Sivaji Ganesan
Encyclopedia
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name
Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is 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. He progressed from a stage actor since his childhood to the filmdom with such an authority that the Tamil cinema
considered as the golden era. In a career spanning close to five decades he has acted in nearly 300 films in Tamil
, Telugu
, Kannada
, Malayalam
and Hindi.
Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award in an International film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo
, Egypt in 1960. Many leading South Indian film actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Ganesan. He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
.
Ganesan is remembered as the iconic figure of Tamil cinema. He is referred to as "The Marlon Brando
of Indian Cinema". From Parasakthi
onwards, he has won the President's Award for more than 12 times. During end of his career, Ganesan was conferred the highest and the most prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award
for his contribution to Indian cinema in 1997. In spite of his celebrated film career, his short stint in politics became a futile attempt.
. His father was arrested on the day Ganesan was born for taking part in an anti-British campaign in Viluppuram.
Ganesan's inspiration for acting was inborn; when he got a chance to act on stage for a touring drama company he took it without his father's consent at the age of seven. At the age of 10, he moved to Tiruchirappalli and joined a drama troupe in Sangiliyandapuram
and began to perform in stage plays. From the drama troupe trainers he was very lucky enough to learn acting and dancing skills. He was trained in Bharatanatyam
, Kathak
and Manipuri
.
Ganesan was an intellectual boy who could remember lengthy lines easily and could present them to the audience brilliantly with perfection. This made him hero of the troupe in the long run. His outstanding portrayal of the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the stage play Shivaji Kanda Hindu Rajyam earned him the title "Sivaji" which was conferred on him at a public function presided over by E. V. Ramasamy, a social reformer. Since then, he was referred by the name "Sivaji".
, whose acting was not matched by their dialogue delivery in Tamil. (In fact, Sivaji Ganesan lent his voice to Mukkamala Krishna Murthy
, a Telugu actor, for a Tamil film, Niraparathi. The film was well-received by the Tamil audience.) Secondly, the 1950s saw the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of C. N. Annadurai
and M. Karunanidhi
. Their transformation of language skills to films through script writing, ensured their instant acceptance. Gansesan's entry in to films at this stage of popularity was easy and inevitable, and he could establish himself in a better position.
Ganesan made his acting debut in the 1952 Tamil
film Parasakthi
, co-starring actress Pandari Bai
. The script was written by the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi
. Since actors who are well-trained in classical dance can effectively showcase expressions called Nava Rasa
on their faces, Ganesan went on to become one of the popular actors in Tamil cinema in the 1950s. His unique voice had a greater appeal. His style of dialogue delivery with a long spell of dialogues — like a poetry recitation with much clarity — earned him critical recognition.
Andha Naal (1954) was a trendsetter in Tamil cinema because had no songs and Ganesan played an anti-hero. The film won the president's silver medal the following year. The same year he co-starred with his rival M. G. Ramachandran
in Koondukkili
where he played the antagonist.
. Incidentally, Ganesan was also the first Indian actor to get an award for Best Actor abroad. He has worked with many actresses, including Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Pandaribai, Vyjayanthimala
, Savithri, Padmini
, Devika
, B. Sarojadevi, K. R. Vijaya
, Vanisri
and J. Jayalalitha of his time. He also co-starred with other actors such as Gemini Ganesan
, S.S.Rajendran, Muthuraman
, M. R. Radha and S. V. Ranga Rao
in numerous films in which he played the main lead.
won him lot of accolades. In the film Navarathiri (1964), Ganesan played nine different roles that represented the nine emotional states of a person. Sanjeev Kumar and Akkineni Nageswara Rao
were inspired by this film and reprised the nine roles in Naya Din Nayi Raat in 1974 and Navarathri in 1966 respectively. Ganesan could strike a balance between commercial cinema, Mythological cinema and experimental cinema. His epical portrayals in films like Thiruvilayaadal, Thiruvarutselvar, Saraswati Sabatham, Harichandran, Thirumal Perumai, Karnan and Thillana Mohanaambal won him critical acclaim. He played a variety of roles such as freedom fighters like Kappalottiya Thamizhan, Vanchinathan, Tiruppur Kumaran
, Bhagat Singh and epic characters like Harichandra
, Karna
, Bharatha, Narada
, Appar, Nayanmars and Alwars. Spanning genres like epics to Crime thrillers; from romantic escapades to comic flicks and action flicks, Ganesan has spanned it all.
in the Hindi film Dharti in 1970 which was a remake of his film Sivandha Mann, in which he played the lead role. In the Hindi version, Ganesan played the role which Muthuraman
had essayed in the original. Several directors like Krishnan-Panju, T. R. Sundaram, A. P. Nagarajan
, L. V. Prasad
, B. R. Panthulu
, T. Prakash Rao, A. Bhim Singh, K. Shankar, A. C. Tirulokchandar
, C. V. Sridhar
, P. Madhavan
, K. S. Gopalakrishnan
and K. Vijayan
directed Ganesan in different roles.
