Sivaji Ganesan

விழுப்புரம் சின்னையாபிள்ளை கணேசன் மன்றாயர்(சிவாஜி கணேசன்)

Born on: October 1, 1927

Born in: Viluppuram, Tamil Nadu

Screen Name : Nadigar Thilagam

Died on: July 21, 2001(Aged 73)

Spouse: Kamala Ganesan

Career: Actor

Nationality: Indian 

Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar popularly known as Sivaji Ganesan (Tamil: சிவாஜி கணேசன்) (October 1, 1927 - July 21, 2001), was a popular Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century.He was regarded as one of the most respected film actors in India.He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with numerous roles depicted on screen.

Sivaji Ganesan was the first South Indian film actor to win a best actor award in an international film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo, Egypt in 1959. Many leading South Indian film actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Sivaji. He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Early life

Born to a middle class family in Villupuram, Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan was a just another kid of India. Ganesan's father - Chinnaiahpillai, worked in the South Indian Railway, while his mother - Rajamani Ammal,was a homemaker. He had one sister and two brothers - one elder and the other younger. The day Ganesan was born, his family got good as well as bad news. While everyone celebrated the arrival of a new family member, they also mourned his father's arrest over anti-British activities. Chinnaiahpillai also underwent a term of imprisonment later on. A dropout from school, Sivaji Ganesan was a born artist. He explored the stage right from the tender years of childhood, taking part in theatre and plays. Eventually, he joined a drama troupe and spent his growing years on-stage.  

 Personal Life

• Ganesan tied the nuptial knot with Kamala, on the first of May, in the year 1952. The couple had four children - two daughters - Shanthi Ganesan and Rajvi Ganesan and two sons - Ramkumar Ganesan and Prabhu Ganesan. 

• While Prabhu Ganesan shared the screen space with his father and went on to become a popular actor and producer. 

• Ramkumar Ganesan is also one of the successful film producers in the South Indian Film Industry.

Honours

• Shivaji Ganesan was awarded with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, which rank amongst the highest honors awarded to an Indian national.
• In 1995, the celebrated actor added another feather to his achievements.
• He was honored with the 'Chevalier' title, by the National Order of the Legion of Honour in France.
• Amongst the likes of such highly credible honors, the actor also has to his credit a statue, which was erected in Chennai. 
• Unveiled in 2006, by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the statue was primarily built to honor the legendary actor. 
• His birthday is observed as ‘Actors' Day’ in Kollywood. The day was so named by the former South Indian Film Artistes' Association President - Vijayakanth.

 

Awards

• 1959: Afro-Asian Film Festival Best Actor Award
• 1995: Chevalier (Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France) 

National level

• 1966: Padma Shri
• 1984: Padma Bhushan
• 1993: National Film Award - Special Jury Award for Thevar Magan
• 1996: Dadasaheb Phalke Award

State awards

• 1997: Kalaimamani
• 1998: NTR National Award, 1998 from Andhra Pradesh
• 1998: Honorary doctorate 

 Acting career

 Apart from acting in Tamil cinema, he has also acted in Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam films. Ganesan's first film was the Tamil film Parasakthi in 1952, co-starring actress Pandari Bai .The script for the film was written by the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi.

Donning versatile roles

In his career spanning 5 decades, Sivaji Ganesan has donned many characters. The portrayal of Lord shiva in the movie Thiruvilayaadal won him lot of accolades.In the film Navarathiri (1964), Ganesan played nine different roles that represented the nine emotional states of a person. Hindi actor, Sanjeev Kumar, was inspired by this film and reprised the nine roles in Naya Din Nayi Raat in 1974. Ganesan could strike a balance between commercial cinema, Mythological cinema and experimental cinema. He experimented in films like Thiruvilayaadal, Thiruvarutselvar, Thirumal Perumai, Karnan, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Thillana MohanaambalRaja Rishi. His role in the film Veerapaandiya Kattabomman won him the Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in March 1960 at Cairo.Sivaji Ganesan was the first Indian actor to get an award for Best Actor abroad.His roles included V.O.C., Vanchinathan, Thiruppur Kumaran, Bhagat Singh (freedom fighters), Karnan, Bharathan (epic characters), Naradhar, Appar, Aazhvar (puranic characters), lepor, doctor, judge, advocate and rickshaw puller. He also played supporting role to Rajendra Kumar in the Hindi film Dharti in 1970 which was a remake of Sivanddamann (which starred Sivaji in the lead) and Sivaji played the role which Muthuraman had essayed in the original. Rajendra Kumar played the role which Sivaji did in the Tamil film Sivanndamann (1969).

