V. M. Ezhumalai was an Indian actor and comedian who featured in Tamil language films. He was active in the field from 1937 till 1962. He had a style of his own making viewers to laugh by his body language and voice. Ezhumalai, emphasized his unique style in a comedy duet Kooja kooja kooja for which he lip-synched with another comedian, A. Karunanidhi, in the 1954 movie Mangalyam. From this song, the word 'kooja'(literally, a bucket carrying drinking water) became a derisive euphemism for servile, spineless bucket carriers to power holders.
Ezhumalai started his career on stage and then switched to films. During the early days he was employed on a monthly salary at Modern Theatres, Salem along with other comedians like Kali N. Rathnam and A. Karunanidhi.