Though he accumulated awards throughout the 1950s and 1960s, it was in 1972 that Ganesan delivered his first blockbuster Vasantha Maligai
. Other films like Gauravam, Raja Raja Chozhan, Thri Soolam, Thankappathakkam and Sathyam
, released during this period were highly successful. Many of his films were inspired and remade in Sinhalese. Films like Pilot Premnath and Mohana Punnagai were shot in Sri Lanka
with Srilankan actors such as Malini Fonseka
and Geetha Kumarasinghe
playing the female lead. In 1979, he appeared in his second and final all-time blockbuster Thirisoolam, adapted from the Kannada
film Shankar Guru in which Dr. Rajkumar had played the lead role.
(1985) won him a Filmfare Award and Tamil Nadu State film Award under Best Actor category. In 1992 he acted in with Kamal Haasan
in the critically acclaimed Thevar Magan
which won him a Special Mention Award
at the 40th National Film Awards
. His other films released during this period are Pasumpon, En Aasai Raasaave and Once More
where he was cast in prominent roles. His worked in Poopparikka Varugirom which released as his last film before his death, however the last film he worked in before his death was Padayappa
(1999).
. In 1961, he become a strong supporter of the Indian National Congress
. Due to his popularity and his rival MGR's success in politics Ganesan 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 Ganesan's political career to an end. 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. Unlike his successful acting career, his political career was rather unsuccessful.
is a notable Tamil actor. Ganesan established a film production company in the late 1950s, (now called as) Sivaji Productions
, which is now being looked after by his eldest son Ramkumar
.. He has two daughters Shanthi and Thenmozhi.
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 72. 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.
of Egypt
visited India, Sivaji Ganesan was the only individual, granted permission by the Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru
, to host a party for Nasser. Nasser was given a number of valuable mementos depicting the civilization and culture of South 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 Jawaharlal Nehru. On March 12, 1976 he went over to Mauritius
on an invitation from prime minister 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, the capital of Ohio
. Participating in the dinner hosted to honor Ganesan, the mayor of the city, Greg Lashutka
, honored him by announcing him as a 'Honorary Citizen' of Columbus City . On the same occasion the mayor of Mount Vernon
read out and gave him a special welcome citation. The 'Columbus Tamil Sangam' was formulated on that day, and Ganesan was made the honorary president of that association.
Ganesan has remained as one of the popular Tamil actors with a large fan base. At the peak of his career, Ganesan had 3000 registered fan clubs, which worked at promoting his image and films.
a murderer in Puthiya Paravai, or a traitor as in Andha Naal which film had no songs at all. However, Sivaji's critics have also accused him of overacting.
, Tamil Nadu
to honour the actor and was unveiled by the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi
on 2006. The South Indian Film Artistes' Association as a tribute to Ganesan, declared that 1 October, the birth day of Ganesan, would be observed as Actors' Day by the association Chennai film industry. The Government of Maharashtra
has instituted a state award, in the name of Ganesan, which is given under the Best Actor category every year entited "Sivaji Ganesan Award".
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is 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. He progressed from a stage actor since his childhood to the filmdom with such an authority that the Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
considered as the golden era. In a career spanning close to five decades he has acted in nearly 300 films in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
, Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
and Hindi.
Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award in an International film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt in 1960. Many leading South Indian film actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Ganesan. He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
.
Ganesan is remembered as the iconic figure of Tamil cinema. He is referred to as "The Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
of Indian Cinema". From Parasakthi
Parasakthi (1952 film)
Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and Sriranjani. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by AVM. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer M...
onwards, he has won the President's Award for more than 12 times. During end of his career, Ganesan was conferred the highest and the most prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema.The award for a particular year is...
for his contribution to Indian cinema in 1997. In spite of his celebrated film career, his short stint in politics became a futile attempt.
Early life
Ganesan was born on October 1, 1928 to Chinnaiya Manrayar and Rajamani in a Tamil middle-class Kallar family in Villupuram. His ancestors were from a village called Surakottai in the Thanjavur DistrictThanjavur District
Thanjavur District is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur.-Geography:...
