[3] Sivabalan hails from a village Nathan Kinaru in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.

Sivabalan was working as a cleaner in hotels, when he was spotted by film personalities and received acting offers from them.

In an interview in 2011, Sivabalan stated that he always wanted to be a comedian and that he had appeared in several minor roles for over 17 years,[4][5] before gaining recognition in Suseenthiran's Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu.

[4] Suseenthiran went on to cast him in the lead role in his comedy drama film Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai (2011).

He also played an important character in Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022) directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon.