Thespian Sivaji Ganesan paid tribute on 90th birth anniversary

Thespian Sivaji Ganesan was Monday remembered on his 90th birth anniversary, with Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and veteran actor Kamal Haasan paying tributes to him.

Panneerselvam paid floral tributes to Ganesan at the memorial constructed for the veteran actor at Adyar area here. The state government had earlier announced that the actor's birthday would be celebrated as a government function.

The late actor's son G Prabhu, himself a cinema star, was also present at the event. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan, actor and founder of the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) visited Ganesan's house and garlanded a portrait of the actor. He described Sivaji Ganesan as the 'father' of his acting. In a tweet, Haasan said he was "one among the many adopted sons" of the thespian and paid tributes "to the father of my acting."

The legendary Ganesan is often described as an iconic actor, especially in Tamil cinema and was known for essaying a wide variety of roles and his dialogue delivery.

He had won many international and national awards, including the prestigious Chevalier Award from the French government and is regarded as a father figure by the Tamil film industry. A winner of the coveted Dada Saheb Phalke award, Ganesan had acted in over 300 films, most of which were blockbusters.

(With inputs from agencies.)