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Robo Shankar

Robo Shankar At The Humanitarian Awards Ceremony
Robo Shankar At The Humanitarian Awards Ceremony Image: Wikimedia Commons. Sriram Narasimhan, Silverscreen Media Inc. (https://silverscreen.in) / CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

Robo Shankar (24 December 1978 – 18 September 2025) was an Indian stand-up comedian and actor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema and television. He rose to prominence through the Star Vijay stand-up comedy show Kalakka Povathu Yaaru?, after which he became a familiar presence on the channel as a performer and presenter.

Key facts

Name Robo Shankar
Born 24 December 1978
Died 18 September 2025
Nationality Indian
Occupation Stand-up comedian, actor, television presenter, voice artist
Primary industry Tamil cinema and television
Breakthrough Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? (Star Vijay)

Background

Shankar built his early career in stand-up comedy, working in the Tamil-language entertainment circuit. His comedic style and stage presence on televised stand-up rounds brought him wider recognition and opened the path to acting and presenting roles.

Career

Television

Shankar's breakthrough came with Kalakka Povathu Yaaru?, the long-running stand-up comedy programme broadcast on Star Vijay. Following the show's success, he was cast regularly in a number of programmes on the channel and also took up hosting duties, presenting television shows for Star Vijay.

Films

He went on to act predominantly in Tamil films, building a career as a comic performer in supporting roles.

Voice work

Shankar provided the Tamil-language voice for the character Pumbaa in the official Tamil dubs of Disney's The Lion King (2019) and its prequel Mufasa (2024).

Timeline

  • 1978 – Born on 24 December.
  • Television breakthrough – Gained prominence performing stand-up on Star Vijay's Kalakka Povathu Yaaru?.
  • 2019 – Voiced Pumbaa in the Tamil dub of The Lion King.
  • 2024 – Reprised the Tamil voice of Pumbaa in Mufasa.
  • 2025 – Died on 18 September.

Significance

Robo Shankar was part of a generation of Tamil comedians who transitioned from televised stand-up competitions to mainstream cinema, illustrating the role played by Star Vijay's comedy programming in shaping the Tamil film industry's pool of comic actors. His dubbing work for major Disney releases also placed him among the recognisable Tamil voice artists associated with international animated films.

References