. His father was arrested on the day Ganesan was born for taking part in an anti-British campaign in Viluppuram.
Ganesan's inspiration for acting was inborn; when he got a chance to act on stage for a touring drama company he took it without his father's consent at the age of seven. At the age of 10, he moved to Tiruchirappalli and joined a drama troupe in Sangiliyandapuram
Sangiliyandapuram
Sangiliyandapuram is a suburb of the city of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India....
and began to perform in stage plays. From the drama troupe trainers he was very lucky enough to learn acting and dancing skills. He was trained in Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
, Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
and Manipuri
Manipuri dance
Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. It originates from Manipur, a state in north-eastern India on the border with Myanmar . In Manipur, surrounded by mountains and geographically isolated at the meeting point of the orient and mainland India, the form developed its own...
.
Ganesan was an intellectual boy who could remember lengthy lines easily and could present them to the audience brilliantly with perfection. This made him hero of the troupe in the long run. His outstanding portrayal of the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the stage play Shivaji Kanda Hindu Rajyam earned him the title "Sivaji" which was conferred on him at a public function presided over by E. V. Ramasamy, a social reformer. Since then, he was referred by the name "Sivaji".
Early career: 1952-1959
Two factors can be attributed the entry of Ganesan into films: The principal artists in Tamil films during the 1940s and 1950s were TelugusTelugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
, whose acting was not matched by their dialogue delivery in Tamil. (In fact, Sivaji Ganesan lent his voice to Mukkamala Krishna Murthy
Mukkamala
Mukkamala Krishna Murthy is a lawyer turned actor who was active in Telugu movies in the 1950s and the 1960s. He was a stage actor in his student days and was popular in the role of French General Bussy in Bobbili Yuddham, a stage play based on the historical Bobbili Yuddham...
, a Telugu actor, for a Tamil film, Niraparathi. The film was well-received by the Tamil audience.) Secondly, the 1950s saw the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of C. N. Annadurai
C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , popularly called Anna , or Arignar Anna was a former Chief Minister of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
and M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
. Their transformation of language skills to films through script writing, ensured their instant acceptance. Gansesan's entry in to films at this stage of popularity was easy and inevitable, and he could establish himself in a better position.
Ganesan made his acting debut in the 1952 Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film Parasakthi
Parasakthi (1952 film)
Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and Sriranjani. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by AVM. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer M...
, co-starring actress Pandari Bai
Pandari Bai
Pandari Bai was a prominent heroine of South Indian languages films mostly in Kannada and Tamil during the 1950s and 60s. She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Dr. Rajkumar and Sivaji Ganesan...
. The script was written by the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
. Since actors who are well-trained in classical dance can effectively showcase expressions called Nava Rasa
Indian aesthetics
Indian art evolved with an emphasis on inducing special spiritual or philosophical states in the audience, or with representing them symbolically.-Rasa theory:-Introduction:...
on their faces, Ganesan went on to become one of the popular actors in Tamil cinema in the 1950s. His unique voice had a greater appeal. His style of dialogue delivery with a long spell of dialogues — like a poetry recitation with much clarity — earned him critical recognition.
Andha Naal (1954) was a trendsetter in Tamil cinema because had no songs and Ganesan played an anti-hero. The film won the president's silver medal the following year. The same year he co-starred with his rival M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....
in Koondukkili
Koondukkili
Koondukkili is a Tamil language film starring M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan in the lead roles. This is the only film where both of them had acted together. The screenplay and dialogues were by Vindhan, a popular social acivitist and reformist writer who in the path of the acivitist and...
where he played the antagonist.
Donning versatile roles: 1959-1964
His role in the film Veerapaandiya Kattabomman won him the Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in March 1960 at CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Incidentally, Ganesan was also the first Indian actor to get an award for Best Actor abroad. He has worked with many actresses, including Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Pandaribai, Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
, Savithri, Padmini
Padmini (actress)
Padmini was an Indian actress and trained Bharathanatyam dancer who has acted in over 250 Indian films. She has acted in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi language films...
, Devika
Devika
Devika or Prameela Devi was a popular Tamil and Telugu actress. She is regarded as a versatile and graceful heroine of her era. She was known for her natural beauty which was the key in her casting in mythological films like Karnan, thiruvilaiyadal...
, B. Sarojadevi, K. R. Vijaya
K. R. Vijaya
K. R. Vijaya is a popular Indian actress who has starred in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She started her career in the 1960s. She has been acting for more than four decades now in South Indian cinema. K. R...
