Sivaji Ganesan
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- Sivaji redirects here; For the Rajinikanth starrer see, Sivaji: The Boss
Sivaji Ganesan (October 1, 1927 - July 21, 2001) was a famous Indian actor and politician. His real name was Villupuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan .
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[edit] Family life
Ganesan was married to Kamala (known also as Kamalammal). His two sons, Ramkumar and Prabhu carry on their father's legacy in filmmaking and acting. His two daughters are Shanthi and Thenmozhi. It should be noted that his grand daughter is married to the adopted son of J.Jayalalitha
[edit] Awards
- Best Actor Award, Afro-Asian Film Festival, Cairo, Egypt 1960
- Padma Shri Title, 1966
- Padma Vibhushan Title, 1984
- Chevalier dans Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of Arts and Letters), 1994
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award, 1996
- Kalaimamani
[edit] Film career
At the age of 9, Ganeshan was so interested in stage plays that he ran away from home to pursue a career in theatre. His mother helped him get into a famous drama troupe.
Ganesan's first film was Paraasakthi in the year 1952 opposite noted actress Pandari Baiand script for Paraasakthi was written by Karunanidhi. He has acted in about 300 movies, including nine Telugu movies,one Kannada movie, two Malayalam movies and two Hindi movies.
The name 'Sivaji' was given to him by Periyar Ramasami after watching his excellent stage performance as Emperor Shivaji[citation needed]. He is also known as Nadigar Thilagam, Nadippu Chakravarthy (loosely translated "Acting Emperor") and the Marlon Brando of Asian cinema. He was a major actor of his period in South Indian cinema.
[edit] Political career
Until 1955, Ganesan was a staunch sympathiser of the D.M.K. party. In 1961, he become a strong supporter of Indian National Congress and particularly the veteran leader K Kamaraj. when the congress split in 1969 he remained loyal to K Kamaraj and the Congress (O). Only after the death of Kamaraj in 1975 , he switched his allegiance to Indira gandhi.In 1982, Indira Gandhi made him a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. After 1987, he left Congress and floated his own political party (Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani). He became the president of the Tamil Nadu faction of the Janata Dal in 1989. His political career, unlike his highly successful acting career, was rather unsuccessful.
[edit] Death
Suffering from respiratory problems, Ganesan was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in Madras on July 12, 2001. He also had been suffering from a prolonged heart ailment for about 10 years.
He died at Apollo Hospital at 7:45pm (IST) on July 21, 2001. He was 74.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- He was known for his acting qualities such as aptness in applying make-up, physical fitness, and variety in acting and delivery of dialogue.
- In 1962, Ganesan toured the U.S.A, where he was given the honour of being the mayor of Niagara City for one day. He along with the former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru were the only two Indians to be honoured this way.
- During a visit to the U.S.A in June 1995, Sivaji Ganesan found himself in Columbus, Ohio. Mayor Greg Lashutka named him honorary citizen of Columbus at a special dinner.
- The South Indian Film Artistes' Association President Vijaykanth declared that October 1, the birth day of Ganesan, would be observed as Actors' Day in Kollywood.
- Ganesan erected the statue of Kattabomman at Kayatharu
- Donated money and modelled for the erection of Shivaji Maharaj statue at Mumbai.
- Marlon Brando is supposed to have told Sivaji Ganesan that Ganesan can act like him (Brando) but he can never act like Sivaji Ganesan.
- Kamal Hassan is supposed to have told Sivaji Ganesan that Ganesan can act like him (Kamal) but he can never act like Sivaji Ganesan.
- Sometimes people used to critisice him that he over-acts but he always retorted by asking these people if they knew what was optimal acting!
- He was well known for his loud and overdrawn dialogues which went on for 3-5 minutes
- The only actor who was appreciated by the film audience even for the way he walked - the way he portrayed the characters with his style of walking!
