Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor Vijay remembered legendary actor-producer Sivaji Ganesan on his 98th birthday on Thursday, October 1.
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Vijay paid tribute to the veteran actor and highlighted his contribution to Tamil cinema and his influence on generations of artists.
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He wrote, “On his birthday, I remember and pay tribute to the great artistic contribution of the actor, Chevalier Shivaji Ganesan, who, through his unparalleled acting and magnificent voice, breathed life into the characters he portrayed, scaled the heights of cinema, and earned a secure place in the hearts of the Tamil world.”
He added, “Historical heroes, mythological figures, and common people of society – through all these characters, he brought them before our eyes with his extraordinary acting, displayed the richness and splendor of Tamil to the world through the medium of films, and stood as the very grammar of acting.”
“The artistic achievements of actor Excellency Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan, who through his acting portrayed aspects of human emotions like love, affection, bravery, anger and sorrow, across generations, will forever stand as the pride of Tamil soil!” He concluded.
Remembering his special characters on his birthday… pic.twitter.com/vJEhGtexWz
— CMOTamilnadu (@CMOTamilnadu) October 1, 2026
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Born on 1 October 1928, Sivaji Ganesan became one of the most influential names in Tamil cinema.
He began his career in theater before establishing himself as a leading actor on screen. In a career spanning nearly five decades, he appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.
Ganesan was known for his versatility and his ability to portray characters across genres and social backgrounds. His contribution to acting earned him the popular title of ‘Nadigar Thilagam’, while many actors have cited his performance as an influence on their own work.
Among his major honors was the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which he received in 1997. He also became the first Indian actor to receive the Chevalier of the Order des Arts et des Lettres from France. In 1960, he became the first Indian actor to win the Best Actor award at an international film festival, receiving the honor at the Afro-Asian Film Festival in Cairo.
Sivaji Ganesan also shared the screen with several personalities who later became CN Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi, MG Ramachandran, NT Rama Rao, and J. including Jayalalitha became prominent political figures.
He died on 21 July 2001 at the age of 72.