Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan

Remembering Sivaji
[Monday, February 13, 2006]
Honoring the contributions of thespian Sivaji Ganesan to Tamil filmdom, a life-size statue of the actor was unveiled in Pondicherry by Pondicherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy at a simple function held in the Union Territory on Saturday.

The statue has come up at a cost of Rs six lakh.

He also announced that a film city named after Sivaji Ganesan would be established soon.

Actors Prabhu, Sarathkumar, Sathiyaraj, Nizhalgal Ravi, Thiagu, Sibiraj and Radhika were also present on the occasion.

Photo Gallery:
http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/t...ents/9119.html

Thanks Thirupathi for the article and kind words.

1) Original Name : V.C.GANESAN (Villupuram C.Ganesan)
2) Popular Name : SIVAJI GANESAN -- the title "Sivaji" was given to Ganesan by the great Rationlist,Thanthai Periyar E.V.R.Ramasamy for his best performance in the role of Sathrapathy Sivaji in the stage play "Sivaji kanda Indu Saamraajyam" in the year 1946.

3) How Became An Actor: When he was 9 years old he ran away from his house. Nobody knew his whereabouts. After many days his mother and elder brother happened to trace him at a place near Trichirapalli where "Kampalaththaan Kooththu" a popular folk drama was taking place. Kattabomman's story was being enacted on stage in that Kooththu. Ganesan was very much interested in that particular drama. Even at that small age he had vowed that one day he would become an actor and do Kattabomman's role on stage.
Ganesan's mother brought him back to their house. She arranged through her elder son to get a placement for Ganesan in one of the popular drama troupes. Thus Ganesan first became a stage actor.

4) First film : His first film is "Paraasakthi". It was released in the year 1952.

5) Great Turning Point: "Parasakthi" was a great turning point not only in Sivaji Ganesan's acting Career but also for the entire Tamil Cinema Field. Before that there were mainly either Raja Rani Stories or religious and mythological stories with a number of songs which had great sway among Tamil Cinema audience. But "Paraasakthi" was a social film with revolutionery themes and lesser number of songs. More over the heart - catching, fiery dialogue by Kalaingar Karunanidhi made the film a super revolutionery one in terms of it's trend- setting nature and it's overall reformative impact on society.

6) Milestones : The Greatest Merit of Sivaji Ganesan is that no other actor either in Tamil Cinema or Indian Film Industry or in the whole
World has done such a great number of roles and acted in such a great varieties of roles depicting real life- like characters on screen and no other actor's acting carreer is so much saturated with such a great number of milestones in terms of unimaginable achievements as in that of sivaji Ganesan.

7)Meritorious Awards:
1) The Best Actor Award won in Afro- Asian Film Festival held in Gairo, Egypt in 1960.
2) Padmasri Title - 1966.
5) Padmabhushan Title - 1984
4) Chevalier Award of France 1995.
5) Dadha Saahib Paalkhe Award 1997.

8)Meritorious Qualities :
1) Modesty.
2) Punctuality.
3) Make-up Aptness and Physical Fitness that suit with 100% exactness any sort of role from Prince to Beggar and the Rugged Character to the Cultured Elite!
4) Infinite Veriety In Acting And Dialogue -Delivery - An Unreachable Feat by any other World Level Actor.


9)Unique Achievment: The No 1 ranked Actor the World has ever seen.

10) Ambition: Wants to act until the last breath of life and he would be even more happy, he once said, should his physical existence comes to an end while acting.

11) Total Number Of Films: Around 300

12) Mother Tongue: Tamil

13) Native Place: Villupuram, a small town in South Arcot district, in Tamilnadu, India.

14) Academic Education: III std, at the preliminary level of school education.

15) Father's Name: P.Chinniah Mandraayer. Though poor was very rich in his sprit of patriotism! Was imprisoned many number of times for his continued support and participation in the then Indian Freedom Stuggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Jail become his second home.

16) Mother's Name: Rajamani Ammal. While her husband was in prison she had to undergo all sorts of hardships to feed her children and maintain the family.Lack of food made them at times to forgo food.

17) Marriage: Married Kamala, already a relative of him, who was a resident of Nagappattinam near Trichirappalli, Tamilnadu. This couple begot two male children later named Ramkumar and Prabhu, and two female ones Shanthi and Thenmozhi. Today all the four are married. Ramkumar looks after and manages Sivaji Films. Prabhu has become one of the busiest, leading heroes of Tamil Cinema.

18) Political Affiliations: From his first film onwards he was considered to be a staunch D.M.K. party sympathiser. After 1955 some dramatic changes took place. He was a neutralist for some years.
But at the end of 1961 he become a strong supporter of Congress Party. In that year he took part and delivered an address in the state Congress party Conference in which the then Prime Minister Pandid Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamarajar were the main participants. In 1982 Mrs.Indira Gandhi made him the Rajya sabha M.P. After 1687 came out of Congress and floated his own Political Party. 2 years latter became President of Tamilnadu faction of Janata Dal. After a few years he quit politics.

19) Honours Bestowed Upon Sivaji Ganesan: In 1962 Sivaji Ganesan toured America as its Special Guest. There, he was given one of the highest houours of being the Mayor of Niagara City for one day. After Prime Minister Nehru, Sivaji was the only Indian to get this honour.
In Hollywood he met world famous actors like Marlon Brando and some leading Cinema technicians.
Egyptian President Naasar, Singapore former Prime Minister, Ceylon President Chandrika, Indian former Prime Ministers Nehru, Indra Gandhi, V.P. Singh, former President Dr. Radhakirishnan, former Governer -General Rajaji, former Chief Ministers Kamarajar and Annadurai, Present Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi, Ex-Chief Ministers M.G.R., RamaRao and Jayalalitha were not only his associates but his very great admirers too!

With his glorious 50 years of service for Tamil Cinema, our greatest thespian Sivaji Ganesan has donned many roles on screen. Almost all are wonderful roles and these movies should be treated as classics and serve as "Acting book" to other actors. Here, I will try to analyze some of the roles that Sivaji did and why they are considered as classics:

Role: Doctor
Movies: Paalum Pazhamum, Engal Thanga Raaja, Keel Vanam Sivakkum, etc.

I consider Paalum Pazhamum as classics and it was one of the best "paa" series movies, directed by Bhim Singh. This movie is unique in the sense that Sivaji jelled himself very well as a fine doctor, a lovable brother and a wonderful husband. For Sivaji fans, it was a wonderful treat to watch this movie and in addition, Kavignar Kannadasan's songs made it very memorable. There are many memorarble scenes in the movie and some of them that I remember:

1. in one scene, as a doctor, Sivaji goes for rounds in the hospital and ask patients' about their wellness. He talks to patients and at the same time looks for medical reports and suggests different medicines and treatments, if necessary. A simple and amazing act. Sivaji must have studied the behavior of doctors because I have seen many doctors when they go for rounds, their attitude just resembles Sivaji's action in the movie. You do not see the actor Sivaji in PP, but see a doctor.
2. in another scene, Sarojadevi is helping Sivaji in the lab. Sivaji realizes that she is quite knowledgable and Saro acknowledges that she couldn't complete the final year in medical school due to financial difficulties. Immediately, Sivaji thinks how wonderful it would be to marry her and continue the research. It is a treat to watch his facial expression.
3. A beautiful song "naan pesa ninaipathellam, nee pesa vendum" after their marriage. Sivaji, a wonderful husband and Saro, a beautiful and lovable wife. The song just conveys what is necessary for a happy marriage
4. Another song scene after he receives the news that Saro is dead in a train accident. An immortal song "ponaal pogattum poda". A beautiful song with a flawless action. It is a treat to watch how beautifully Sivaji walks during the song. Even his walking acts!!

There are many more memorable scenes in the movie. I do not remember any other actor conveyed the expression as a doctor so beautifully. In a true sense, till today, no other actor has beaten his performance in this role. Sivaji, along with Bhim Singh and other actors, made PP a run away hit and wonderful to watch. Personally, If I had seen this movie before entering engg college, I would have become a doctor now.

Engal thanga raaja: It is a OK movie, with a bit of commercial stuff. That spoiled the movie
Keel Vaanam sivakkum: Good movie. Sivaji is an ophthalmologist and did a good job with Sarita and Jai Shankar

Any other movies Sivaji acted as Doctor? Any other actor, who can rival Sivaji in this role?

Joe, if you remember about Gauravam (your avatar), write about it. Gauravam is one of my favorites movies. I will try to add Sivaji's other roles later.

tacinema,
In 'Navaraththiri' ,one of the 9 roles is Doctor.Nadigar thilagam acted as a old aged Doctor with up side down young lover character in the same movie.

Sure,I will write about Gowrawam detailly.

Tacinema,
Forget to mention..Wonderful post on 'Paalum Pazhamum'

Gowrawam - Nadigar Thilagam with his immitable Style. :thumbsup:

In this movie nadigar Thilagam's character name is 'Rajini Kanth' .I think ,this movie came before Sivaji rao became Rajini Kanth ..Balachander might choosed this name 'Rajini Kanth' matching sivaji rao's style with Nadigar Thilagam's 'Parister Rajini kanth'.

In Super Star Rajinikanth's famous Doordarshan interview before the election ,the very first question to him is "What is your opnion about Nadigar Thilagam" ..He replied "Pothuva palar enna style king-nnu solluraanga ..Naan style king-nna Nadigar Thilagam is Style Charakaravarthy" ..Those who wanted to check what Rajini means ,need to watch this movie 'Gowrawam' ,Nadigar Thilagam with incomparable Style.

(will continue)

Nadigar Thilagam was stylish and majestic in the role 'Paristor Rajini Kanth'.

Few times in between dialogues he used to call his his wife Pandari Bhai "Aai Chella!!" with remarkable style.

When young shivaji decided to appear against rajinikanth ,he came to Rajinikanth's house to seek blessings from rajinikanth ..After Bhandaribhai welcomed him and angry with him for not coming to see her and asked him not to fight with Periyappa rajinikanth ..Young sivaji argued with tears "பெரியம்மா நீ தானே நீதி நியாயம்லாம் சொல்லிக்குடுத்த .மகாபாரதத்துல அர்ஜூனன் போருல எதுத்து நிக்குற துரோணரைப் பார்த்து ,கிருஷ்ணன் கிட்ட எப்படி தன் குருவை எதிர்த்து சண்டை போட முடியும்-னு சொல்ல ,கிருஷ்ணன் தர்மம்னு வரும்போது பந்த பாசத்துக்கு இடம் குடுக்க கூடாதுன்ணு சொன்னாருண்ணு நீ தானே எனக்கு சொல்லிக் கொடுத்த",then they both turn back and see Rajinikanth standing on the second floor gallery ,smoking with style and says "யாரது ? கண்ணனா? நல்லாருக்கேளா? சாப்பிட்டேளா" ,You must watch his mannersims and expressions ,the stylish dialogue delivery ,body language ,getup,majesty when he utter these few words and continue "கண்ணா! நடக்குறது பாரதமும் இல்ல .நானும் துரோரணரும் இல்ல ......"and a long dialogue..

whenever I watch this scene ,I enjoy bit by bit the style and body language of Nadigar thilagam.

(will continue)

Joe anNe,

'Paristor Rajini Kanth'.
, enna Shivaji sir film-a?

BTW, 'sindu nathiyin Misai nilavinile' ,...' from which film pls? I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raghu

Joe anNe,

'Paristor Rajini Kanth'.
, enna Shivaji sir film-a?

BTW, 'Sinthu nathiyin karai Nilavinele,...' from which film pls? I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH

---

Raghu Thampi,
Konjam Kanna muzhichu parunga ..I am talking about the movie Gowrawam(My avatar also from same movie) and the Character name of Nadigar Thilagam is 'Paristor Rajini Kanth'

Btw,"sindu nathiyin Misai nilavinile' song is from movie 'Kai Koduththa Deivam"