Gemini Ganesan
Gemini Ganesan | |
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Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | |
Alma mater | Madras Christian College |
Years active | 1947–2004 |
Spouses |
|
Partners |
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Children |
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Relatives | Muthulakshmi Reddy (aunt) |
Ramasamy Ganesan (17 November 1920 – 22 March 2005),[1] better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was referred to as the Kaadhal Mannan (King of Romance) for his romantic roles in films.[2] Ganesan was one of the "three biggest names of Tamil cinema", the other two being M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan.[3] While Sivaji Ganesan excelled in dramatic films and M. G. Ramachandran was popular as an action hero, Gemini Ganesan was known for his romantic films.[4] A recipient of the Padma Shri in 1971, he had also won several other awards including the Kalaimamani, the MGR Gold Medal, and the Screen Lifetime Achievement Award. He was one of the few college graduates to enter the film industry then.[5]
Gemini Ganesan made his debut with Miss Malini in 1947 but was noticed only after playing the villain in Thai Ullam in 1953.[6] After playing the lead role in Manam Pola Mangalyam (1954), he finally acquired star status.[7] However, unlike Sivaji Ganesan or Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan was not a stage performer and was never involved in politics. In his long film career spanning over five decades, Ganesan acted in more than 200 films.[8] His performances on the screen were enhanced by successful playback singers such as A. M. Rajah and P. B. Sreenivas.[4] Despite his celebrated film career, Ganesan's personal life, particularly his marriages to multiple women over the years, including famous Indian actress Savitri, has often been a subject of criticism. He had eight children, including actress Rekha.
Early life
Gemini Ganesan was born in a
When Ganesan was in the sixth grade, his grandfather died, and not long after that, his father too died. Meanwhile, Muthulakshmi (now known as Muthulakshmi Reddi) had studied well and become a doctor; she was affluent and educated and had thoroughly abandoned the style of life followed by her mother and maternal ancestors, so much so that she became the leader of a social reform movement aimed at eradicating the Devadasi system. She was instrumental in ensuring the passage through parliament of the Devadasi Abolition Act. After the death of his father, Ganesan, along with his mother Bhagirathi, moved to his aunt Muthulakshmi's home in Madras (now known as Chennai).
Muthulakshmi provided shelter to her mother Chandramma and also to Bhagirathi and Ganesan, but she was very dismissive and insulting towards her destitute relatives, and she felt ashamed of them because of their background as nautch girls. She heaped many insults on the two widowed women and ensured that they did not show their faces to any guests who visited the house. Unhappy with the situation, Chandramma and Bhagirathi returned to Pudukkottai. However, they left Ganesan with his aunt, so he would grow into an educated and respectable man.
Education
Since Muthulakshmi was an ardent follower of Ramakrishna, she decided to enroll Ganesan into Ramakrishna Mission Home. While there, he was taught yoga and languages and was made to read the Bhagavad Gita. However, he could not bear being separated from his mother, who was in Pudukkottai, so he returned to his native place and studied at a high school there. Later on, he joined Maharajah's College, located in the same place. However, he completed his graduation from Madras Christian College, Chennai.[4]
Early work
Ganesan's dream was to become a doctor.[11] In April 1940, he went to Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappalli) to see T. R. Alamelu. Alamelu's father proposed to his daughter in marriage and promised him a medical seat after graduation. Ganesan immediately agreed and married Alamelu in June 1940. Alamelu lost her father and elder sister within one month of her marriage. Ganesan's dreams of becoming a doctor were shattered. There was no choice left for him but to find a job immediately, as he was the only person to support his family. He got an interview from the Indian Air Force. Much against Alamelu's wishes, Ganesan went to Delhi. There, he met his uncle Narayanaswami who advised him to become a teacher. Finally, Ganesan worked as a lecturer in the Chemistry department of Madras Christian College. Later in 1947, he obtained work as a production executive in Gemini Studios, from where the title "Gemini" became prefixed to his name. He debuted in film from the casting department of the Studio itself.[4]
Career
Initial years
From the casting department, Ganesan made his film debut in 1947 with the satire
Stardom in the south
In a career spanning nearly 50 years, Ganesan played a variety of roles, from
Ganesan's 1961 film
Bollywood career
Gemini Ganesan acted in a few
Later years
Later in his career, Ganesan switched to
Other work
