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Sivaji Ganesan

Acting Born Oct 1, 1928 Died Jul 21, 2001 Villuppuram, Tamil Nadu, India 266 credits

Biography

Sivaji Ganesan was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He was known for his versatility and acting skills, with a career spanning close to five decades and nearly 300 films in various languages to his credit. Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award at an international film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Fest. He is considered one of the most respected stage and film actors in the history of Indian entertainment. Born on October 1, 1928, in Villuppuram, Tamil Nadu, India, Ganesan passed away on July 21, 2001, at the age of 72.

Sources & verification Sivaji Ganesan — The Movie Database (TMDB) How Archytele verifies pages
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Career

Career overview

Sivaji Ganesan was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He was well known for his versatility and acting skills, with numerous roles depicted on screen. His career spanned close to five decades and nearly 300 films in various languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.

Ganesan was a prominent figure in the Tamil film industry, particularly during the "Golden Age" of Tamil cinema. He was one of the most respected stage and film actors in the history of Indian entertainment. His extensive filmography showcases his range and talent as an actor.

Ganesan's achievements in the film industry are notable, with him being the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award at an international film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Fest. This recognition highlights his impact and influence on the Indian film industry.

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Known for

Edvard Munch

as Dharmalingam
▦ Film

Pasumpon

as Durairasu Thevar

Sommerhytta

2017
Film

Viduthalai

as Inspector Rajasingam
▦ Film

Vamsa Vilakku

1984

Vampire Princess Miyu

as Captain Chidambaram

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Hound of the Baskervilles

1981

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Treasures of Agra

1983

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

as Sundaram

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

as Yaman / Sathyamoorthy

Blood River

2025
Film

Gauravam

as Rajinikanth / Kannan

Frequent co-stars

K. A. Thangavelu 5 shared titles
Padmini 4 shared titles
Savitri 4 shared titles
Nagesh 4 shared titles
V. Gopalakrishnan 3 shared titles
M. Saroja 3 shared titles
Gemini Ganesan 3 shared titles
Senthamarai 3 shared titles
M. N. Nambiar 3 shared titles
R. Muthuraman 3 shared titles

Career timeline

Mannavaru SinnavaruPadayappaPoo Parikka Varugirom
En Aasai Rasave
Oru Yaatra MozhiOnce More
Pasumpon
Paarambariyam
Mudhal KuralNaangalChinna MarumagalThevar MaganThevar Magan · Playback Singer
Gnana Paravai
Pudhiya VaanamEn Thamizh En Makkal
Krishnan VandhaanKudumbam Oru KoyilRaja MariyadhaiVishwanatha NayakuduAnbulla Appa
ViduthalaiMannukkul VairamThaaiku Oru ThaalaattuSaadhanaiAnandha Kanneer
Needhiyin NizhalNaam IruvarPadikkatha PannayarRaja RishiPadikkadavan
Vamsa VilakkuTharaasuThiruppamDhavani KanavugalVaazhkai
SumangaliImaigalUruvavugal MaralamVellai RojaSandhippu
NenjangalVaa Kanna VaaOorum UravumThunaiGaruda Saukiyama
KalthoonMadi Veetu EzhaiMohana PunnagaiKeezh Vaanam SivakkumSathya Sundharam
Ratha PaasamRatha Paasam · ScreenplayRishi MoolamYamanukku YamanVishwaroobam
Kavari MaanVetrikku OruvanNaan VazhavaippenPattaakathi BairavanThirisoolam
Justice GopinathThyagamGeneral ChakravarthiPilot PremnathEnnai Pol Oruvan
Naam Pirandha MannChanakya ChandraguptaDeepamIlaya ThalaimuraiAvan Oru Sarithiram
Unakkaga NaanSathyamChitra PournamiGrahapravesamUthaman
Manidhanum DheivamagalamVaira NenjamAvandhan ManidhanAnbe AaruyireCinema Paithiyam
En MaganAvan Thaan ManidhanThangappathakkamVani Rani
GauravamBhakta TukaramRajapart RangaduraiRajaraja CholanAnbai Thedi
Gnana OliVasantha MaligaiNeedhiRajaPattikada Pattanama
Savale SamaliBabuIru ThuruvamThenum PaalumThangaikkaaga
Enga MamaVietnam VeeduVietnam Veedu · ProducerEngirundho VandhaalDharti
ThirudanAnbalippuSivandha MannAnjal Petti 520Nirai Kudam
HarichandraThillana MohanambalUyarndha ManidhanGalatta KalyanamGalatta Kalyanam · Producer
Ooty Varai UravuNenjirukkum VaraiThiruvarutchelvarKandhan KarunaiIru Malargal
Thaaye UnakkagaSaraswathi SabathamMahakavi KalidasMotor Sundaram PillaiSelvam

