Chennai: Veteran artist and social activist Veera Santhanam whose paintings balanced the trends in changing generations and who vociferously raised his voice against atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils, died here on Thursday night.
Santhanam, a renowned painter whose works had been exhibited across the country at many popular galleries since 1982, was 71. He had been unwell for the last few years and has been on and off in hospitals, sources said.
Apart from paintings, Santhanam also tried his luck in the silver screen by donning character roles in films like Vijay-starrer Kathi. The late actor will be best remembered for his activism and had raised his voice for Tamils on several issues.
He had also participated in several protests against atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils during the height of the civil war in 2009. Santhanam shot into the limelight after he began lending his voice for the oppressed.