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Fifties
- 1952 - Paraasakthi
- 1953 - Pempudu Koduku (Telugu)
- 1953 - Poongodhai
- 1953 - Pardesi (Telugu)
- 1953 - Anbu
- 1953 - Thirumbi Paar
- 1954 - Manohara
- 1954 - Edhirpaarthadhu
- 1954 - Andha Naal - first songless Tamil film
- 1954 - Thookku Thookki
- 1954 - Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
- 1954 - Koondukkili- Only movie starred with M. G. Ramachandran (MGR)
- 1955 - Mudhal Thedhi
- 1955 - Mangayar Thilagam
- 1955 - Kalvanin Kadhali
- 1956 - Thenali Raman
- 1956 - Rangoon Radha
- 1956 - Pennin Perumai
- 1956 - Amaratheebam
- 1957 - Vanangaamudi
- 1957 - Tala Vanchani Veerudu (Telugu)
- 1957 - Thangamalai Ragasiyam
- 1957 - Makkalai Petra Magarasi
- 1957 - Ambigaabathi (ALS)
- 1957 - Pudhaiyal
- 1957 - Baagyavathi
- 1958 - Sabaash Meena
- 1958 - Saarangathaara
- 1958 - Uthamaputhiran
- 1958 - Kaathavaraayan
- 1959 - Veerapandiya Kattabomman
- 1959 - Veerapandya Kattabrahmanna
[edit] Sixties
- 1960 - Pillalu Techina Challani Rajyam (Telugu)
- 1960 - Padikkadha Medhai
- 1960 - Paavai Vilakku
- 1960 - Irumbu Thirai
- 1960 - Dheiva Piravi
- 1961 - Paavamannippu
- 1961 - Paasamalar
- 1961 - Papa Pariharam (Telugu)
- 1961 - Paalum Pazhamum
- 1961 - Kappal Ottiya Thamizhan
- 1961 - Punar Jenmam
- 1962 - Pavithra Prema (Telugu)
- 1962 - Paarthaal Pasi Theerum
- 1962 - Bale Pandiya
- 1962 - Aalayamani
- 1962 - Nichaya Thaamboolam
- 1962 - Padithaal Mattum Podhuma
- 1962 - Vadivukku Valaikaappu
- 1962 - Paasam
- 1963 - Ratha Thilagam
- 1963 - Paar Magale Paar
- 1963 - Iruvar Ullam
- 1963 - Arivaali
- 1963 - Kulamagal Raadhai
- 1963 - Kungumam
- 1963 - Annai Illam
- 1964 - Karnan
- 1964 - Karna (Telugu)
- 1964 - Ramadasu (Telugu)
- 1964 - Navarathiri - announced as Sivaji's 100th film
- 1964 - Kai Kodutha Dheivam
- 1964 - Pachai Vilakku
- 1964 - Pudhiya Paravai
- 1965 - Thiruvilaiyadal
- 1965 - Santhi
- 1965 - Pazhani
- 1965 - Anbu Karangal
- 1966 - Motor Sundaram Pillai
- 1966 - Mahakavi Kalidas
- 1966 - Selvam
- 1967 - Thiruvarutchelvar
- 1967 - Thangai
- 1967 - Kandhan Karunai
- 1967 - Iru Malargal
- 1968 - Uyarndha Manidhan
- 1968 - Thillana Moganambal
- 1968 - Enga Oor Raja
- 1968 - Thirumaal Perumai
- 1968 - Galaatta Kalyanam
- 1968 - En Thambi
- 1969 - Kaaval Dheivam
- 1969 - Dheiva Magan
- 1969 - Sivandha Man
- 1969 - Thanga Surangam
- 1969 - Gurudhatchanai
[edit] Seventies
- 1970 - Vilaiyaattu Pillai
- 1970 - Vietnam Veedu
- 1970 - Engal Thangam
- 1970 - Enga Mama
- 1970 - Paadhugaappu
- 1971 - Savaale Samaali
- 1971 - Moondru Dheivangal
- 1971 - Sumadhi En Sundhari
- 1971 - Babu
- 1971 - Kulama Gunama
- 1971 - Thangaikkaga
- 1971 - Iru Thuruvam
- 1972 - Vasandha Maaligai
- 1972 - Gnana Oli
- 1972 - Bangaru Babu (Telugu)
- 1972 - Needhi
- 1973 - Gauravam
- 1973 - Bhakta Tukaram (Telugu)
- 1973 - Rajapart Rangadurai
- 1973 - Rajaraja Cholan
- 1973 - Baaradha Vilas
- 1974 - Thanga Padhakkam
- 1974 - Anbai Thedi
- 1974 - En Magan
- 1974 - Theerkka Sumangali
