Sivaji Ganesan (b. 1927)

Tamil superstar, originally Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan but best known as Sivaji. Born in Sirkali, TN, into the peasant Kallar caste although his father worked on the railways. According to the official biography, the day he was born his father was jailed for participating in the Independence movement in Nellikuppam. Enjoyed a fitful education and joined theatre groups. Made his reputation as actor in C.N. Annadurai’s play Sivaji Kanda Indhu Rajyam, a historical on the Maratha Emperor Shivaji which also gave him his screen name. He followed Annadurai when the latter started the DMK (1949), and his début, in the wordy role of Gunasekharan in Parasakthi, made him the official icon of the Party for some years (cf. DMK Film). He started distancing himself from the DMK in the mid-50s, joining E.V.K. Sampath’s Tamil Nationalist Party (1961), then joined Congress and wound up supporting the opposition Janata Dal. Moving away from the early DMK’s atheistic politics, he acted in several mythologicals, esp. Sampoorna Ramayanam and Thiruvillaiyadal, in nationalist historicals (his most famous film Veerapandiya Kattaboman) and in biographicals (Kappalotiya Thamizhan, a film on V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, a 19th C. antiimperialist who defied the British to start the Steam Navigation Co.). Was associated in his middle period mainly with the films of A. Bhimsingh and A.P. Nagarajan. Played the negative role of the womaniser in Thirumbi Paar and then some years later, more famously, in Rangoon Radha. According to K. Sivathamby (1981), Ganesan and his main rival, MGR (with whom he acted in one film, Kundukkili), dominated the Tamil cinema to such an extent that the two automatically demanded Madras distribution rights in their contracts and could bankrupt a producer by causing production delays, a power the stars used to further their political ambitions. Their power base is buttressed by several fan clubs and the Ganesan Rasikar Manram. Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (1982-8). However it is maintained that Ganesan had a more significant iconic presence among the Tamil middle-class, leading to his 1980s-90s deification, than MGR could ever acquire. His younger brother ran Sivaji Prod. and his son Prabhu was propelled to stardom in the 80s in films like Kozhi Kuvutthu (1982) and Vetri Vizha (1989, adapting Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Identity).

FILMOGRAPHY: 1952: Parasakthi; Panam; 1953: Poongothai; Anbu; Kangal; Thirumbi Paar; Manithanum Mrigamum; Pempudu Koduku; 1954: Andha Naal; Illara Jyothi; Ethirparadathu; Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari; Kundukkili; Thuli Visham; Thooku Thooki; Manohara; 1955: Ulagam Palavitham; Kalvanin Kadhali; Kaveri; Koteshwaran; Mangayar Thilakam; Mudhal Thedi; Pennin Perumai; 1956: Amara Deepam; Tenali Raman; Naney Raja; Nalla Veedu; Raja Rani; Naan Petra Selvam; Rangoon Radha; Vazhvile Oru Naal; 1957: Pudhuvayal; Tangamalai Rahasyam; Makkalai Petra Maharasi; Manamagal Thevai; Bhagyavati; Vanangamudi; Rani Lalithangi; Ambikapathy; Sarangadhara; 1958: Annaiyin Aanai; Uthama Puthran; Kathavarayan; Shabash Meena; Sampoorna Ramayanam; Pati Bhakti; Bommalapelli; School Master; 1959: Aval Yar; Thangapathumai; Naan Sollum Rahasiyam; Bhagapirivinai; Maragatham; Veerapandiya Kattaboman; 1960: Daiva Piravi; Kurvanji; Irumputhirai; Padikkatha Methai; Petra Manam; Pavai Vilakku; Raja Bhakti; Makkala Rajya; Vidiveli; 1961: Ellam Unnakkaga; Kappalotiya Thamizhan; Pasamalar; Punarjanmam; Pavamanippu; Marudu Nattu Veeran; Palum Pazhamum; Srivalli; 1962: Alayamani; Senthamarai; Nishchaya Thambulam; Padithal Mattu Pothuma; Bale Pandian; Bandha Pasam; Parthal Pasi Theerum; Vadivukku Valai Kappu; Valar Pirai; 1963: Arivali; Annai Illam; Iruvar Ullam; Raktha Tilakam; Kulamagal Radhai; Chittor Rani Padmini; Kumkumam; Paar Magale Paar; Naan Vanangum Daivam; Kalyanin Kanavan; Mamakaram; 1964: Karnan; Pachai Vilakku; Andavan Kathali; Kaikodutha Daivam; Pudhiya Paravai; Muradhan Muthu; Navarathri; School Master; 1965: Pazhani; Anbukkarangal; Shanti; Thiruvillaiyadal; Neelavanam; 1966: Motor Sundaram Pillai; Mahakavi Kalidas; Saraswathi Sabatham; Selvam; Thaye Unakkaga; 1967: Kandan Karunai; Nenjirukumvarai; Pesum Daivam; Thangai; Paladai; Thiruvarut Selvar; Iru Malargal; Ootivarai Uravu; 1968: Thirumal Perumai; Harishchandra; Enga Ooru Raja; Galatta Kalyanam; En Thambi; Thillana Mohanambal; Lakshmi Kalyanam; Uyarntha Manithan; Arunodhayam; 1969: Anbalipu; Thanga Surangam; Kaval Daivam; Gurudakshinai; Anjal Petty 520; Nirai Kudam; Daivamagan; Thirudan; Sivantha Mann; 1970: Enga Mama; Vilayattu Pillai; Vietnam Veedu; Ethiroli; Raman Ethanai Ramanadi; Dharti; Sorgam; Engiruthu Vandhal; Pathukappu; 1971: Iru Thuruvam; Thangaikkaga; Kulama Kunama; Sumathi En Sundari; Praptham; Savale Samali; Thenum Palum; Moondru Daivangal; Babu; 1972: Raja; Gnana Oli; Pattikada Pattanama; Dharmam Engay; Thavaputhalvan; Vasantha Maligai; Neethi; Maa Inti Jyothi; 1973: Bharatha Vilas; Raja Raja Chozhan; Ponnunnjal; Engal Thanga Raja; Gauravam; Manithiral Manikam; Raja Part Rangadurai; Ranganna Sabatham; Bhakta Tukaram; 1974: Sivakamyin Selvan; Thayi; Vani Rani; Thanga Padakkam; En Magan; Anbai Thedi; Gauravam; 1975: Manithanum Daivamagalam; Avanthan Manithan; Mannavan Vandanadi; Anbe Aruyere; Vaira Nenjam; Doctor Siva; Pattam Bharathamum; 1976: Unakkaga Naan; Grihapravesham; Sathyam; Uthaman; Chitra Pournami; Rojavin Raja; Avan Oru Charitram; Ilaya Thalaimurai; Ennai Pol Oruvan; 1977: Deepam; Naam Pirandha Maan; Annan Oru Koyil; Andaman Kathali; Chanakya Chandragupta; Jeevana Theeralu; 1978: Thyagam; Punya Bhoomi; General Chakravarthi; Thacholi Ambu; Pilot Premnath; Justice Gopinath; 1979: Thirisulam; Emayam; Kavariman; Nallathoru Kudumbam; Naan Vazhavippen; Pattakathi Bhairavan; Vetrikku Oruvan; 1980: Dharma Raja; Yamanukku Yaman; Ratha Pasam; Rishi Moolam; Vishwa Roopam; 1981: Amarakaviyam; Sathyam Sundaram; Mohana Ponnagai; Kalthoon; Lorry Driver Rajakannu; Madi Veetu Ezhai; Kizhvanam Sivakkam; 1982: Hitler Umanath; Oorukku Oru Pillai; Ganesan, Sivaji,98 Vaa Kanna Vaa; Garuda Sowkiyama; Sangili; Vasanthathil Oru Naal; Theerpu; Thyagi; Paritchaikku Neramchu; Oorum Uravum; Nenjangal; Nivurigappina Nippu; Thunai; 1983: Neethipathi; Imaigal; Sandhippu; Mridanga Chakravarthi; Sumangali; Vellai Roja; Uruvavugal Maralam; Bezwada Bebbuli; 1984: Thiruppam; Chiranjeevi; Tharasu; Vazhkai; Charitra Nayakan; Simma Soppanam; Ezhuthantha Sattangal; Iru Methaigal; Vamsa Vilakku; Thavani Kanavukal; 1985: Bandham; Nam Iruvar; Padikkatha Panayar; Neethiyin Nizhal; Nermai; Muthal Mariyathai; Raja Rishi; Padikkadhavan; 1986: Sadhanai; Marumagal; Ananda Kannir; Viduthalai; Thaikku Oru Thalattu; Maaveeran; Lakshmi Vandhachu; 1987: Veerapandian; Mutukkal Moonru; Anbulla Appa; Thambathiyam; Vishwanatha Nayakudu; Agni Putrudu; 1988: En Thamil En Makkal; Marmagal; Pudhiya Vanam; 1991: Gnana Paravai; 1992: Muthal Kural; Thevar Magan; Nangal; Chinna Marumagal; 1993: Paramparyam; 1995: Pasumponn.