Full filmography

  • Mannavaru Sinnavaru (1999)
  • Padayappa (1999) as Dharmalingam
  • Poo Parikka Varugirom (1999) as Author
  • En Aasai Rasave (1998)
  • Oru Yaatra Mozhi (1997) as Anantha Subramaniam
  • Once More (1997) as Selvam
  • Pasumpon (1995) as Durairasu Thevar
  • Paarambariyam (1993)
  • Mudhal Kural (1992)
  • Naangal (1992) as Chaturvedi
  • Chinna Marumagal (1992)
  • Thevar Magan (1992) as Periya Thevar
  • Thevar Magan (1992) Playback Singer
  • Gnana Paravai (1991)
  • Pudhiya Vaanam (1988) as D.I.G. Pandidurai
  • En Thamizh En Makkal (1988)
  • Krishnan Vandhaan (1987)
  • Kudumbam Oru Koyil (1987)
  • Raja Mariyadhai (1987)
  • Vishwanatha Nayakudu (1987) as Nagama Nayak
  • Anbulla Appa (1987) as Rajasekhar
  • Veerapandiyan (1987)
  • Jallikkattu (1987)
  • Muthukkal Moondru (1987)
  • Agni Putrudu (1987)
  • Viduthalai (1986) as Inspector Rajasingam
  • Mannukkul Vairam (1986)
  • Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu (1986) as Rajasekar
  • Saadhanai (1986)
  • Anandha Kanneer (1986)
  • Marumagal (1986) as Chandrasekhar
  • Lakshmi Vandhachu (1986) as Rajasekhar
  • Needhiyin Nizhal (1985) as D.I.G Nithyanandam
  • Naam Iruvar (1985)
  • Padikkatha Pannayar (1985)
  • Raja Rishi (1985) as Sage Vishwamitra / King Kaushika
  • Padikkadavan (1985) as Rajasekhar
  • Mudhal Mariyathai (1985) as Malaichami
  • Nermai (1985) as Professor Gowrishankar
  • Bandham (1985)
  • Vamsa Vilakku (1984)
  • Tharaasu (1984)
  • Thiruppam (1984)
  • Dhavani Kanavugal (1984) as Captain Chidambaram
  • Vaazhkai (1984)
  • Simma Soppanam (1984)
  • Ezhuthatha Sattangal (1984) as Nazeer
  • Chiranjeevi (1984)
  • Sarithira Nayagan (1984)
  • Iru Medhaigal (1984)
  • Sumangali (1983)
  • Imaigal (1983) as Akbar Baasha
  • Uruvavugal Maralam (1983) as God
  • Vellai Roja (1983)
  • Sandhippu (1983) as Ramanathan / Raja
  • Miruthanga Chakravarthi (1983)
  • Neethibathi (1983)
  • Nenjangal (1982)
  • Vaa Kanna Vaa (1982)
  • Oorum Uravum (1982)
  • Thunai (1982)
  • Garuda Saukiyama (1982) as Deenadayalan
  • Thyagi (1982) as IG Ganesh / Kanwarlal
  • Sangili (1982)
  • Theerpu (1982) as Rajasekar, Superintendent of Police
  • Oorukku Oru Pillai (1982)
  • Hitler Umanath (1982)
  • Paritchaikku Neramaachu (1982) as Narashimaachari
  • Vasandhathil Oru Naal (1982)
  • Kalthoon (1981)
  • Madi Veetu Ezhai (1981)
  • Mohana Punnagai (1981)
  • Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum (1981)
  • Sathya Sundharam (1981) as Sundaram
  • Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981)
  • Amarakaaviyam (1981)
  • Ratha Paasam (1980)
  • Ratha Paasam (1980) Screenplay
  • Rishi Moolam (1980)
  • Yamanukku Yaman (1980) as Yaman / Sathyamoorthy
  • Vishwaroobam (1980) as Sathyamoorthy / Raja
  • Natchathiram (1980)
  • Dharma Raja (1980)
  • Kavari Maan (1979) as Thyagarajan
  • Vetrikku Oruvan (1979)
  • Naan Vazhavaippen (1979)
  • Pattaakathi Bairavan (1979)
  • Thirisoolam (1979)
  • Nalladhoru Kudumbam (1979)
  • Imayam (1979)
  • Justice Gopinath (1978) as Gopinath
  • Thyagam (1978)
  • General Chakravarthi (1978)
