Sivaji Ganesan
October 1, 1928 (96 years old) in Villuppuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar, commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. Well known for his versatility and acting skills with numerous roles depicted on screen, he remains one of the most respected stage and film actors in the history of Indian entertainment, with a career spanning close to five decades and nearly 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi to his credit. Arguably the preeminent leading man during the "Golden Age" of Tamil cinema, Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award at an international film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo, Egypt in 1960. He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He won the President's Award for more than 12 times, and was later conferred the highest and the most prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema in 1997. An iconic figure in Tamil pop culture, his work has continued to enjoy an enduring, far-reaching influence in Tamil society in general.
Known For
Credits
- 1999 · Poo Parikka Varugirom as
- 1999 · Padayappa as Padayappa's Father
- 1999 · Mannavaru Sinnavaru as
- 1998 · En Aasai Rasave as
- 1997 · Once More as Ganesan
- 1993 · Paarambariyam as
- 1992 · Mudhal Kural as
- 1987 · Jallikkattu as
- 1987 · Agni Putrudu as
- 1987 · Kudumbam Oru Koyil as
- 1985 · Padikkatha Pannayar as
- 1984 · Simma Soppanam as
- 1984 · Sarithira Nayagan as
- 1984 · Tharaasu as
- 1984 · Thiruppam as
- 1982 · Nenjangal as
- 1982 · Oorum Uravum as
- 1982 · Sangili as
- 1982 · Vaa Kanna Vaa as
- 1982 · Oorukku Oru Pillai as
- 1981 · Amarakaaviyam as
- 1980 · Dharma Raja as
- 1980 · Natchathiram as
- 1979 · Nalladhoru Kudumbam as
- 1979 · Kavari Maan as
- 1978 · Punniya Boomi as
- 1978 · Ennai Pol Oruvan as
- 1977 · Avan Oru Sarithiram as
- 1976 · Rojavin Raja as
- 1976 · Chitra Pournami as
- 1976 · Sathyam as
- 1975 · Cinema Paithiyam as
- 1974 · En Magan as
- 1974 · Thanga Padhakkam as S. P. Choudhry
- 1972 · Gnana Oli as
- 1972 · Thavaputhalvan as
- 1970 · Engirundho Vandhaal as
- 1970 · Raman Ethanai Ramanadi as
- 1970 · Ethiroli as
- 1970 · Vilaiyaattu Pillai as Muthaiah
- 1969 · Anjal Petti 520 as Prabhu
- 1969 · Gurudhatchanai as
- 1969 · Kaaval Dheivam as
- 1968 · Enga Oor Raja as
- 1968 · Thirumaal Perumai as Thief, Vishnuchitta and Sage
- 1967 · Ooty Varai Uravu as Ravi
- 1967 · Iru Malargal as
- 1967 · Thangai as Madhan
- 1966 · Thaaye Unakkaga as Captain Swamy
- 1965 · Pazhani as Pazhani
- 1963 · Annai Illam as
- 1962 · Kulamagal Raadhai as
- 1961 · Ellam Unakkaga as Anandan
- 1961 · Nitchaya Thamboolam as
- 1960 · Vidivelli as Chandru
- 1960 · Irumbu Thirai as
- 1960 · Padikkadha Medhai as Rangan
- 1959 · Bhaaga Pirivinai as
- 1959 · Maragatham as Varendran
- 1959 · Thangapadumai as
- 1957 · Vanangaamudi as
- 1956 · Rangoon Radha as Dharmalinga Mudaliar
- 1955 · Mudhal Thedhi as Sivagnanam
- 1954 · Edhir Paradhathu as Sundar
- 1952 · Panam as Umapathy
- Future · Vishwanatha Nayakudu as
