Introducing Sivaji Ganesan to the younger generation

He is one of the legends who cast his magic spell on Tamil cinema for 50 years. There is no Tamil actor ever - then and now even in future - could live and be successful without inheriting some of his DNA codes. Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan is the man who inspired the careers of almost all the present generation actors. Even Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan proved their mettle to enter films by reproducing Sivaji Ganesan's dialogues in films. There is no actor who has not recited his dialogue for his first offer.

Such was the impact his films had on their generation. Though he walked in style, smiled in style, wept in style, one important factor that contributed to the success of Nadigar Thilagam was his dialogue delivery. The thespian's voice and diction trained actors in dialogue delivery in films.

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This begins an article on Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan. You can read the whole article here: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/t...cle/58766.html

Just as Gandhi was eulogised, Sivaji Ganesan also fits in "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth."

Rakesh and I have been talking about starting this thread, basically to introduce Nadigar Thilagam to the younger generation, ie those of the 80s and later. Most of them would only know Mudhal Mariyadhai, Devar Magan and possibly Padaiyappa. But the man is a much bigger legend than what was shown in those movies.

Personally, I have seen many among today's youth having keen interest in his movies, and some like our Varun has even asked for recommendations. Many are shocked that Sivaji has done a film like Andha Naal, back those days.

Thus the purpose of this thread is clearly to recommend films done by the thespian, which would appeal to today's youths. Let us together take you on a magical journey!

Gnana oli oda reaction ah ?

To know Sivaji is to love Sivaji....!


Like in Facebook, I have summarised Sivaji Ganesan's life in the movies, as a TIMELINE.
All the facts have been compiled from various sources from the Internet (and amended where necessary).



1 Oct 1928 – The birth of Viluppuram Chinnaiah Pillai Ganesan Manrayar (VC Ganesan) to railway worker, Mr. Chinnaiah and Ms. Rajamani Ammal.
Father arrested on day of his birth for anti-British campaign

1935 – Aged seven, first acted on stage in a touring stage company without his father’s knowledge

1938 – At 10, he ran away from home and joined a drama troupe in Trichy. There he learned acting and began training in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Manipuri. He started memorising lengthy dialogues and this made him a hero of the troupe.

1946 - At the age of 18 he was offered the role of Maratha king Chatrapati Sivaji, for a play authored by C.N. Annadurai – a role that was rejected by M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), at the last moment. He acted as the leading character in the stage play Shivaji Kanda Hindu Rajyam and amazed everyone including E. V. Ramasamy, who confered him the name "Sivaji" which stuck to his name for the rest of his life.

1950 - Sivaji Ganesan lent his voice to Mukkamala Krishna Murthy, a Telugu actor, for a Tamil film, Niraparathi.

1952 – History was made when Sivaji Ganesan debuted in cinema as an actor at the age of 24. Since then Parasakthi has attained cult status and his delivery of social dialogues penned by M. Karunanidhi, remains examples of fine acting even today.
All these for just 250 Rupees per month!

1952 - At age 24, Ganesan married hs cousin’s daughter, Kamala at Swami Malai at a cost of 500 Ruppees! They had four children, Ramkumar, Prabhu, Shanthi and Thenmozhi.

1954 – In the days of 24 songs per movie, Andha Naal was produced with no songs. The Kurusowa style of story-telling and Sivaji playing a traitor role, is outstanding even by today’s standards.
In the same year, at the age of 26, he co-starred with M. G. Ramachandran in Koondukkili where he played the antagonist.

1957 - Seven films released in one year, averaging more than one film every two months!

1960 – At 32 he became the first Indian actor to get an award for Best Actor for the film Veerapaandiya Kattabomman at the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in March 1960 at Cairo. Since then he has taken on political roles such as Kappalottiya Thamizhan, Vanchinathan, Tiruppur Kumaran, Bhagat Singh, etc.

1962 - Bale Pandiya shooting started on the second of the month and completed on the twelfth. A world record of just 11 days, where he donned THREE roles! During that period it was common for him to work 20 hours a day on three shifts (7am-1pm), (2pm-9pm), (10pm-5am).

1962 - Sivaji Ganesan was presented the golden key to Niagara Falls City and made the 'honorary mayor' of the city for one day.

