Role: Indian actor and Producer
Birth
Sivaji Ganesan was born as Ganesan was born on 1st October 1928 to ChinnaiyaManrayar and Rajamani Ammal in Soorakottai near Orathanadu in Thanjavur District of TamilNadu.
Personal Life
Sivaji Ganesan was married to Kamala. He had two sons and two daughters. His sons Ramkumar and Prabhu are in the Film industry. Among his grandchildren, three of them are actors.
Early Life
At the age of 7, Ganesan (Sivaji) took a decision to join the touring stage drama company. He got the training in acting, Bharathanatyam and body movements from ChinnaPonnusamyPadayatchi, who was the teacher of theatrical arts in his troupe. After this, at the age of 10, Sivaji went to Trichy and joined a drama troupe in Sangiliyandapuram. There he began to make the stage performances. His role as Shivaji in the play “ShivajiKandaHinduRajyam” gave him the name “Sivaji”.
Sivaji Ganesan – Movie Career
In 1952, Ganesan was debut as hero in the Tamil movie “Parasakthi” which was directed by Krishnan and Panju. Later in 1954, he was the anti-hero in the film AndhaNaal. This movie became a milestone in Tamil cinema as it had no songs and this film won the silver medal from the President.
In 1960, he took the role of the Kattabomman in the movie “VeerapandiyaKattabomman”. For this, he won the Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Film Festival in 1960. His one of the best film was “Pasamalar” with actress Savitri, which came in 1961. This film came under the direction of A.Bhimsingh was a trendsetter in Tamil Cinema, which won the National Award and was remade in other languages. He got the title “Nadigar Thilagam” for the wonderful acting in the film Pasamalar.
After this, he acted with several popular Tamil actresses during his time. His movies like Palum Pazhamum, Kai Kodutha Dheivam, Kappalottiya Thamizhan and Puthiya Paarvai were instant hits and successful in the Theatres.
His 100th film was Navaratri by which Sivaji became the first lead actor to play nine roles. That was the first film in which the actor took nine roles and got a huge success. His performances in the movie brought him the huge fan followers than before. In 1965, he got several appreciations for his acting as Lord Shiva in the movie “Thiruvilaiyaadal”.
In 1970, he was the supporting actor in the Hindi movie Dharti in which Rajendra Kumar was the hero. This film was the remake of the Tamil movie “Sivandha Mann”, in which Sivaji was the hero.
Movies on various themes
His performance in comedy films like Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari, Ooty Varai Uravu, Sabaash Meena and proved his acting skills in comedy zone. He had done movies with major comedians like Thangavelu, J.P. Chandrababu Naidu and Nagesh.
He took the role of freedom fighters like V.O.Chidambaranar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Bhagat Singh and TiruppurKumaran. He had also done the portrayal of the epic characters like Bharatha, Karna, Appar, Narada, Alwars and Nayanmars.
From the period of 1950 to 1985, he took the lead role in almost all his movies. In 1985, he came in supporting role in the movie “Padikaathavan”, in which the Rajnikanth was the lead actor.
He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for his film Muthalmariyathai in 1985. In 1992, his supporting role in the film “Thevarmagan” brought him the Special mention Award at 40th National Film Awards. His film Pooparika Varugirom was last film released before his death. Even though, “Padyappa” was his last movie in 1999.
Awards for Sivaji Ganesan
In 1966, Sivaji Ganesan won the Padma Shri from the Government of India. Later in 1984, he got the third highest civilian award Padma Bhusan from the Government of India.
On 22nd April 1995, he won the Chevalier title from the National Order of the Legion of Honor in France. Then French Ambassador Philip Petit gave him this title. By this, he became the first Indian to win the Chevalier Award.
In 1960, he became the first Indian to receive the Best Actor Award from a film festival of foreign country. He won the Best Actor in Asia-Africa Continent Award for the movie Veerapandiya Kattabomman in the Afro-Asian Film Festival.
Sivaji won the Kalaimamani from the State Government of Tamil Nadu in 1962. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for the film “Deivamagan” in 1969. Later in 1970, for his film Vietnam Veedu, he won the same award. Then in 1989, he won the MGR Award which is the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award.
For his acting in various movies, Sivaji had won the President’s Award above 12 times. He bagged the National Film Award- Special Jury Award for the movie “ThevarMagan” in 1992. In 1996, he won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Other honors of Sivaji Ganesan
In 1986, Sivaji got the Honorary Doctorate from the Chidambaram Annamalai University. Later in 1998, he won the NTR National Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
In 1960, he became the One-day Mayor for the Niagara Falls City. Then he got the Golden Key of Cairo. Later in 1964, Sivaji was the Cultural Ambassador of India for the Cultural Exchange Programme, after he got the invitation from the John F. Kennedy. In 1991, he got the Citizenship in the Columbus (Ohio, USA) from the Government of United States.
Honors after his death
To honor the acting skills of Sivaji Ganesan, his statue was erected for the first time in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Then Chief Minister for Puducherry, N.Rangasamy made the opening of his statue. Later in 2006, his statue was erected and opened by then Chief Minister of TamilNadu, M.Karunanidhi.
As an honor to Sivaji, October 1 is celebrated as Actor’s Day in the Chennai Film Industry Association after this declaration was made by the South Indian Film Artistes Association. Then a memorial of cost 28 million was built in Chennai in 2017. This memorial houses the Sivaji’s statue, which was present in Marina Beach earlier. Then the Government of Maharashtra made the initiation of Sivaji Ganesan Award for the Best Actor category.
Death
Sivaji Ganesan died on 1st July 2001 in Chennai due to respiratory problems.