Profile of Gemini Ganesan on Famous Like Me

Gemini Ganesan (17 November 1920 – 22 March 2005) was a famous Indian actor. He is well known as kadhal mannan (king of romance) of Tamil Cinema for the romantic roles he played in movies, and his private love affairs.

Biography

Birth and Early days

Gemini Ganesan was born in a middle class orthodox brahmin family on 17 November 1920 in Pudukottai (in South India) to Ramaswami and Gangamma. He was the only male heir to his family.

His grandfather Narayanaswami and aunt Muthulakshmi were the source of inspiration for him in early days. Education of his grandson was the most important priority for Narayanswami. Ganesan was sent to school on horseback with band music. The teacher made him write the alphabet “a” in Tamil language on a silver plate with a gold coin. Ganesen’s father Ramaswami was a handsome man with curly hair. He took great care of his looks, his hairstyle and dress. He was interested in arts and music. He was an expert in playing mridangam and flute. He was looking after the farms. It was grandfather Narayanswami who took care of the family. When Ganesan was in 6th class he lost his aunt and later, his father Ramaswami also died. Now Ganesan with his grandmother Bagirathi and mother Gangamma migrated to Madras to live under the care of aunt Muthulakshmi Reddy. But Ganesan’s mother Gangamma did not like the city life. She settled down in Pudukottai.

Dr.Reddy, a follower of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, put Ganesan in Ramakrishna Mission home in Mylapore. There, he learnt Yoga, Sanskrit, read about Vedas, Bhagavad gita and Upanishads. Life here taught him discipline. Ganesan became an expert in Yoga. But the separation from his mother was too much for him. He went back to Pudukottai and joined high school there.

Marriage

Ganesan’s dream was to become a doctor. In April 1940 he went to Trichi to see T.R.Alamelu (Bobji). Alamelu’s father offered Ganesan 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 her elder sister within one month of her marriage. Ganesan's dreams of becoming a doctor 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 Indian air force. Much against Alamelu’s wishes Ganesan went to Delhi. In Delhi he met his uncle Narayanswami who advised him to become a teacher or a doctor. Ganesan decided to return to Madras. He was confused and decided to join as a teacher in a tutorial college run by his friend B.N.Raman. Fate decided otherwise.

Career

Ganesan was one of the few graduates to enter the film world in those days. Mr. Ganesh (Ganesan) did not take the traditional route of the theatre to the tinsel world. His first job was as a Lecturer at the Madras Christian College. His first cinema-related work (Production Executive in 1947) with the Gemini Studios added the title Gemini to his name.

From the casting department, Ganesan got his first break in films with Miss Malini. This was followed by Chakravarthi, in which he played Lord Krishna. However, not until 1953, when he played the villain in the film Thai Ullam, did people take notice of him as an actor. The next year, he was upgraded as a hero with Manampol Mangalyam. The film paired him with Savithri, who became the mother of two of his children — a daughter and a son. From then on, he carved out a niche for himself in Tamil cinema with films that required a lot of `romance' but little `action'. Ganesan was one of the "Big Three" of Tamil cinema, the other two being the late M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. Although Sivaji excelled in films with drama, and MGR dominated movies with thrilling fight-scenes and, Mr. Ganesh held his own with sensitive portrayals of the yearning lover.

Fondly known as Kadhal Mannan (King of Romance) among his fans, Ganesan had acted in several box-office hits during his heydays (1950s–1970s). Gemini Ganesan's performances on the screen were enhanced by some talented playback singers like A.M. Rajah and P.B. Srinivos. P.B. Srinivos's mellifluous voice in particular complemented Gemini Ganesan. The song "Kalangalil Aval Vasantham" will always be remembered and associated with Gemini Ganesan as well as P.B. Srinivos.

He had paired with many top heroines such as Savithri, whom he later married, Anjalidevi, Banumathi, Padmini, Saroja Devi, former Rajya Sabha member Vaijayanthi Mala, "Sowcar" Janaki, Vijaya, Devika, and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha.

Later in his career, he switched to little different character roles. Notable among these was Avvai Shanmughi (1996), in which, quite characteristically, he entered into the skin of an old man longing for an old maid. Towards the end of his acting career he kept himself busy with elegant roles in television serials. In his long film career spanning over five decades he had acted in more than 200 films, including a few in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

The person

Mr. Ganesh was a man of varied interests. In school, he was captain of the cricket team. A lover of dogs, he had a special liking for Golden Retrievers. All his life, Mr. Ganesh made it a point not to involve himself in any public controversy. Unlike Sivaji Ganesan and MGR, he kept his distance from politics. He was offered a Rajya Sabha seat by former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi but he declined to accept it. On the personal level he was friendly with many of the top personalities but then he did not like to flatter them on stage and kept away from public functions. However, he had a close circle of friends, and always remembered those who helped him in his career.

Private Life

Though there is different news about the number of wives he had, general information says that Alamelu (family woman), Savithri and Pushpavalli (actresses) and his erstwhile secretary Juliana, the thirty year old lady whom he met in Bangalore and married in old age were his wives.

Death

His end came at 22 March 2005, 13:30 IST at the age of 84 in his residence after a prolonged illness. He was cremated with full state honours. He is survived by his wife Alamelu Ganesh ("Bobji Amma"), aged 80; seven daughters and a son. His children are: Dr. Revathi Swaminathan; Dr. Kamala Selvaraj; Ms. Narayani Ganesh; Dr. Jaya Shreedhar; the film actress Rekha Ganesh; Ms. Radha Osman Syed; Ms. Vijaya Chamundeswari, and Mr. Satish Kumar.

Films

Some of Gemini Ganesan's famous movies include

• Kanavane Kankanda Deivam
• Manalane Mangaiyin Baakyam
• Yaar Paiyan
• Vanjikottai Vaaliban
• Maya Bazar
• Kalyana Parisu
• Kalathur Kannamma
• Parthiban Kanavu
• Pasamalar
• Paava Mannippu
• Parthal Pasi Theerum
• Then Nilavu
• Aadi Perukku
• Konjum Salangai
• Sumaithangi
• Iru Kodugal
• Naan Avan Illai
• Punnagai
• Poova Thalaiya
• Vasantha Nilayam
• Vaazhkai Padagu
• Ramu

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