1964 – By the age of 36, he had completed 100 films, donning nine roles in the historic movie Navarathri! He had also established a film production company, Sivaji Productions, and started Shanthi Theatres.
Mythology was his speciality and he brought the heroes to live in many of his portrayals as epic characters like Harichandra, Karna, Bharatha, Narada, Appar, Nayanmars and Alwars. Thiruvilayaadal, Thiruvarutselvar, Saraswati Sabatham, Harichandran, Thirumal Perumai and Karnan could never have been what it were without Sivaji Ganesan

1966 –Spanning genres like epics to crime thrillers; from romantic escapades to comic flicks and action flicks, Ganesan has done it all, earning him the title of Encyclopaedia of Acting. Recognising his contributions to the film industry, he was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India.

1968 – A woman-dominated story Thillaana Mohanambal, and without a single song in it for him, Sivaji made history with his method acting. All these at the age of 40!

1970 – At age 42, he stepped into Bollywood when Sivandha Man was remade in Hindi as Dharti.
During his time, he had acted under acclaimed 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.

1972 – Vasantha Maligai, one of Sivaji’s biggest blockbusters, was released.

1973 – At the age of 45, he acted as father and son in the very one man show, Gourawam!

1979 – Sivaji’s 200th film Thirusoolam was made when he was 51 years old where he donned three roles. The movie went on to become a blockbuster.

1984 – Awarded highest order of Padma Bhushan by the Government of India

1985 – At the age of 57, he found romantic love in Bharathiraja’s Muthal Mariyathai which won him a Filmfare Award and Tamil Nadu State film Award for Best Actor.

1986 – Honorary doctorate from the Annamalai University

1992 – Seven years after MM, then aged 64, 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.

1995 - The mayor of Columbus City, Greg Lashutka, honored him by making Sivaji Ganesan a 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.

1995 – He received the Chevalier, the Order of Arts and Literature ('Chevalier dans ordre des Arts et Letters') by the Ministry of Culture, Government of France (it's highest civilian award), for his contributions in the field of Arts and Literature in France and all over the world.

1997 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award from the national body and the Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu

1999 – His last film, at the age of 71 was Padaiyappa where he acted as the father of Rajni Kanth.

21 July 2001 - At the age of 73, the great instituition called Sivaji Ganesan came to rest.
However, his memories and his films live on, forever and ever!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VinodKumar's

Gnana oli oda reaction ah ?

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not really... the idea came last year when KV wanted to know about Andha Naal and any other significant movies by Nadigar Thilagam.
As clearly indicated by you, today's youth, the interest for NT will never wane. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NOV

not really... the idea came last year when KV wanted to know about Andha Naal and any other significant movies by Nadigar Thilagam.
As clearly indicated by you, today's youth, the interest for NT will never wane. :)

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My dad is a great fan of him. Adikadi he use Sivaji's dialogue. Vaaram pooram sambaricha kaasa sunday oru naal la 3 show paathu theethuruvaaram.

P.S - Avaru fanaticism alavu kadanthu poi naa chinna payana irunthappa Prabhu voda ella padamum enaa kootitu poi paaparu :| School pasanga Rajini padam pathi pesikitu irupaanga naa prabhu padatha pathi pesa vendi irrukum :lol: (nothing against Prabu but school kaalathula Raja Kaiya vacha , Agni Natchathiram , Paanchalankurichi , Paandithurai lam enakku othu varala :) )

Thanks NOV for doing a meticulous job as always!

Let the likes of KV and Vinod grow! [I remember Vinod talking about his Father's passion even when he was new to the hub]

Regards

Btw, Will the target audience come to classics section?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Murali Srinivas

Btw, Will the target audience come to classics section?

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I believe they will. See Vinod? :)
When one looks for classics, they would come here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VinodKumar's

My dad is a great fan of him. Adikadi he use Sivaji's dialogue. Vaaram pooram sambaricha kaasa sunday oru naal la 3 show paathu theethuruvaaram.

P.S - Avaru fanaticism alavu kadanthu poi naa chinna payana irunthappa Prabhu voda ella padamum enaa kootitu poi paaparu :| School pasanga Rajini padam pathi pesikitu irupaanga naa prabhu padatha pathi pesa vendi irrukum :lol: (nothing against Prabu but school kaalathula Raja Kaiya vacha , Agni Natchathiram , Paanchalankurichi , Paandithurai lam enakku othu varala :) )

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I can relate to what are saying :) Enaku pala naal kalaila suprabathame old Sivaji songs than, not that I did not like it.

satissh, how can one NOT like suprapatham? :D
MS ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NOV

satissh, how can one NOT like suprapatham? :D
MS ;)

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Agree NOV, only problem I had with it was that he played it even on Sundays at 6am :|