Unlike Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran, Gemini Ganesan was not originally a theatre actor, thus making his acting "refreshingly credible".[15] Though he interacted cordially with fans, he avoided promoting fan clubs. Ganesan abstained from politics to the point of refusing a Rajya Sabha MP offer by Rajiv Gandhi.[22] The only time he even barely approached politics was in 1963 when he organized a function for Subramania Bharati at Ettayapuram.[15] Apart from acting, Ganesan was also a businessman and invested heavily in real estate and property development.[6] He was skilled in various sports such as tennis, golf, and badminton, and captained his college's cricket team.[22] Ganesan also directed the film Idhaya Malar (1976).[34]
Acclaim and criticism
Gemini Ganesan has widely been praised for his versatility in acting, having performed a "wide range of roles".[14] He was "at his best" with Savitri, with whom he had acted in several successful films.[35] In February 2006, Dayanidhi Maran had released a commemorative postage stamp of the actor, whom he described as a "multi-dimensional personality, who evinced keen interest in Carnatic music, reading, yoga and poetry."[36] He is also credited for having introduced leading Tamil actor Kamal Haasan to Kalathur Kannamma, where the latter was a child artist.[15] Ganesan also took part in a World Tamil Conference in Kuala Lumpur, notably because he "loved Tamil language". According to politician M. Karunanidhi, the actor had developed a "reformer's mind" because he was raised by his aunt Muthulakshmi Reddy, who fought for the abolition of the devadasi system. Director K. Balachander called Ganesan a "director's delight" and stated that "The advantage of having him as a hero was that he was convinced about the capabilities of a director, he would leave it to the director and would not interfere". Lyricist Vairamuthu said: "'Gemini' Ganesan was not envious of anyone and promoted many actors by recommending them to producers and directors".[37]
Despite being one of the most successful actors of Tamil cinema during his time, Gemini Ganesan was criticized for being "fossilized in one type of portrayal",
Personal life
Gemini Ganesan, at 19, married Alamelu, with whom he lived and whom he fondly called "Boubji". He later married
Legacy
A documentary film on the legend in the name of Kadhal Mannan was produced by Dr. Kamala Selvaraj and directed by Ashok Kumar, DFT (Programme Head-Vendhar TV) in 2011. It was screened by many film stalwarts and fans of the legend and received rave reviews from critics for bringing out a candid representation of the actor's life in detail. Following the response, a DVD version of the film was released in the same year. In the mid-2010s, three films were made about the actor. Odam Ilavarasu's romantic comedy Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum (2017) began in 2015 and featured the lead character as someone who falls in love with several women at the same time. Muthukumar's Kaadhal Mannan (2018) was initially titled Gemini Ganesan before the makers decided to change the title.[48] Furthermore, an official biopic of actress Savitri was made by director Nag Ashwin in Telugu as Mahanati. Dulquer Salmaan was cast as Ganesan, and Ashwin revealed that his portrayal of Gemini Ganesan would go beyond the physical resemblance, to better depict the character's emotional side.[49]
Death
After a prolonged illness due to
Accolades
- 1970 – Kaaviya Thalaivi
- 1990 – Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award – MGR Award
- 1971 – Padma Shri Award[8]
- 1974 – Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor for Naan Avanillai
- 1993 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South[51]
- MGR Gold Medal[5]
- Screen Lifetime Achievement Award[5]
- Kalaimamani Award
Notable filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1947 | Miss Malini | ||
1952 | Thai Ullam | ||
1953 | Manampol Mangalyam |
||
1953 | Avvaiyar | Guest role | |
1955 | Guna Sundari | ||
1955 | Valliyin Selvan | ||
1956 | Pennin Perumai | ||
1956 | Kaalam Maari Pochu | ||
1957 | Mayabazar | Appeared in Tamil version only | |
1957 | Miss Mary | Arun | Hindi film |
1957 | Yaar Paiyan |
Sundarrajan | |
1958 | Vanjikottai Valiban |
||
1958 | Raj Tilak | Hindi film | |
1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | ||
1959 | Kalyana Parisu | ||
1959 | Nalla Theerpu | ||
1960 | Kalathur Kannamma | ||
1960 | Parthiban Kanavu | ||
1961 | Kappalottiya Thamizhan | ||
1961 | Pangaaligal | ||
1961 | Pasamalar | ||
1961 | Pava Mannippu | ||
1961 | Then Nilavu |
||
1962 | Kathiruntha Kangal | ||
1966 | Annavin Aasai | ||
1966 | Ramu | ||
1969 | Shanthi Nilayam |
||
1970 | Kaaviya Thalaivi |
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor | |
1973 | Jesus | Malayalam film | |
1974 | Naan Avan Illai | Also producer Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor
| |
1978 | Shri Kanchi Kamakshi |
||
1988 | Rudraveena | Telugu film | |
1988 | Unnal Mudiyum Thambi | ||
1996 | Mettukudi | ||
1996 | Avvai Shanmugi |
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