  • Pilot Premnath (1978)
  • Ennai Pol Oruvan (1978) as Rajasekar / Sekar / Sundaramoorthy
  • Vaazhkai Alaigal (1978)
  • Thacholi Ambu (1978) as Thacholi Othenakkurup
  • Punniya Boomi (1978)
  • Andhamaan Kadhali (1978)
  • Naam Pirandha Mann (1977)
  • Chanakya Chandragupta (1977) as Alexander III of Macedon
  • Deepam (1977)
  • Ilaya Thalaimurai (1977)
  • Avan Oru Sarithiram (1977)
  • Annan Oru Koyil (1977) as Dr. Ramesh
  • Unakkaga Naan (1976) as Raja
  • Sathyam (1976)
  • Chitra Pournami (1976)
  • Grahapravesam (1976)
  • Uthaman (1976)
  • Rojavin Raja (1976)
  • Manidhanum Dheivamagalam (1975) as Kumaraiya / Sundaram
  • Vaira Nenjam (1975)
  • Avandhan Manidhan (1975) as Ravikumar
  • Anbe Aaruyire (1975)
  • Cinema Paithiyam (1975)
  • Dr. Siva (1975) as Dr. Siva
  • Paattum Bharathamum (1975)
  • En Magan (1974)
  • Avan Thaan Manidhan (1974)
  • Thangappathakkam (1974) as S. P. Choudhry
  • Vani Rani (1974)
  • Gauravam (1973) as Rajinikanth / Kannan
  • Bhakta Tukaram (1973) as Sivaji
  • Rajapart Rangadurai (1973) as Rangadurai / Rajapart
  • Rajaraja Cholan (1973) as Rajaraja Cholan
  • Anbai Thedi (1973)
  • Bharatha Vilas (1973) as Gopal
  • Engal Thanga Raja (1973)
  • Gnana Oli (1972) as Antony / Arun
  • Vasantha Maligai (1972) as Anand
  • Needhi (1972)
  • Raja (1972)
  • Pattikada Pattanama (1972)
  • Thavaputhalvan (1972)
  • Savale Samali (1971) as Manickam
  • Babu (1971)
  • Iru Thuruvam (1971) as Rangan
  • Thenum Paalum (1971) as Ramu
  • Thangaikkaaga (1971)
  • Kulama Gunama (1971)
  • Moondru Dheivangal (1971)
  • Sumathi En Sundari (1971) as Madhu
  • Enga Mama (1970) as Koteeswaran
  • Vietnam Veedu (1970)
  • Vietnam Veedu (1970) Producer
  • Engirundho Vandhaal (1970)
  • Dharti (1970) as Guest appearance
  • Sorgam (1970) as Shankar
  • Vilaiyaattu Pillai (1970) as Muthaiah
  • Ethiroli (1970)
  • Raman Ethanai Ramanadi (1970)
  • Pathukappu (1970)
  • Thirudan (1969) as Raju
  • Anbalippu (1969) as Velu
  • Sivandha Mann (1969) as Bharath / Mashinsha
  • Anjal Petti 520 (1969) as Prabhu
  • Nirai Kudam (1969) as Doctor Prabhakar / Doctor Babu
  • Deiva Magan (1969)
  • Kaaval Dheivam (1969)
  • Gurudhatchanai (1969)
  • Thanga Surangam (1969)
  • Harichandra (1968)
  • Thillana Mohanambal (1968) as Nadaswara Chakravarthi "Sikkal" Shanmugasundaram
  • Uyarndha Manidhan (1968)
  • Galatta Kalyanam (1968) as Madhan
  • Galatta Kalyanam (1968) Producer
  • En Thambi (1968)
  • Enga Oor Raja (1968)
  • Thirumaal Perumai (1968) as Thief, Vishnuchitta and Sage
  • Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968)
  • Ooty Varai Uravu (1967) as Ravi
  • Nenjirukkum Varai (1967)
  • Thiruvarutchelvar (1967)
  • Kandhan Karunai (1967) as Veerabaghu
  • Iru Malargal (1967)
  • Thangai (1967) as Madhan
  • Thaaye Unakkaga (1966) as Captain Swamy
  • Saraswathi Sabatham (1966) as Vidyapathi
  • Mahakavi Kalidas (1966) as Kalidas
  • Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966) as Sundaram Pillai
  • Selvam (1966)
  • Neela Vanam (1965) as Babu
  • Anbu Karangal (1965)
  • Thiruvilayadal (1965) as Lord Shiva in Different Disguises