In his career, which expanded to more than four decades, the gifted actor showed his brilliance through various roles. Not only did he excel in commercial cinema, but also brought experimental cinema in a new limelight. A versatile actor, he played v multiple roles, commercial roles as well as roles of Hindu deities. The name ‘Emperor Shivaji’ was one that he adopted from the role he had once enacted.

Apart from acting in Tamil movies, Shivaji Ganesan also proved his artistic ingenious in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and Kannada movies. His film ‘Veerapaandiya Kattabomman’ brought him international fame. The film was highly acclaimed and appreciated in the Afro-Asian Film Festival held at Egypt. With this, Ganesan became the first South Indian actor to receive such an accolade. Shivaji Ganesan ruled over Kollywood (Tamil Film Industry) for multiple decades. While he played the protagonist in his early career, the end days saw him donning senior roles, like those of a father or cop.

The 1990s saw Shivaji Ganesan being paired up with several notable actors of the present generation. Ganesan shared screen space with M.G. Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Prabhu Ganesan, Sathyaraj, Vijayakanth, Y. G. Mahendran, Sivakumar, K. Bhagyaraj, Karthik Muthuraman, Arjun Sarja, Joseph Vijay and Abbas. ‘Padayappa’, a blockbuster released in the 1999, was his last film before his death.

Appealing to the masses

He co-starred with his counterpart, M. G. Ramachandran in one film, which was Koondukkili. He has worked with many actresses, including Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Pandaribai, Savithri, Padmini, Devika, B. Sarojadevi, K. R. Vijaya, Vanisri and J. Jayalalitha. He also co-starred with other lead actors such as Gemini Ganesan, Muthuraman, M. R. Radha and Jaishankar.

Though he accumulated awards throughout the 1950s and '60s, it was in 1972 that Ganesan delivered his first all-time blockbuster Vasantha Maaligai. In 1979, he delivered his second and final all-time blockbuster Thirisoolam, adapted from the Kannada film Shankar Guru in which Dr. Rajkumar had played the lead role. After this, Sivaji Ganesan began acting in supporting roles. Due to his popularity and his rival MGR's success in politics Shivaji entered politics and had to face big setback as he lost consecutive elections. But due to his proximity with the then prime minister Indira Gandhi he was made the member of rajya sabha in 1983. Indira Gandhi's death in 1984 also brought Sivaji's political career to an end.

Politics

• Ganesan was a strong believer in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

• It was only in 1955, after his visit to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, that he was expelled from the party, as visiting the temple was not permitted by the rationalistic DMK.

• In 1961, he became a supporter of the Indian National Congress and particularly the then-leader K. Kamaraj. 

• The death of Kamaraj brought a change in his position and he became a supporter of Indira Gandhi.

• Ganesan became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha in 1982. It was in 1987 that he formed his own political party - Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani (TMM). 
• His party was known to be pro-LTTE, at the time when Rajiv Gandhi had withdrawn the Indian Peacekeeping Force from Sri Lanka. 
• Ganesan merged his party with the Tamil Nadu faction of the Janata Dal in 1989.

Death

  Suffering from respiratory problems, Ganesan was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Chennai on July 21, 2001. He also had been suffering from a prolonged heart ailment for about 10 years.He died at 7:45pm (IST) on July 21, 2001 at the age of 73. A documentary, Parasakthi Muthal Padayappa Varai was made to commemorate Sivaji Ganesan's legacy. His funeral was attended by thousands of viewers, politicians and personalities from the South Indian film fraternity

Popularity

Sivaji Ganesan has remained as one of the popular Tamil actors with numerous fans. This was also evident in a survey conducted by Kumudam magazine, in 1990, where Sivaji Ganesan was voted as the most popular actor with (35%) votes.