- 1997 · Oru Yaatra Mozhi as Anantha Subramaniam
- 1995 · Pasumpon as Durairasu Thevar
- 1992 · Thevar Magan as Periya Thevar
- 1992 · Chinna Marumagal as
- 1992 · Naangal as Chaturvedi
- 1991 · Gnana Paravai as
- 1988 · Pudhiya Vaanam as D.I.G. Pandidurai
- 1988 · En Thamizh En Makkal as
- 1987 · Krishnan Vandhaan as
- 1987 · Anbulla Appa as Rajasekhar
- 1987 · Veerapandiyan as
- 1987 · Muthukkal Moondru as
- 1987 · Raja Mariyadhai as
- 1986 · Mannukkul Vairam as
- 1986 · Lakshmi Vandhachu as
- 1986 · Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu as
- 1986 · Viduthalai as Inspector Rajasingam
- 1986 · Anandha Kanneer as
- 1986 · Marumagal as
- 1986 · Saadhanai as
- 1985 · Padikkadavan as Rajasekhar
- 1985 · Raja Rishi as Sage Vishwamitra / King Kaushika
- 1985 · Mudhal Mariyathai as Malaichami
- 1985 · Nermai as
- 1985 · Needhiyin Nizhal as
- 1985 · Naam Iruvar as
- 1985 · Bandham as
- 1984 · Vamsa Vilakku as
- 1984 · Iru Medhaigal as
- 1984 · Dhaavani Kanavugal as Captain Chidambaram
- 1984 · Ezhudhaadha Sattangal as
- 1984 · Vaazhkai as
- 1984 · Chiranjeevi as
- 1983 · Vellai Roja as
- 1983 · Miruthanga Chakravarthi as
- 1983 · Kashmir Kadhali as
- 1983 · Sumangali as
- 1983 · Sandhippu as
- 1983 · Neethibathi as
- 1983 · Uruvangal Maralam as
- 1982 · Paritchaikku Neramaachu as
- 1982 · Thunai as
- 1982 · Thyagi as
- 1982 · Theerpu as
- 1982 · Vasandhathil Oru Naal as
- 1982 · Garuda Saukiyama as Deenadayalan
- 1982 · Hitler Umanath as
- 1981 · Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum as
- 1981 · Madi Veetu Ezhai as
- 1981 · Lorry Driver Rajakannu as
- 1981 · Kalthoon as
- 1981 · Sathya Sundharam as
- 1981 · Mohana Punnagai as
- 1980 · Vishwaroobam as
- 1980 · Ratha Paasam as
- 1980 · Yamanukku Yaman as
- 1980 · Rishi Moolam as
- 1979 · Vetrikku Oruvan as
- 1979 · Pattaakathi Bairavan as
- 1979 · Naan Vazhavaippen as
- 1979 · Imayam as
- 1979 · Thirisoolam as
- 1978 · Justice Gopinath as Gopinath
- 1978 · Pilot Premnath as
- 1978 · Thacholi Ambu as Thacholi Othenakkurup
- 1978 · General Chakravarthi as
- 1978 · Vaazhkai Alaigal as
- 1978 · Thyagam as
- 1978 · Andhamaan Kadhali as
- 1977 · Annan Oru Koyil as Dr. Ramesh
- 1977 · Naam Pirandha Mann as
- 1977 · Chanakya Chandragupta as Alexander III of Macedon
- 1977 · Ilaya Thalaimurai as
- 1977 · Deepam as
- 1976 · Unakkaga Naan as
- 1976 · Uthaman as
- 1976 · Grahapravesam as
- 1975 · Paattum Bharathamum as
- 1975 · Dr. Siva as Dr. Siva
- 1975 · Vaira Nenjam as
- 1975 · Avandhan Manidhan as Ravikumar
- 1975 · Anbe Aaruyire as
- 1975 · Manidhanum Dheivamagalam as Kumaraiya / Sundaram
- 1974 · Avan Thaan Manidhan as
- 1974 · Vani Rani as
- 1973 · Rajapart Rangadurai as Rangadurai / Rajapart
- 1973 · Anbai Thedi as
- 1973 · Gauravam as Rajinikanth / Kannan
- 1973 · Engal Thanga Raja as
- 1973 · Bhakta Tukaram as Sivaji
- 1973 · Rajaraja Cholan as Rajaraja Cholan
- 1973 · Bharatha Vilas as Gopal
- 1972 · Needhi as
- 1972 · Vasantha Maligai as Anand
- 1972 · Pattikada Pattanama as
- 1972 · Raja as
- 1971 · Babu as
