•Tamil actor Vivek launched the Green Kalam initiative in 2010 after receiving a challenge from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to plant 1 crore trees.
•He initially planted 13 lakh saplings within a year, including a major drive in Cuddalore affected by Cyclone Thane in 2011, with Dr. Kalam in attendance.
•After the death of his son Prasanna in 2016, Vivek established the Sai Prasanna Foundation to expand environmental and public health campaigns.
•Vivek planted an estimated 50 lakh saplings through various initiatives and inspired ongoing plantation drives led by friends and fellow actors.
•The Green Kalam mission continues today, with organizations across Tamil Nadu conducting memorial sapling drives in his honor.
•Born as Vivekanandan, he began as a stand-up comedian before becoming a leading actor in films like *Sivaji* and *Bigil*.
•His life embodied Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy of dedicating one’s life to a single transformative idea.
Tamil cinema’s beloved comedian and actor Vivek, whose films like *Sivaji* and *Bigil* remain etched in the memories of millions, left behind a living legacy that extends far beyond the silver screen. On April 27, 2021, the actor passed away at the age of 54 due to a massive cardiac arrest, bringing a premature end to a life dedicated not only to laughter but to a greener, more sustainable future. His journey toward environmental activism began in 2010 when India’s former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, presented him with a challenge that would redefine the actor’s purpose: plant 1 crore (10 million) trees across Tamil Nadu.
The genesis of this mission lay in Kalam’s admiration for Vivek’s socially conscious humor. Speaking to *The Times of India* after Vivek’s death, his close friend K. Abdul Ghani recalled a pivotal meeting where Kalam praised the actor’s comedic work for its relevance to society. “He told actor Vivek about watching his comedies, which were socially relevant,” Ghani recounted. “He then asked why he didn’t consider taking up a social initiative like planting trees.” That conversation planted a seed of its own—one that would grow into the Green Kalam initiative.
Vivek accepted the challenge wholeheartedly. To motivate himself further, he set an intermediate goal: plant 10 lakh (1 million) trees so that Kalam would attend one of his plantation drives. True to his word, Vivek surpassed this target within a year. Between 2010 and 2011, he planted an astonishing 13 lakh saplings through the Green Kalam initiative. This rapid progress culminated in a landmark event held in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, a district devastated by Cyclone Thane in 2011, which uprooted countless trees. The plantation drive, held in 2011, drew the personal presence and blessings of Dr. Kalam himself. “They chose Cuddalore because a lot of trees were uprooted following Cyclone Thane,” Ghani explained.
At the event, Dr. Kalam raised the stakes even higher. He urged Vivek to scale up the mission to one crore trees. Addressing the media, Vivek said, “It has been a year since I started the Green Kalam initiative. When Abdul Kalam shared the idea of visiting schools and colleges and planting saplings, I took it a little too seriously. So far, I have planted 13 lakh saplings. My appeal is that trees are very important. We can combat global warming through them. It is important to plant more trees.” His words reflected a deep personal commitment—one that would only intensify after a profound personal loss.
In 2016, Vivek faced another tragedy when his son Prasanna passed away at the age of 13 due to brain fever. In honor of his son, he later established the Sai Prasanna Foundation. Through this foundation, Vivek expanded the Green Kalam initiative, traveling extensively across Tamil Nadu to raise awareness about environmental conservation, climate change, and the critical role of tree plantation. He engaged with students and youth, turning environmental education into a movement. His work also extended to public health, including campaigns against dengue, demonstrating a holistic approach to social welfare.
V. Ponraj, former scientific advisor to Dr. Kalam, reflected on Vivek’s dedication. “Dr. Kalam had casually asked him to campaign against global warming through his movies,” Ponraj told *The Hindu*. “I was also part of the inauguration of the Green Kalam project. Vivek would have planted about 50 lakh saplings through various initiatives. He truly lived up to Swami Vivekananda’s words: ‘Make that one idea your life—think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.’” Born Vivekanandan in Perunkottur village in Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu, Vivek began his career as a stand-up comedian at the Madras Humour Club. His talent caught the eye of legendary filmmaker K. Balachander, who offered him his first break in cinema.
Though Vivek is no longer with us, his environmental mission continues to thrive. His close friend, manager, and fellow actor Cell Murugan now leads plantation drives under the Green Kalam banner. Other actors, including Vaibhav Reddy and Aathmika, actively participate in memorial sapling drives. Schools, colleges, and non-profit organizations across Tamil Nadu regularly organize large-scale plantation campaigns in his honor. These efforts have collectively ensured that the seeds of his vision continue to sprout even after his final curtain call.
From a comedian who made millions laugh to an environmental crusader who inspired millions to plant trees, Vivek’s journey remains a powerful reminder that purpose can transcend fame. His life and legacy challenge each of us to reflect: what idea will we choose to live by?