Legacy

When His Excellency the Late President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt visited India, Sivaji Ganesan was the only individual person, granted permission by Shri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, to host a party to the visiting V.V.I.P The spectacularly arranged function at Madras , was attended by all dignitaries of various walks of life. President Nasser was given a number of valuable Mementos depicting the civilization and culture of this part of India.Sivaji Ganesan was the first artist from India to visit the United States of America , in the Cultural Exchange programme of the US Government, in 1962, where he established a good impression as Indian Cultural Ambassador. During his visit there, he was honored by being made the 'Honorary Mayor' of Niagara Falls City for one day and was presented the Golden Key to the city. The only other Indian who has had this honour before Ganesan was India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.On March 12, 1976 he went over to Mauritius on an invitation from the Prime Minister Shri Ramagoolam and took part in their Independence Day Celebration and stayed as their Government guest for four days.

During his visit to the USA in June 1995, he visited Columbus city, the capital of the Ohio Greg Lashutka, honored him by announcing him as a 'Honorary Citizen' of Columbus City . On the same occasion the Mayor of Mount Vernon, another city in the USA , read out and gave him a Special Welcome Citation. The 'Columbus Tamil Sangam' was formulated on that day, and Dr.Sivaji Ganesan was made the Honorary President of that association. State . Participating in the dinner hosted to honor Dr.Sivaji Ganesan, the Mayor of the city.

 Filmography

1999 - Poo Parikka Varugirom ( Tamil )

1999 - Padayappa ( Tamil )

1999 - Narasimha ( Telugu )

1999 - Mannavaru Sinnavaru ( Tamil )

1998 - En Aasai Rasave ( Tamil )

1997 - Oru Yaatra Mozhi ( Malayalam )

1997 - Gopura Deepam ( Tamil )