- 1971 · Moondru Dheivangal as
- 1971 · Savale Samali as Manickam
- 1971 · Sumadhi En Sundhari as
- 1971 · Kulama Gunama as
- 1971 · Thangaikkaaga as
- 1971 · Iru Thuruvam as Rangan
- 1970 · Pathukappu as
- 1970 · Sorgam as Shankar
- 1970 · Vietnam Veedu as
- 1970 · Dharti as Guest appearance
- 1970 · Enga Mama as
- 1969 · Sivandha Mann as Bharath
- 1969 · Deiva Magan as
- 1969 · Nirai Kudam as Doctor Prabhakar / Doctor Babu
- 1969 · Thanga Surangam as
- 1968 · Uyarndha Manidhan as
- 1968 · Lakshmi Kalyanam as
- 1968 · Harichandra as
- 1968 · Thillana Mohanambal as Nadaswara Chakravarthi "Sikkal" Shanmugasundaram
- 1968 · En Thambi as
- 1968 · Galatta Kalyanam as Madhan
- 1967 · Thiruvarutchelvar as
- 1967 · Nenjirukkum Varai as
- 1967 · Kandhan Karunai as Veerabaghu
- 1966 · Selvam as
- 1966 · Saraswathi Sabatham as Vidyapathi
- 1966 · Mahakavi Kalidas as Kalidas
- 1966 · Motor Sundaram Pillai as Sundaram Pillai
- 1965 · Neela Vanam as Babu
- 1965 · Thiruvilayadal as Lord Shiva in Different Disguises
- 1965 · Shanthi as
- 1965 · Anbu Karangal as
- 1965 · Mahabharat as Karna
- 1964 · Andavan Kattalai as Professor Krishnan
- 1964 · Navarathiri as Widowder Arputhraj/Drunkard/Doctor Karunagaran/Gunman/Villager/Leper/Actor Sathyavaan Singaram/Commissioner Veerapan/Bridegroom Anand
- 1964 · Puthiya Paravai as Gopal
- 1964 · Kai Kodutha Deivam as
- 1964 · Pachai Vilakku as
- 1964 · Karnan as Karnan
- 1963 · Ratha Thilagam as Major Kumar
- 1963 · Kungumam as
- 1963 · Paar Magale Paar as
- 1963 · Naan Vanangum Deivam as Sundaram
- 1963 · Iruvar Ullam as
- 1963 · Arivaali as Aalavanthan
- 1962 · Aalayamani as Thyagarajan
- 1962 · Bandha Pasam as
- 1962 · Vadivukku Valaikaappu as
- 1962 · Bale Pandiya as
- 1962 · Parthal Pasi Theerum as
- 1961 · Padithal Mattum Podhuma as
- 1961 · Paalum Pazhamum as Dr Ravi
- 1961 · Pasamalar as Rajasekharan
- 1961 · Punar Janmam as Shankar
- 1961 · Paava Mannippu as Ramu / Raheem
- 1961 · Kappalottiya Thamizhan as Va. Vu. Chidambaram Pillai
- 1960 · Deiva Piravi as Madhavan
- 1960 · Paavai Vilakku as
- 1959 · Veerapandiya Kattabomman as Veerapandiya Kattabomman
- 1958 · Annaiyin Aanai as
- 1958 · Sampoorna Ramayanam as Bharathan
- 1958 · Kathavarayan as
- 1958 · Sabaash Meena as Mohan
- 1958 · Uthama Puthiran as Parthiban and Vikraman
- 1958 · Raj Tilak as
- 1957 · Ambikapathy as
- 1957 · Fortunate Bride as
- 1957 · Rani Lalithangi as Prince
- 1957 · Thangamalai Ragasiyam as
- 1957 · Pudhaiyal as
- 1957 · Makkalai Petra Magarasi as Chengodayyan
- 1956 · Amara Deepam as Ashok
- 1956 · Tenali Raman as Tenali Ramakrishna
- 1956 · Pennin Perumai as
- 1955 · Kalvanin Kadhali as
- 1955 · Mangayar Thilakam as Vasudevan
- 1954 · Thookku Thookki as Sundararangathan
- 1954 · Koondukkili as
- 1954 · Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari as Ambalavannan / Ambalam
- 1954 · Andha Naal as Rajan
- 1954 · Manohara as Manohara
- 1953 · Pempudu Koduku as
- 1953 · Thirumbi Paar as
- 1953 · Anbu as Selvam
- 1953 · Poongothai as Anand
- 1952 · Parasakthi as Gunasekaran