, Vanisri
Vanisri
Vanisri or Ratna Kumari , also known as Vanisree or Vanishree, is a popular Telugu actress in the mid 1960s to the late 1970s. Her portfolio also includes Kannada and Tamil films.-Early life:...
and J. Jayalalitha of his time. He also co-starred with other actors such as Gemini Ganesan
Gemini Ganesan
Ramaswami Ganesan , popularly known as Gemini Ganesan , was an Indian actor. He was nicknamed "Kadhal Mannan" of Tamil cinema for the romantic roles he played in movies....
, S.S.Rajendran, Muthuraman
R. Muthuraman
R. Muthuraman was an Indian actor who has performed in Tamil language films. He was a leading actor during the 60's and 70's and was fondly called Navarasa Thilakam. He has paired with all the leading heroines of his time and acted in over a hundred films. Muthuraman's son Karthik Muthuraman is...
, M. R. Radha and S. V. Ranga Rao
S. V. Ranga Rao
Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao Popularly Known as S.V.R. was an Indian Theater actor, Tollywood actor, director and producer...
in numerous films in which he played the main lead.
1965-1969
His portrayal of Lord Shiva in the movie ThiruvilayadalThiruvilayadal (1965 film)
Thiruvilayadal is a 1965 Tamil feature film directed by A.P. Nagarajan. The cast included Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Savitri, Nagesh, Manorama, K. B. Sundarambal, T. R. Mahalingam and T. S. Balaiah...
won him lot of accolades. In the film Navarathiri (1964), Ganesan played nine different roles that represented the nine emotional states of a person. Sanjeev Kumar and Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
were inspired by this film and reprised the nine roles in Naya Din Nayi Raat in 1974 and Navarathri in 1966 respectively. Ganesan could strike a balance between commercial cinema, Mythological cinema and experimental cinema. His epical portrayals in films like Thiruvilayaadal, Thiruvarutselvar, Saraswati Sabatham, Harichandran, Thirumal Perumai, Karnan and Thillana Mohanaambal won him critical acclaim. He played a variety of roles such as freedom fighters like Kappalottiya Thamizhan, Vanchinathan, Tiruppur Kumaran
Tiruppur Kumaran
Tiruppur Kumaran , was an Indian revolutionary who participated in the Indian independence movement. Kumaran was born in Chennimalai, a small town in the Erode District in Tamil Nadu region of south India...
, Bhagat Singh and epic characters like Harichandra
Harichandra
Harichandra is a 1997 Tamil language film starring Karthik Muthuraman and Meena. This Movie Did Extremly Well At Box Office and Success considered one of the Hits Of Karthik Muthuraman and Meena.- Plot :...
, Karna
Karna
Karna or Radheya is one of the central characters in the epic Mahābhārata, from ancient India. He was the King of Anga...
, Bharatha, Narada
Narada
Narada or Narada Muni is a divine sage from the Vaisnava tradition, who plays a prominent role in a number of the Puranic texts, especially in the Bhagavata Purana, and in the Ramayana...
, Appar, Nayanmars and Alwars. Spanning genres like epics to Crime thrillers; from romantic escapades to comic flicks and action flicks, Ganesan has spanned it all.
1970-1979
Ganesan played supporting role to Rajendra KumarRajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
in the Hindi film Dharti in 1970 which was a remake of his film Sivandha Mann, in which he played the lead role. In the Hindi version, Ganesan played the role which Muthuraman
R. Muthuraman
R. Muthuraman was an Indian actor who has performed in Tamil language films. He was a leading actor during the 60's and 70's and was fondly called Navarasa Thilakam. He has paired with all the leading heroines of his time and acted in over a hundred films. Muthuraman's son Karthik Muthuraman is...
had essayed in the original. Several directors like Krishnan-Panju, T. R. Sundaram, A. P. Nagarajan
A. P. Nagarajan
Akkamappettai Paramasivan Nagarajan is a veteran Tamil film director, who set a trend in film making in Tamil cinema in 1960s.-Career Life:...
, L. V. Prasad
L. V. Prasad
Akkineni Lakshmi Vara Prasada Rao , more popularly known as L. V. Prasad was an Indian film producer and actor. He was a recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime contribution to cinema from the Government of India for the year 1982...
, B. R. Panthulu
B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu
B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu , better known as B. R. Panthulu, is an Indian film director, producer, and actor. He is best known for directing movies in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. His most popular films are Sri Krishna Deva Raya, Karnan, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, and Aayirathil...