1997 - Once More ( Tamil )
1994 - Pasoomponn ( Tamil )
1994 - Vietnam Colony ( Tamil )
1993 - Paarambariyam ( Tamil )
1992 - Mudhal Kural ( Tamil )
1992 - Thevar Magan ( Tamil )
1992 - Kshatriya Putrudu ( Telugu )
1992 - Chinna Marumagal ( Tamil )
1992 - Naangal ( Tamil )
1991 - Gnana Paravai ( Tamil )
1990 - Kavalukku Kettikaran ( Tamil )
1990 - Kaavalukku Gettikkaaran ( Tamil )
1988 - Pudhiya Vaanam ( Tamil )
1988 - En Thamizh En Makkal ( Tamil )
1987 - Krishnan Vandhaan ( Tamil )
1987 - Muthukkal Moondru ( Tamil )
1987 - Anbulla Appa ( Tamil )
1987 - Veerapandiyan ( Tamil )
1987 - Kudumbam Oru Koyil ( Tamil )
1987 - Raja Mariyadhai ( Tamil )
1987 - Jallikkattu ( Tamil )
1986 - Marumagal ( Tamil )
1986 - Lakshmi Vandhachu ( Tamil )
1986 - Saadhanai ( Tamil )
1986 - Viduthalai ( Tamil )
1986 - Anandha Kanneer ( Tamil )
1986 - Mannukkul Vairam ( Tamil )
1986 - Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu ( Tamil )
1985 - Needhiyin Nizhal ( Tamil )
1985 - Padikkadavan ( Tamil )
1985 - Nermai ( Tamil )
1985 - Mudhal Mariyathai ( Tamil )
1985 - Padikkadha Pannaiyar ( Tamil )
1985 - Bandham ( Tamil )
1985 - Naam Iruvar ( Tamil )
1985 - Raja Rishi ( Tamil )
1984 - Dhaavani Kanavugal ( Tamil )
1984 - Thiruppam ( Tamil )
1984 - Chiranjeevi ( Tamil )
1984 - Vamsa Vilakku ( Tamil )
1984 - Ezhudhaadha Sattangal ( Tamil )
1984 - Simma Soppanam ( Tamil )
1984 - Tharaasu ( Tamil )
1984 - Sarithira Nayagan ( Tamil )
1984 - Vaazhkai ( Tamil )
1984 - Iru Medhaigal ( Tamil )
1983 - Sumangali ( Tamil )
1983 - Kashmir Kadhali ( Tamil )
1983 - Neethibathi ( Tamil )
1983 - Sandhippu ( Tamil )
1983 - Uruvangal Maralam ( Tamil )
1983 - Vellai Roja ( Tamil )
1983 - Miruthanga Chakravarthi ( Tamil )
1982 - Hitler Umanath ( Tamil )
1982 - Oorukku Oru Pillai ( Tamil )
1982 - Paritchaikku Neramaachu ( Tamil )
1982 - Theerpu ( Tamil )
1982 - Thyagi ( Tamil )
1982 - Vasandhathil Oru Naal ( Tamil )
1982 - Garuda Saukiyama ( Tamil )
1982 - Nenjangal ( Tamil )
1982 - Oorum Uravum ( Tamil )
1982 - Sangili ( Tamil )
1982 - Thunai ( Tamil )
1982 - Vaa Kanna Vaa ( Tamil )
1981 - Kalthoon ( Tamil )
1981 - Madi Veetu Ezhai ( Tamil )
1981 - Amarakaaviyam ( Tamil )
1981 - Lorry Driver Rajakannu ( Tamil )
1981 - Mogana Punnagai ( Tamil )
1981 - Sathya Sundharam ( Tamil )
1980 - Dharma Raja ( Tamil )
1980 - Vishwaroobam ( Tamil )
1980 - Ratha Paasam ( Tamil )
1980 - Yamanukku Yaman ( Tamil )
1980 - Rishi Moolam ( Tamil )
1979 - Thirisoolam ( Tamil )
1979 - Imayam ( Tamil )
1979 - Nalladhoru Kudumbam ( Tamil )
1979 - Vetrikku Oruvan ( Tamil )
1979 - Naan Vazhavaippen ( Tamil )
1979 - Kavari Maan ( Tamil )
1979 - Pattaakathi Bairavan ( Tamil )
1978 - Punniya Boomi ( Tamil )
1978 - General Chakravarthi ( Tamil )
1978 - Vaazhkai Alaigal ( Tamil )
1978 - Justice Gopinath ( Tamil )
1978 - Thyagam ( Tamil )
1978 - Pilot Premnath ( Tamil )
1978 - Ennai Pol Oruvan ( Tamil )
1978 - Andhamaan Kadhali ( Tamil )
1977 - Ilaya Thalaimurai ( Tamil )
1977 - Avan Oru Sarithiram ( Tamil )
1977 - Naam Pirandha Mann ( Tamil )
1977 - Deepam ( Tamil )
1977 - Annan Oru Koyil ( Tamil )
1976 - Unakkaga Naan ( Tamil )
1976 - Grahapravesam ( Tamil )
1976 - Sathyam (1976) ( Tamil )
1976 - Rojavin Raja ( Tamil )
1976 - Uthaman (1976) ( Tamil )
1975 - Anbe Aaruyire (1975) ( Tamil )
