Chandrababu was very passionate about acting despite opposition from his family members. His friend Ganapathy was the only person who motivated his acting skills. From his childhood, he was an expert in singing and whenever he got together with his friends or family, Chandrababu was asked to sing. Sri Lanka had a very western outlook in those times and Chandrabubu picked up on western styles of singing and dancing while there. In these early years Chandrababu made acquaintances of the actors
Sriram,
B. R. Panthulu and, through them,
T. R. Mahalingam. He made his debut with a small role in the 1947 film
Dhana Amaravathi but struggled thereafter to obtain parts. He had spent many days starving himself and searching for a chance in films. In 1952, he attempted suicide by ingesting
copper sulphate crystals in the canteen of
Gemini Studios. He had written a suicide note explaining his reasons, which included that he had been unable to meet the director
S. S. Vasan, and that his body was to be handed over to
B. S. Ramaiah, the director of his only film at that date. Suicide was a criminal offence and so he was arrested. But when his case came to trial the judge asked him to prove his acting ability. Chandrababu rendered a
Shakespearean monologue that so impressed the judge that he was not jailed. One of those who had assisted him in being taken to hospital at the time of his attempted suicide was
Gemini Ganesan. When Vasan learned of this episode he gave Chandrababu a small role in the 1952 film
Moondru Pillaigal, which impressed Vasan so much that he predicted a successful career. for him. Chandrababu also filmed
Chinna Durai and
Mohana Sundaram in the same year. It is claimed that, as of 2016, he remained the only person capable of yodelling in south Indian cinema,. Chandrababu loved western music and learned the art of yodelling by listening to singers such as
Gene Autry and
Hank Williams. In
Chinna Durai, produced and directed by
T. R. Mahalingam, he sang the song
Poda Raja Podi Nadaya, the first time that
yodelling had been heard in a South Indian film.Chandrababu was paid Rs 200 for his role in
Mohana Sundaram. At his peak he was to command over Rs 100,000, becoming the first South Indian comedy actor to command such a sum. When
A. V. Meiyappan filmed
Sahodhari, he found that it lacked an ingredient that would ensure box office success. Chandrababu was called and after watching the film he added a comedy track for himself, wrote it and also sang the song
Naan oru muttalunga, converting the film into a hit. It was Chandrababu who first spoke and popularised the Madras Baashai in films. He learned this dialect from the rickshaw pullers and street vendors near his home in Triplicane and later in
Mir Sahib Pet.
Sabaash Meena was one of the best Tamil comedy movies of its time, in which Chandrababu acted with
Sivaji Ganesan, in dual roles. Chandrababu also established himself as a good singer. He was a playback singer rendering voice for himself in films. He lent his voice for
S. Balachander for the song
Kalyanam Kalyanam... Ullasamagave Ulagathil in
Penn and for
Sivaji Ganesan for the song
Jolly Life Jolly Life in
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari. Another song for comedian T.N. Sivadhanu is
I Love You I Love You in
Andhaman Kaidhi. ==Marriage==