, T. Prakash Rao, A. Bhim Singh, K. Shankar, A. C. Tirulokchandar
A. C. Tirulokchandar
A. C. Tirulokachandar ) is a Tamil film director in Tamil cinema in 1960s. He has also directed few films in Hindi. His 1969 Tamil film Deiva Magan was the first South Indian film to be submitted by India in contest for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film- Partial filmography :*...
, C. V. Sridhar
C. V. Sridhar
C Sridhar was a South Indian screenwriter and film director. Sridhar hailed from Chitthamur, a village near Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu. He studied at St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School , where he began writing and staging plays while he was in Grade 7. He entered films as a dialogue writer when...
, P. Madhavan
P. Madhavan
P. Madhavan is a Tamil film director and film producer in Tamil cinema in 1960s and 1970s. Madhavan has directed 49 films and produced 39 films under the banner Arun Prasad Movies.-Career:...
, K. S. Gopalakrishnan
K. S. Gopalakrishnan
K. S. Gopalakrishnan is an Indian director of Hindi and Tamil movies. Since the early 1960s he has directed some 70 movies. He spent most of his career directing and producing movies with social and devotional themes. Most of his movies are melodramas....
and K. Vijayan
K. Vijayan
K. Vijayan is a Tamil film director in Tamil cinema in 1980s. He has mainly worked with Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan. Samuthirakani of Nadodigal fame was once an assistant to K...
directed Ganesan in different roles.
Though he accumulated awards throughout the 1950s and 1960s, it was in 1972 that Ganesan delivered his first blockbuster Vasantha Maligai
Vasantha Maligai
Vasantha Maligai is a 1972 Tamil film, directed by K.S. Prakash Rao. It is a remake of the hit Telugu film, Prem Nagar. It ran for nearly 750 days in the theatres and Sivaji Ganesan and Vanisri were both praised well for their acting. The producer D. Ramanaidu made the same films in three languages...
. Other films like Gauravam, Raja Raja Chozhan, Thri Soolam, Thankappathakkam and Sathyam
Satyam (1976 film)
Sathyam is a 1976 Tamil film directed by S. A. Kannan starring Sivaji Ganesan, Jayachitra and Manjula Vijayakumar and Kamal Hassan. The film has Kamal Haasan playing the younger brother of Sivaji Ganesan....
, released during this period were highly successful. Many of his films were inspired and remade in Sinhalese. Films like Pilot Premnath and Mohana Punnagai were shot in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
with Srilankan actors such as Malini Fonseka
Malini Fonseka
Malani Senehelatha Fonseka is an award-winning Sri Lankan film actress, also known as the "Queen of Sinhalese cinema". Her cinema career which has spanned many decades began with Tissa Liyansooriya's Punchi Baba in 1968...
and Geetha Kumarasinghe
Geetha Kumarasinghe
Geetha Samanmali Kumarasinghe is an award winning Sri Lankan film actress. She made her debut with veteran director K.A.W. Perera's Wasana in 1975 but it was Neil Rupasinghe's Lassana Kella which was released first...
playing the female lead. In 1979, he appeared in his second and final all-time blockbuster Thirisoolam, adapted from the Kannada
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
film Shankar Guru in which Dr. Rajkumar had played the lead role.
Matured roles: 1980-1999
The 1980s was a period in which Ganesan started enacting more matured roles. But still films like Rishi Moolam, Yamanukku Yaman, Chiranjeevi had Ganesan portraying lead roles. Muthal MariyathaiMuthal Mariyathai
Mudhal Mariyadhai is a Tamil feature film directed by Bharathiraja. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was critically received upon release.-Plot:...
(1985) won him a Filmfare Award and Tamil Nadu State film Award under Best Actor category. In 1992 he acted in with Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
in the critically acclaimed Thevar Magan
Thevar Magan
Thevar Magan is a 1992 Indian Tamil film produced by, written by, and starring Kamal Hassan in the title role. It was directed by Bharathan and also stars Sivaji Ganesan, Nasser, Revathi and Gouthami. The film met with a very strong critical and commercial reception upon release. The film score...
which won him a Special Mention Award
National Film Award - Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film)
The National Film Award of India - Special Jury Award / Special Mention - Feature Film winners are:...
at the 40th National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
. His other films released during this period are Pasumpon, En Aasai Raasaave and Once More
Once More (film)
Once More is a Tamil romantic comedy film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar released in 1997. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vijay, B. Sarojadevi, and Simran Bagga.-Plot:...
where he was cast in prominent roles. His worked in Poopparikka Varugirom which released as his last film before his death, however the last film he worked in before his death was Padayappa
Padayappa
Padayappa is a 1999 Tamil drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The film features Rajinikanth, Soundarya and Ramya Krishnan playing lead roles, whilst Sivaji Ganesan, Lakshmi and Nassar play pivotal supporting roles. With soundtrack composed by A. R...
