Sivaji Ganesan Nadigar Thilagam of Tamil Cinema

Born October 1, 1928

Birth Place Villupuram, Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu

Height 5′ 3¾″ (1.62 m)

Fan Score 90

Popularity 90

Roles Actor, Producer

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Alternative Names Nadigar Thilagam, Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan

Children Prabhu, Ramkumar Ganesan, Thenmozhi Ganesan, Shanthi Ganesan

Relatives Prabhu Ganesan (Son, Actor), Vikram Prabhu (Grandson, Actor), Ganesh (Brother), Rajendran (Nephew)

Trivia

Sivaji Ganesan was the first Indian actor to win the prestigious Chevalier title from the French government.
He was known for memorizing entire scripts, often reciting complex monologues in a single take.
His film Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) won Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Film Festival in Cairo.
He played nine distinct characters in the film Navarathri (1964), showcasing his extraordinary range.
Though not a trained classical singer, he occasionally sang in his own films.

Quotes

Trademarks

Powerful, emotional dialogue delivery
Grand stage-like presence in films
Iconic moustache style
Ability to convey intense emotion through voice modulation
Frequent roles as kings, gods, and mythological characters

Nicknames

Nadigar Thilagam (The Pride of Actors)
Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan
The Marlon Brando of Indian Cinema

Salaries

During the 1960s and 1970s, Sivaji Ganesan was one of the highest-paid actors in India.
His salary per film was on par with top Bollywood stars of the era.
Exact amounts varied, but he was among the first South Indian actors to earn in lakhs per movie.