Sivaji Ganesan

Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan in 1970
Born
Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy

(1928-10-01)1 October 1928[1][2][3][4][5]
Villupuram,[6] Madras Presidency, British India
Died21 July 2001(2001-07-21) (aged 72)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesNadigar Thilagam
Simmakuralon
Occupations
WorksFull list
Political partyTamizhaga Munnetra Munnani (1988–1989)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Kamala
​
(m. 1952)​
Children4, including Ramkumar and Prabhu
RelativesDushyanth Ramkumar (grandson)
Vikram Prabhu (grandson)
Awards

Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy,[a] better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001)[4][5] was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Sivaji Ganesan is acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian actors of all time and among the most imitated one by other actors. He was known for his versatility and the variety of roles he depicted on screen,[9] which also gave him the Tamil nickname Nadigar Thilagam (transl. the pride of actors).[10] In a career that spanned close to five decades, he had acted in 288 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Sivaji Ganesan is the only actor in Tamil cinema to have played the lead role in over 250 films.[11][12]

Ganesan was the first Indian 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 actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Ganesan. In 1997, Ganesan was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour for films in India.[13][14] He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.[15][16][17][18] In addition, he received National Film Award (Special Jury), four Filmfare Awards South and three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.

Ganesan is remembered as an iconic figure of Tamil cinema.[19][20] Upon his death, The Los Angeles Times described him as "the Marlon Brando of south India's film industry".[21][22]

  1. ^ "Sivaji Ganesan's birth anniversary". The Times of India. 15 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Frontline was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "The stamp is been[sic] issued, honouring Sivaji Ganesan". Maharashtrapost. 2001. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TheHindu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "Autobiography of an actor : Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2002". Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust, 2007. 2007. Archived from the original on 21 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Birthplace Villupuram was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "He played 300 different roles". The Hindu. 4 November 2002. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  8. ^ Raman, Mohan V. (25 November 2013). "All's in a letter". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Sivaji: The legend lives on". The Hindu Business Line. 24 July 2001. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  10. ^ NK, Jarshad (6 February 2013). "The Economic Times". Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  11. ^ "An actor and a gentleman". The Hindu. 11 July 2004. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  12. ^ "1-288". Nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Padmabushan Chevalier Sivaji V.C.Ganesan". Sivajiprabhu.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan, South Indian Cinema Photo, Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesa". Timescontent.com. 19 July 1997. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  15. ^ "Tamil film actor Sivaji Ganesan dead". Rediff. 21 July 2001. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  16. ^ "Shivaji Ganesan Biography – Sivaji Ganesan Childhood, Profile & Filmography". Lifestyle.iloveindia.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  17. ^ "Forever Sivaji". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  18. ^ "Tamil Nadu News : "Stage artistes don't get due regard"". The Hindu. 20 July 2010. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  19. ^ "India's first and finest music e-zine". The Music Magazine. 23 July 2001. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  20. ^ "Sivaji Ganesan – Nadigar Thilakam". Sivaji.org. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  21. ^ "Marlon Brando Sivaji Ganesan | Sivaji Ganesan; the Brando of South India – Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 23 July 2001. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  22. ^ "Did Sivaji Ganesan overact? – Behindwoods.com – Andha Naal negative role". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2011.


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