1975 - Avan Thaan Manidhan ( Tamil )
1974 - En Magan ( Tamil )
1974 - Thanga Padhakkam ( Tamil )
1973 - Anbai Thedi ( Tamil )
1973 - Bharatha Vilas ( Tamil )
1973 - Rajapart Rangadurai ( Tamil )
1973 - Rajaraja Cholan ( Tamil )
1972 - Pattikkada Pattanama ( Tamil )
1972 - Gnana Oli ( Tamil )
1972 - Gowravam ( Tamil )
1972 - Needhi ( Tamil )
1972 - Vasantha Maligai ( Tamil )
1971 - Moondru Dheivangal ( Tamil )
1971 - Iru Thuruvam ( Tamil )
1971 - Kulama Gunama ( Tamil )
1971 - Sumadhi En Sundhari ( Tamil )
1971 - Savale Samali ( Tamil )
1971 - Thangaikkaaga ( Tamil )
1971 - Babu ( Tamil )
1970 - Pathukappu ( Tamil )
1970 - Vietnam Veedu ( Tamil )
1970 - Enga Mama ( Tamil )
1970 - Vilaiyaattu Pillai ( Tamil )
1970 - Sorgam ( Tamil )
1969 - Gurudhatchanai ( Tamil )
1969 - Sivandha Mann ( Tamil )
1969 - Kaaval Dheivam ( Tamil )
1969 - Thanga Surangam ( Tamil )
1969 - Dheiva Magan ( Tamil )
1968 - Thillana Mohanambal ( Tamil )
1968 - Galatta Kalyanam ( Tamil )
1968 - Enga Oor Raja ( Tamil )
1968 - En Thambi ( Tamil )
1968 - Thirumaal Perumai ( Tamil )
1967 - Iru Malargal ( Tamil )
1967 - Thiruvarutchelvar ( Tamil )
1967 - Uyarndha Manidhan ( Tamil )
1967 - Kandhan Karunai ( Tamil )
1967 - Thangai ( Tamil )
1967 - Ooty Varai Uravu ( Tamil )
1966 - Saraswathi Sabatham ( Tamil )
1966 - Motor Sundaram Pillai ( Tamil )
1966 - Selvam ( Tamil )
1966 - Mahakavi Kalidas ( Tamil )
1965 - Pazhani (1965) ( Tamil )
1965 - Thiruvilayadal ( Tamil )
1965 - Anbu Karangal ( Tamil )
1965 - Shanthi (1965) ( Tamil )
1964 - Kai Kodutha Deivam ( Tamil )
1964 - Karnan ( Tamil )
1964 - Pachai Vilakku ( Tamil )
1964 - Navarathiri ( Tamil )
1964 - Pudhiya Paravai ( Tamil )
1963 - Kungumam ( Tamil )
1963 - Arivaali ( Tamil )
1963 - Paar Magale Paar ( Tamil )
1963 - Annai Illam ( Tamil )
1963 - Kulamagal Raadhai ( Tamil )
1963 - Iruvar Ullam ( Tamil )
1963 - Ratha Thilagam ( Tamil )
1962 - Bale Pandiya (1962) ( Tamil )
1962 - Bandhapaasam ( Tamil )
1962 - Padithaal Mattum Podhuma ( Tamil )
1962 - Aalayamani ( Tamil )
1962 - Parthal Pasi Theerum ( Tamil )
1962 - Vadivukku Valaikaappu ( Tamil )
1961 - Punar Jenmam ( Tamil )
1961 - Paalum Pazhamum ( Tamil )
1961 - Kappal Ottiya Thamizhan ( Tamil )
1961 - Paasamalar ( Tamil )
1961 - Nitchaya Thamboolam ( Tamil )
1960 - Paavamannippu ( Tamil )
1960 - Irumbu Thirai ( Tamil )
1960 - Padikkadha Medhai ( Tamil )
1960 - Deiva Piravi ( Tamil )
1960 - Paavai Vilakku ( Tamil )
1958 - Thangapadumai ( Tamil )
1958 - Uthamaputhiran ( Tamil )
1958 - Veerapandiya Kattabomman ( Tamil )
1958 - Kathavarayan (1958) ( Tamil )
1958 - Sabaash Meena ( Tamil )
1957 - Pudhaiyal ( Tamil )
1957 - Thangamalai Ragasiyam ( Tamil )
1957 - Baagyavathi ( Tamil )
1957 - Ambikapathy ( Tamil )
1957 - Makkalai Petra Magarasi ( Tamil )
1956 - Amara Deepam ( Tamil )
1956 - Rangoon Radha ( Tamil )
1956 - Vanangaamudi ( Tamil )
1956 - Pennin Perumai ( Tamil )
1956 - Tenali Raman ( Tamil )
1955 - Kalvanin Kadhali (1955) ( Tamil )
1955 - Mudhal Thedhi ( Tamil )
1955 - Mangayar Thilagam ( Tamil )
1954 - Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari ( Tamil )
1954 - Manohara ( Tamil )
1954 - Koondukkili ( Tamil )
1954 - Andha Naal ( Tamil )
1953 - Thirumbi Paar ( Tamil )
1953 - Poongothai ( Tamil )
1953 - Anbu (1953) ( Tamil )
1952 - Paraasakthi ( Tamil )