(1999).
Political career
Until 1955, Ganesan was a staunch sympathizer of the Dravida Munnetra KazhagamDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
. In 1961, he become a strong supporter of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. Due to his popularity and his rival MGR's success in politics Ganesan 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
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
he was made the member of Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
in 1983. Indira Gandhi's death in 1984 also brought Ganesan's political career to an end. 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. Unlike his successful acting career, his political career was rather unsuccessful.
Family
Ganesan was the second son of his family. He had two brothers. Ganesan married Kamala in 1952 and had four children. His younger son PrabhuPrabhu Ganesan
Prabhu Ganesan is a Tamil film actor and producer. He is the son of veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan.-Personal life:A native of Tamil Nadu, Prabhu was born to Sivaji and Kamala Ganesan. He has an elder brother Ramkumar Ganesan who is a film producer, and two sisters, Shanthi and Thenmozhi. He did his...
is a notable Tamil actor. Ganesan established a film production company in the late 1950s, (now called as) Sivaji Productions
Sivaji Productions
Sivaji Productions is a film distributing and producing company of Tamil and Hindi language films.- History :Sivaji Productions company is owned by Prabhu Ganesan and his brother Ramkumar Ganesan. It is named after their father, the thespian Sivaji Ganesan...
, which is now being looked after by his eldest son Ramkumar
Ramkumar Ganesan
Ramkumar Ganesan is a Tamil film producer. Born in Tamil Nadu, India, he is the eldest son of Sivaji Ganesan and the older brother of Tamil actor Prabhu Ganesan, Shanti and Thenmozhi. He is the head of Sivaji Productions, a film productions company that has produced movies including the blockbuster...
.. He has two daughters Shanthi and Thenmozhi.
Death
Suffering from respiratory problems, Ganesan was admitted to the Apollo Hospital in ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
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 72. 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
When president Gamal Abdel NasserGamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
visited India, Sivaji Ganesan was the only individual, granted permission by the Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, to host a party for Nasser. Nasser was given a number of valuable mementos depicting the civilization and culture of South 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 Jawaharlal Nehru. On March 12, 1976 he went over to Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
on an invitation from prime minister 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, the capital of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Participating in the dinner hosted to honor Ganesan, the mayor of the city, Greg Lashutka
Greg Lashutka
Gregory S. Lashutka is a lawyer, who served as the 51st mayor of Columbus, Ohio, from 1992 to 2000. He is an Eagle Scout and had earlier been an American football player.-College Athletics:...
, honored him by announcing him as a 'Honorary Citizen' of Columbus City . On the same occasion the mayor of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
read out and gave him a special welcome citation. The 'Columbus Tamil Sangam' was formulated on that day, and Ganesan was made the honorary president of that association.
Ganesan has remained as one of the popular Tamil actors with a large fan base. At the peak of his career, Ganesan had 3000 registered fan clubs, which worked at promoting his image and films.
Acclaim and criticism
Ganesan was considered to be one of the finest method actors in India of his time. He was also acknowledged as a consummate actor and one of the most imitated ones. He was praised for his body language and his resounding voice and over-drawn dialogue delivery. However, as far as the masses were concerned, Tamil cinema has not seen finer acting or stirring performances. Sivaji is known for his versatility and has acted as a blind man, a physically handicapped person in Bhaagapirivinai, a man with a scarred face as in Deiva MaganDeiva Magan (1969 film)
Deiva Magan ) is a 1969 Tamil language film starring Sivaji Ganesan in a triple role. Sivaji Ganesan enacted three roles for the second time in his career after Bale Pandiya. He acted as a father and two sons. The film has Pandari Bai and Jayalalitha as the female lead...
a murderer in Puthiya Paravai, or a traitor as in Andha Naal which film had no songs at all. However, Sivaji's critics have also accused him of overacting.
Awards and honours
Ganesan has won the President's Award for more than 12 times for his performance in various films. He was also honoured with civilian awards such as Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Palke Award, the highest award in India for people involved in film industry.Civilian honors
- 1966 - Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
from the Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India... - 1984 - Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
from the Government of IndiaGovernment of IndiaThe Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India... - 1995 - ChevalierOrdre des Arts et des LettresThe Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
awarded by the National Order of the Legion of HonourLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
of FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. On April 22, 1995 at a ceremony held at the MAC Stadium in ChennaiChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Ganesan was presented with the Chevalier title and medallion by the French ambassador to India, Philip Petit.
International awards
- 1960 - Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Film Festival for Veerapandiya KattabommanVeerapandiya Kattabomman (film)Veerapandiya Kattabomman is a 1959 Tamil feature film written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The cast includes Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, S. Varalakshmi, and V. K. Ramaswamy....
National Film Awards
- 1993 - National Film Award - Special Jury AwardNational Film Award - Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film)The National Film Award of India - Special Jury Award / Special Mention - Feature Film winners are:...
for Thevar MaganThevar MaganThevar Magan is a 1992 Indian Tamil film produced by, written by, and starring Kamal Hassan in the title role. It was directed by Bharathan and also stars Sivaji Ganesan, Nasser, Revathi and Gouthami. The film met with a very strong critical and commercial reception upon release. The film score... - 1997 - Dadasaheb Phalke AwardDadasaheb Phalke AwardThe Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. It was instituted in 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered as the father of Indian cinema.The award for a particular year is...
.
Filmfare Awards South
- 1973 - Best Actor Award for Gnana OliGnana OliGnana Oli is a 1972 Tamil movie starring Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role. -Cast:* Sivaji Ganesan* Gokulnath* Sharada* Jaya Kausalya* Manorama...
- 1974 - Best Actor Award for GauravamGauravamGauravam is a famous Tamil movie starring Sivaji Ganeshan in a double role.-Plot:Veteran lawyer Rajinikanth has never lost a case in the court. He is a self made man with a rags to riches story...
- 1986 - Best Actor Award for Muthal MariyathaiMuthal MariyathaiMudhal Mariyadhai is a Tamil feature film directed by Bharathiraja. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was critically received upon release.-Plot:...
Other honors
- 1986 - Honorary doctorateDoctorateA doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the Annamalai UniversityAnnamalai UniversityAnnamalai University is a Public University located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The university offers courses of higher education in arts, sciences and engineering.The university also provides around 380 courses under distance mode... - 1997 - KalaimamaniKalaimamaniThe Kalaimamani is an award in Tamil Nadu state, India. These awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram for excellence in the field of art and literature....
from the Government of Tamil NaduGovernment of Tamil NaduThe Government of Tamil Nadu, headquartered at Chennai is the governing authority for the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is seated at the Fort St. George... - 1998 - NTR National AwardNTR National AwardThe NTR National Award is an annual award to recognize people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Indian film industry.NTR National Film Award is an award instituted in the honor of an Indian Film Actor, director, producer, and a politician, N.T. Rama Rao by the state of Andhra...
from the Government of Andhra PradeshGovernment of Andhra PradeshGovernment of Andhra Pradesh is the government for the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India.It is an elected government with 294 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Executive:...
Posthumous honors
A statue of Ganesan was erected on Kamarajar Road in ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
to honour the actor and was unveiled by the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
on 2006. The South Indian Film Artistes' Association as a tribute to Ganesan, declared that 1 October, the birth day of Ganesan, would be observed as Actors' Day by the association Chennai film industry. The Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
has instituted a state award, in the name of Ganesan, which is given under the Best Actor category every year entited "Sivaji Ganesan Award".
Notable filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Parasakthi Parasakthi (1952 film) Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and Sriranjani. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by AVM. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer M... |
Gunasekaran | Tamil | Debut film |
| 1953 | Pardesi / Poongothai' | Tamil/Telugu | ||
| 1955 | Mudhal Thethi | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Amara Deepam Amara Deepam -Plot:A educated unemployed person Ashok falls in love with athe daughter Aruna of a wealthy Industrialist.Aruna is taken hostage by her husband to be Sukumar , and while Ashok trails them to save Aruna, Ashok loses his memory in an accident. Ashok Meets Roopa and they begin to like each other... |
Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | ||
| 1956 | Rangoon Radha Rangoon Radha Rangoon Radha is a Tamil film that was released on 1 November 1956 starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi as the main cast.-Production:The story was based on play Angel Street written by Patrick Hamilton. Adaptated to film in 1940 as Gaslight starring Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard... |
Tamil | ||
| 1958 | School Master School Master School Master is a Kannada language film, which was simultaneously dubbed as Tamil language film. It was released in 1958.. It was later remade into various other languages including Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. Movie is classic film starring Dikki Madhavrao, Udaykumar, Sivaji Ganeshan, B. Saroja... |
Tamil |
||
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman Veerapandiya Kattabomman (film) Veerapandiya Kattabomman is a 1959 Tamil feature film written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The cast includes Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, S. Varalakshmi, and V. K. Ramaswamy.... |
Tamil | Best Actor at Afro-Asian Film Festival | |
| 1960 | Irumbu Thirai Irumbu Thirai Irumbu Thirai is a 1960 Black-and-white Mondo film Tamil film written by produced and directed by S. S. Vasan. The film stars Shivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala in the lead with K. A. Thangavelu, Saroja Devi, S. V. Ranga Rao, Pandari Bai and Vasundhara Devi as the ensemble cast of the film. The... |
Tamil | ||
| 1961 | Kappalotiya Thamizhan | Tamil | ||
| 1961 | Pasamalar Pasamalar Pasamalar is a 1961 film starring Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan. The film was cast in 1961 and directed by A. Bhimsingh. This film is considered to be one of the greatest Tamil movies ever made. Stellar performances from Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri make this movie a pleasure to watch... |
Tamil | ||
| 1963 | Karnan | Tamil | ||
| 1964 | Navarathri Navarathri (1964 film) Navarathri is a 1964 Tamil Drama film by A.P. Nagarajan. The film is well-known for starring Sivaji Ganesan in nine distinct roles getting connected in nine nights within the film, thus the title. The record of playing most number of roles in one Tamil film was long held by Sivaji Ganesan until... |
Tamil | Portrayed nine different roles | |
| 1966 | Motor Sundaram Pillai | Tamil | ||
| 1967 | Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai Kandan Karunai is a Tamil cinema, which was released in 1967 and was directed by A.P. Nagarajan. It was his 8th film in the Tamil cinema industry. It starred Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar and Savithri... |
Tamil | ||
| 1969 | Thillana Mohanambal | Tamil | ||
| 1969 | Deiva Magan Deiva Magan (1969 film) Deiva Magan ) is a 1969 Tamil language film starring Sivaji Ganesan in a triple role. Sivaji Ganesan enacted three roles for the second time in his career after Bale Pandiya. He acted as a father and two sons. The film has Pandari Bai and Jayalalitha as the female lead... |
Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor The Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor is given by the state government as part of its annual Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Tamil films.-The list:Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won.... |
|
| 1970 | Vietnam Veedu | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor The Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor is given by the state government as part of its annual Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Tamil films.-The list:Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won.... |
|
| 1972 | Gnana Oli | Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil | |
| 1972 | Vasantha Maligai Vasantha Maligai Vasantha Maligai is a 1972 Tamil film, directed by K.S. Prakash Rao. It is a remake of the hit Telugu film, Prem Nagar. It ran for nearly 750 days in the theatres and Sivaji Ganesan and Vanisri were both praised well for their acting. The producer D. Ramanaidu made the same films in three languages... |
Tamil | ||
| 1973 | Gauravam | Rajinikanth, (Dual roles) |
Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor The Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor is given by the state government as part of its annual Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Tamil films.-The list:Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won.... |
| 1979 | Thiri Soolam | Tamil | ||
| 1985 | Muthal Mariyathai Muthal Mariyathai Mudhal Mariyadhai is a Tamil feature film directed by Bharathiraja. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was critically received upon release.-Plot:... |
Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor The Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor is given by the state government as part of its annual Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Tamil films.-The list:Here is a list of the award winners and the films for which they won.... |
|
| 1992 | Thevar Magan Thevar Magan Thevar Magan is a 1992 Indian Tamil film produced by, written by, and starring Kamal Hassan in the title role. It was directed by Bharathan and also stars Sivaji Ganesan, Nasser, Revathi and Gouthami. The film met with a very strong critical and commercial reception upon release. The film score... |
Periya Thevar | Tamil | National Film Award (Special Jury) National Film Award - Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) The National Film Award of India - Special Jury Award / Special Mention - Feature Film winners are:... |
| 1999 | Padayappa Padayappa Padayappa is a 1999 Tamil drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The film features Rajinikanth, Soundarya and Ramya Krishnan playing lead roles, whilst Sivaji Ganesan, Lakshmi and Nassar play pivotal supporting roles. With soundtrack composed by A. R... |
Tamil | Sivaji's last completed film |