millions and hit like a cyclone for the Indian cinema.

Who would be more close to the Indian President and motivate the downtrodden artists and people other than Vivek? He was a protege of former Indian President Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and at the same time, he never hesitated to lift up the needy artists and he faced and handled the obstacles through a smile and love. Apart from cultivating an immense reputation through his cinematic career, he also campaigned for good and change. 

His relationship with Kalam had sowed a big change in him and he then took charge of campaigning and creating awareness about Global Warming. Having Kalam as an inspiration, Vivek has launched an initiative 'Green Kalam' with the aim of planting trees. Without much publicity, Vivek had planted over 33 lakh saplings across the state. As an icon of change, Vivek has campaigned for the government schemes to take them to the people amid challenging times. 

He was one of the faces that the Tamil Nadu government displayed to create awareness about Dengue fever. His awareness was aired on television and theaters and he played a vital role in reaching the people with the measure of preventing the epidemic and he also was campaigning the measures of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had made awareness to wear masks and follow the guidelines to curb the spread. As part of his campaign, Vivek had received the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine to allay the fears among the public over the vaccine. 

On Thursday, the Padma Shri actor has received the vaccine at Omandurar Hospital in Chennai. Following the vaccination, he had addressed the media in the presence of Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan. No one knew that this would be his last address, but it has now become his last address of Chinna Kalaivanar. In his last address, he created awareness to the people about the COVID-19 vaccine. 

In his address, he said, "I have received the vaccine for COVID-19 along with my friends in a government hospital. The question may arise on why I have received the vaccine at a government hospital. Government hospitals are providing health services to a large number of people. As there are many rumors about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine among the public, I got vaccinated at the government hospital to allay such rumors and to assert that this is safe."

He said that wearing masks and observing physical distancing are the public safety measures to keep everyone safe and the medical way to protect is the vaccine. He added that the vaccine is the only thing that can save a life. He campaigned that though people receive the vaccine, everyone has to be under the ambit of the measures. They should wear masks, wash hands regularly, and observe social distancing. He also lauded the works done by the doctors and nurses at the government hospitals and said that they are more efficient. 

He further appealed to the people not to stay out of the measures until the government says. On Friday, he suffered a cardiac arrest and rushed to SIMS Hospital in Chennai and he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit as he was critical and battling for survival. Celebrities and political leaders had expressed their prayers for Vivek for his speedy recovery. However, all the prayers had gone vain as the Padma Shri actor had breathed his last at 4.35 am on Saturday. 

Actor Vivek had campaigned for good and change throughout his entire life in cinema and through his social works and his final speech was evident on how he cared about the people and his desire towards their well-being. The people's actor had stopped his breath and left the world by leaving incessant dusk. He will never be removed from the houses and will stand tall as the inspiration for young people. Gone too soon, Rest in peace Padma Shri Vivek. 

Watch Vivek's last speech: