Remembering the Genius of Sivaji Ganesan

Murasu TV telecast "Uyarntha Manithan" on the birth anniversary of Sivaji Ganesan today.

As the timeless Sivaji crooned "Antha Naal Gnabagam Vanthathey..."(Nostalgia about good old days), I was transported to the train rides back from school to home between 1978 - 1980, between Perambur and Korattur, when there fierce arguments between my class mates Ravichandran and Shamiq Hussain arguing for and against Sivaji respectively, the party included Narayanan Vedartham Seshadri and Puthigai Venkatagiri and a few others.  While Ravi would extoll the virtues of Sivaji, Shamiq would brush aside Ravi's arguments with disdain and would find it very difficult to digest Sivaji's brush with overacting, until he saw the highly artistic and romantic Thillana Mohanambal.

We all grew up watching Sivaji Ganesan and MGR and in reality, they were fundamentally responsible for attracting people in droves to cinema in Tamil Nadu and  to the credit of Sivaji he has had a lasting influence on many actors including Kamal hassan, who proclaimed his legacy as Sivaji's successor with Devar Magan.

When Parasakthi was released in 1951, people seemed to have remained in their seats in hushed silence during the interval.

A certain section of people could accuse Sivaji of being loud but Sivaji remains a treasure.

For the current generation of people and for people from other states, who would like to understand and experience the versatility and genius of Sivaji Ganesan, I would like to recommend, Antha Naal(one of the best suspense thrillers of all times), Kappolotiya Thamizhan, Thillana Moganambal, Thiruvilayadal, Muthal Mariyadai and Thevar Magan. The list I have chosen is a very small sample and which the current generation can easily relate to and appreciate the genius of Sivaji. 

In our household lies an old sofa set, which my twenty-year-old son would never allow us to dispose. Why? Incidentally, the sofa set was used in 1972 to seat Sivaji Ganesan who had come as a Chief Guest for a play, Mohini Theevu, staged by our uncle's troupe. 

I am happy to see the enduring appeal of a great genius whose potential was never put to full use by our industry

Is it not a travesty of justice that Sivaji has never been a recipient of a single best actor award.

Ironically it is the French government which conferred one of their highest awards to Sivaji!!!