  • Mahabharat (1965) as Karna
  • Shanthi (1965)
  • Pazhani (1965) as Pazhani
  • Kai Kodutha Deivam (1964)
  • Karnan (1964) as Karnan
  • Pachai Vilakku (1964)
  • Puthiya Paravai (1964) as Gopal
  • Puthiya Paravai (1964) Producer
  • Navarathiri (1964) as Widowder Arputhraj/Drunkard/Doctor Karunagaran/Gunman/Villager/Leper/Actor Sathyavaan Singaram/Commissioner Veerapan/Bridegroom Anand
  • Andavan Kattalai (1964) as Professor Krishnan
  • Iruvar Ullam (1963) as Selvam
  • Annai Illam (1963)
  • Chitor Rani Padmini (1963) as Rawal Ratan Singh/Rana Ratan Singh/Bheem Singh
  • Arivaali (1963) as Aalavanthan
  • Naan Vanangum Deivam (1963) as Sundaram
  • Ratha Thilagam (1963) as Major Kumar
  • Kungumam (1963)
  • Paar Magale Paar (1963)
  • Parthal Pasi Theerum (1962)
  • Bale Pandiya (1962)
  • Aalayamani (1962) as Thyagarajan
  • Bandha Pasam (1962)
  • Vadivukku Valaikaappu (1962)
  • Kulamagal Raadhai (1962)
  • Rakhi (1962)
  • Pasamalar (1961) as Rajasekharan
  • Padithal Mattum Podhuma (1961)
  • Nitchaya Thamboolam (1961)
  • Marutha Nattu Veeran (1961) as General Jeevagan
  • Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1961) as Va. Vu. Chidambaram Pillai
  • Punar Janmam (1961) as Shankar
  • Paalum Pazhamum (1961) as Dr Ravi
  • Ellam Unakkaga (1961) as Anandan
  • Paava Mannippu (1961) as Ramu / Raheem
  • Irumbu Thirai (1960) as 'Manickam' Manickavasagam
  • Deiva Piravi (1960) as Madhavan
  • Kuravanji (1960) as Kathiravan
  • Vidivelli (1960) as Chandru
  • Padikkadha Medhai (1960) as Rangan
  • Paavai Vilakku (1960)
  • Maragatham (1959) as Varendran
  • Bhaaga Pirivinai (1959)
  • Thangapadumai (1959)
  • Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) as Veerapandiya Kattabomman
  • Uthama Puthiran (1958) as Parthiban and Vikraman
  • Sarangadhara (1958) as Sarangadhara
  • Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958) as Bharathan
  • Raj Tilak (1958)
  • Kathavarayan (1958)
  • Annaiyin Aanai (1958)
  • Sabaash Meena (1958) as Mohan
  • Thangamalai Ragasiyam (1957)
  • Ambikapathy (1957) as Ambikapathy
  • Vanangaamudi (1957)
  • Baagyavathi (1957) as Somu
  • Rani Lalithangi (1957) as Prince
  • Pudhaiyal (1957)
  • Makkalai Petra Magarasi (1957) as Chengodayyan
  • Tenali Raman (1956) as Tenali Rama
  • Naan Petra Selvam (1956) as Shekar
  • Naane Raja (1956) as Villalan
  • Amara Deepam (1956) as Ashok
  • Rangoon Radha (1956) as Dharmalinga Mudaliar
  • Pennin Perumai (1956)
  • Koteeswaran (1955) as Doctor Chandar
  • Mudhal Thedhi (1955) as Sivagnanam
  • Kalvanin Kadhali (1955) as Muthayyan
  • Mangayar Thilakam (1955) as Vasudevan
  • Edhir Paradhathu (1954) as Sundar
  • Koondukkili (1954)
  • Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari (1954) as Ambalavannan / Ambalam
  • Andha Naal (1954) as Rajan
  • Manohara (1954) as Manohara
  • Thookku Thookki (1954) as Sundararangathan
  • Manithanum Mrigamum (1953)
  • Thirumbi Paar (1953)
  • Poongothai (1953) as Anand
  • Pempudu Koduku (1953)
  • Anbu (1953) as Selvam
  • Panam (1952) as Umapathy
  • Parasakthi (1952) as Gunasekaran