Ramasamy Ganesan, better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was referred as Kaadhal Mannan for his romantic roles in films. Ganesan was one of the "three biggest names of Tamil cinema", the other two being M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. 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. 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.
Bangalore Saroja Devi is an Indian actress who has acted in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films. She acted in around 200 films over seven decades. She is known by the epithets "Abhinaya Saraswathi" in Kannada and "Kannadathu Paingili" in Tamil. She is one of the most successful actresses in the history of Indian cinema.
Paadha Kaanikkai is a 1962 Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Shankar and written by M. S. Solamalai. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, with C. R. Vijayakumari, M. R. Radha, and Kamal Haasan in supporting roles. It was released on 14 July 1962.
Palum Pazhamum is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. It was released on 9 September 1961. The film was remade in Kannada as Beratha Jeeva, and in Hindi as Saathi, the latter was remade in Turkish as Yarım Kalan Saadet (1970).
Mariyadhai (transl. Respect) is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language drama film starring Vijayakanth in a dual role as father and son. Meena and Meera Jasmine are the heroines, while Ambika also plays a significant role. Directed by Vikraman, the film was released on 24 April 2009 and performed averagely.
Irumbu Thirai is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala, K. A. Thangavelu and B. Saroja Devi, with S. V. Ranga Rao, Pandari Bai and Vasundhara Devi in supporting roles. A remake of Vasan's own Hindi film Paigham (1959), it revolves around two brothers Manikam and Kondamuthu and their mill owner.
Bhaaga Pirivinai is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. Bhimsingh, starring Sivaji Ganesan, M. R. Radha and B. Saroja Devi. The film was released on 31 October 1959. It was remade in Hindi as Khandan (1965), in Telugu as Kalasi Vunte Kaladu Sukham (1961), in Kannada as Muriyada Mane (1964), and in Malayalam as Nirakudam (1977).
Padikkadha Medhai is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed and co-written by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, S. V. Ranga Rao, Kannamba and Sowcar Janaki. It is a remake of the 1953 Bengali film Jog Biyog, itself based on the novel of the same name by Ashapurna Devi. The film was released on 25 June 1960 and became a commercial success. It was remade in Telugu as Aatma Bandhuvu (1962), with Ranga Rao and Kannamba reprising their roles, and in Hindi by Bhimsingh as Mehrban (1967).
Kalyana Parisu is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Sridhar. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi while K. A. Thangavelu, Vijayakumari, M. Saroja, S. D. Subbulakshmi, A. Nageswara Rao and M. N. Nambiar play supporting roles. A triangular love story, it is about two close sisters whose lives turn upside down when they both fall in love with the same man. Out of respect, the younger sister decides to sacrifice her love, unknown to the elder sister.
Madurai Narasimha Achary Rajam is an Indian actress, who works mainly in Tamil cinema. She made her stage acting debut at the age of seven, and film acting debut as a child artist in 1949. Rajam played the vamp role in the Tamil classic Ratha Kanneer (1954), opposite M. R. Radha. Since then Rajam had acted with several leading actors including MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, M. R. Radha, S.S. Rajendran, M. N. Nambiar and N. S. Krishnan. She married popular Tamil playback singer A. L. Raghavan on 2 May 1960. Her performances in films like, Rathak Kaneer, Pennin Perumai, Pudhayal, Thanga Padumai, "Nadodi Mannan", "Pasa Malar", Thaali Bhagyam and "Arangetram" were critically acclaimed. She played supporting roles in films since 1970 to 1990. She started working in TV serials from 1995 and continues to work in films till 2014. In 1958 Rajam was booked by M. G. Ramachandran for his second directorial venture Ponniyin Selvan. One of the first screen adaptations of Kalki Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan, the film had a huge ensemble cast consisting of Vyjayanthimala, Savitri, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, Saroja Devi and Nagesh.. In the film, she was given the role of Nandhini, the wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. However, in mid-1958 the film was shelved for unknown reasons.
Vidivelli is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by C. V. Sridhar. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi and M. N. Rajam; Ganesan also produced it under Prabhuram Pictures, a subsidiary of his own company Sivaji Films. The film focuses on a brother who steals a diamond necklace for his sister's happy life. But the necklace itself becomes a problem. The rest of the story deals with what is the secret of the necklace and how the brother solves this puzzle.
Enkitta Mothathe is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language romantic action drama film, directed by R. Sundarrajan and produced by Raajeshwari Sundarrajan. The film stars Vijayakanth, Shobana and Khushbu. It was released on 14 September 1990, and failed at the box office.
Chitthi (transl. Stepmother) is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film stars Padmini and Gemini Ganesan. It is based on the play Dayanidhi written by Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki Ammal. The film was released on 14 January 1966. It was remade in Hindi as Aurat (1967), in Telugu as Pinni (1967), in Kannada as Chikkamma (1969), and in Malayalam as Achante Bharya (1971).
Thamarai Nenjam is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by K. Balachander. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi and Vanisri, with Major Sundarrajan and Nagesh playing supporting roles. It was released on 31 May 1968, and won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards: Best Film and Best Dialogue Writer (Balachander). The film was remade in Telugu as Mooga Prema (1971), in Hindi as Haar Jeet (1972) and in Kannada as Mugila Mallige (1985) by Balachander himself.
Iruvar Ullam is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language romance film, directed by L. V. Prasad and written by M. Karunanidhi. Based on Lakshmi's novel Pen Manam, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi, while M. R. Radha, S. V. Ranga Rao, T. R. Ramachandran, T. P. Muthulakshmi, Sandhya and Padmini Priyadarshini play supporting roles.
Manithan Maravillai is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written, co-produced and directed by Chakrapani and produced by Nagi Reddi under Vijaya Productions. It is a remake of the Telugu film Gundamma Katha, which itself is based on the 1958 Kannada film Mane Thumbida Hennu.
Mathar Kula Manikkam is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. It is based on Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 novel Noukadubi. The screenplay and dialogue were written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam and C. V. Sridhar, respectively. The film was simultaneously made in Telugu under the title Charana Daasi, both versions were critical and commercial successes.
5 Laksham is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by G. Ramakrishnan. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. It was released on 11 April 1969.
Penn Endral Penn is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by Aaroor Dass, in his only directorial credit. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, C. R. Vijayakumari and B. Saroja Devi. It was released on 7 December 1967, and failed at the box office.
