Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy, better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and producer. He was active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Sivaji Ganesan is acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian actors of all time and most imitated one by other actors. He was known for his versatility and the variety of roles he depicted on screen, which gave him also the Tamil nickname Nadigar Thilagam. In a career that spanned close to five decades, he had acted 288 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Sivaji Ganesan is the only Tamil actor to have played the lead role in over 250 films.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language biographical war film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, S. Varalakshmi, and Ragini, with V. K. Ramasamy and Javar Seetharaman in supporting roles. Its soundtrack and score were composed by G. Ramanathan.
Cinema Paithiyam (transl. Cinephile) is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan. The film stars Jayachitra, Jaishankar and Kamal Haasan. The film was produced by A. L. Srinivasan under his A. L. S. Productions. It is a remake of the Hindi film Guddi (1971). Jayachitra later claimed in an interview that this film ran for 100 days at Devi-Sridevi Complex in Madras, and that "this was the first Tamil black-and-white film that ran for so long in that theater complex."
Saraswathi Sabatham is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan. Based on Pudhumaipithan's novel Vakkum Vakkum, it stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, Padmini, Devika and K. R. Vijaya. The film was released on 3 September 1966 and became a commercial success.
Galatta Kalyanam is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by C. V. Rajendran and written by Gopu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. It is based on Gopu and Sridhar's play of the same name. The film was later remade in Malayalam as Snehikkan Samayamilla and in Kannada as Aliya Devaru.
Pattikada Pattanama is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by P. Madhavan and written by Bala Murugan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The film deals with Kalpana, an urban woman who marries a villager Mookaiyan. After marriage, differences of opinion arise between the couple as Mookaiyan raises objections about city culture, leading to their separation. The rest of the film shows whether Kalpana reforms and the couple are united or not.
Pasamalar is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and Savitri Ganesan, with K. A. Thangavelu M. N. Nambiar and M. N. Rajam in supporting roles. It revolves around Rajasekhar and his bonding with his younger sister Radha. Radha falls in love with her brother's friend, and Rajasekhar eventually arranges for their marriage. Problems they face form the story.
Sorgam (transl. Heaven) is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language film starring Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Rajasree, R. Muthuraman and K. Balaji. The film was directed by T. R. Ramanna. It was released on 29 October 1970 and became a major success, running for over 100 days in theatres.
Unakkaga Naan is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language drama film produced by K. Balaji and directed by C. V. Rajendran. Starring Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Lakshmi and Vennira Aadai Nirmala, it is a remake of the 1973 Hindi film Namak Haraam. The film was released on 26 January 1976.
Thangappathakkam is a 1974 Indian Tamil-language action drama film, directed by P. Madhavan and written by Mahendran. Based on Mahendran's play of the same name, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Srikanth and Prameela. It focuses on a disciplined Superintendent of Police who is dedicated to his job, while his son, on the contrary, is rebellious by nature and grows to resent his father. Ganesan reprises his role from the play.
Ethiroli (transl. Echo) is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language legal drama film, directed by K. Balachander, featuring Sivaji Ganesan. The film had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan and became a commercial success. It was also the only collaboration between Balachander and Ganesan.
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language drama film produced and directed by P. Madhavan and written by Bala Murugan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya and Muthuraman. It revolves around a village bumpkin who rises to become a movie star, but his life changes following a traumatising incident.
Ilaya Thalaimurai is a 1977 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by Krishnan–Panju and produced by Yogachithra. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Vanisri, V. K. Ramasamy and Nagesh in lead roles. The film had musical score by M. S. Viswanathan.
Mannavan Vanthaanadi is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by P. Madhavan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Manjula. The film had musical score by M. S. Viswanathan. It was released on 1 August 1975. The film become a hit at the box-office, running for over 100 days in all over Tamilnadu.
Paaladai is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by A. Bhimsingh and produced by M. R. Santhanam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and K. R. Vijaya. The film had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan. It was released on 16 June 1967.
Arunodhayam (transl. Sunrise) is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by Muktha Srinivasan and produced by V. Ramasamy. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, R. Muthuraman and Lakshmi. The film had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan, and was released on 5 March 1971.
Lakshmi Kalyanam is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by G. Or. Nathan and produced by A. L. Srinivasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, K. Balaji and M. N. Nambiar. The film had musical score by M. S. Viswanathan. It was remade in Telugu as Pelli Koothuru (1970).
Pesum Deivam is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan and produced by R. Balasubramaniam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, S. V. Ranga Rao and S. V. Sahasranamam. The film's score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.
Anbu Karangal is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by K. Shankar and produced by N. Periannana. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Devika, Manimala and K. Balaji. It was released on 19 February 1965.
Iruvar Ullam is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language romance film, directed by L. V. Prasad and written by M. Karunanidhi. 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. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, while the lyrics were written by Kannadasan. The film is based on Lakshmi's novel Pen Manam.