- 1975 - Anbe Aaruyire
- 1975 - Avan Thaan Manidhan
- 1976 - Chanakya Chandragupta (Telugu)
- 1976 - Uthaman
- 1976 - Unakkaga Naan
- 1976 - Sathiyam
- 1976 - Rojavin Raja
- 1976 - Grahapravesam
- 1977 - Annan Oru Koyil
- 1977 - Avan Oru Sarithiram
- 1977 - Theebam
- 1977 - Ilaya Thalaimurai
- 1977 - Naam Pirandha Man
- 1978 - Vaazhkai Alaigal
- 1978 - Ennai Pol Oruvan
- 1978 - General Chakravarthi
- 1978 - Justice Gopinath
- 1978 - Pilot Premnath
- 1978 - Punniya Boomi
- 1978 - Thyagam
- 1978 - Andhamaan Kadhali
- 1979 - Vetrikku Oruvan
- 1979 - Thirisoolam ssss
- 1979 - Pattaakathi Bairavan
- 1979 - Nalladhoru Kudumbam
- 1979 - Naan Vaazhavaippen
- 1979 - Kavari Maan
- 1979 - Imayam
[edit] Eighties
- 1980 - Rishi Moolam
- 1980 - Ratha Paasam
- 1980 - Visvaroobam
- 1980 - Emanukku Eman
- 1980 - Dharma Raja
- 1981 - Mogana Punnagai
- 1981 - Maadi Veettu Ezhai
- 1981 - Lorry Driver Rajakannu
- 1981 - Keezhvaanam Sivakkum
- 1981 - Kalthoon
- 1981 - Amarakaaviyam
- 1981 - Sathya Sundharam
- 1982 - Vasandhathil Oru Naal
- 1982 - Vaa Kanna Vaa
- 1982 - Thyagi
- 1982 - Thunai
- 1982 - Theerpu
- 1982 - Sangili
- 1982 - Paritchaikku Neramaachu
- 1982 - Oorum Uravum
- 1982 - Oorukku Oru Pillai
- 1982 - Nenjangal
- 1982 - Hitler Umanath
- 1982 - Garuda Saukiyama
- 1983 - Sumangali
- 1983 - Sandhippu
- 1983 - Unmaigal
- 1983 - Miruthanga Chakravarthi
- 1983 - Neethibathi
- 1983 - Vellai Roja
- 1983 - Kashmir Kadhali
- 1983 - Uruvangal Maaralam
- 1984 - Iru Medhaigal
- 1984 - Ezhudhaadha Sattangal
- 1984 - Vaazhkai
- 1984 - Vamsa Vilakku
- 1984 - Sarithira Nayagan
- 1984 - Siranjeevi
- 1984 - Tharaasu
- 1984 - Thiruppam
- 1984 - Simma Soppanam
- 1984 - Dhaavani Kanavugal
- 1985 - Bandham
- 1985 - Needhiyin Nizhal
- 1985 - Padikkadha Pannaiyar
- 1985 - Raja Rishi
- 1985 - Muthal Mariyathai
- 1985 - Naam Iruvar
- 1985 - Nermai
- 1985 - Padikkadhavan
- 1986 - Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
- 1986 - Saadhanai
- 1986 - Mannukkul Vairam
- 1986 - Lakshmi Vandhachu
- 1986 - Anandha Kanneer
- 1986 - Viduthalai
- 1986 - Marumagal
- 1987 - Raja Mariyadhai
- 1987 - Muthukkal Moondru
- 1987 - Kudumbam Oru Koyil
- 1987 - Krishnan Vandhaan
- 1987 - Thaambathiyam
- 1987 - Veerapandiyan
- 1987 - Jallikkattu
- 1987 - Anbulla Appa
- 1988 - En Thamizh En Makkal
- 1988 - Pudhiya Vaanam
[edit] Nineties
- 1990 - Kaavalukku Gettikkaaran
- 1991 - Gnana Paravai
- 1992 - Thevar Magan
- 1992 - Naangal
- 1992 - Mudhal Kural
- 1992 - Sinna Marumagal
- 1993 - Paarambariyam
- 1995 - Engirundho Vandhaan
- 1995 - Pasumpon
- 1997 - Once More
- 1997 - Gopura Theebam
- 1997 - Oru Yathra Mozhi (Malayalam)
- 1998 - En Aasai Rasave
- 1999 - Mannavaru Sinnavaru
- 1999 - Poo Parikka Varugirom
- 1999 - Padayappa
[edit] Statue
A statue was erected in Chennai, TamilNadu to honour this legendary actor in 2006. It was unveiled by the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who was Sivaji Ganesan's best friend for more than half-a-century.
