
Acting
Sivaji Ganesan
Born — Died
1928-10-01 — 2001-07-21
Place of birth
Villuppuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Known for
Acting
Credits
66 titles
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar, commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. Well known for his versatility and acting skills with numerous roles depicted on screen, he remains one of the most respected stage and film actors in the history of Indian entertainment, with a career spanning close to five decades and nearly 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi to his credit. Arguably the preeminent leading man during the "Golden Age" of Tamil cinema, Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award at an international film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Fest…
Known for
8.5Rajaraja Cholan is a 1973 Tamil film about the life of the Chola king Rajaraja Chola.
Rajaraja Cholan
1973
7.4Padayappa, a mechanical engineer whose father gives up his property to his foster brother, and then dies of shock soon after. Neelambari initially loves Padayappa, but plans to humiliate him after his family humiliates her father. The rest of the plot deals with Padayappa overcoming all the obstacles placed by Neelambari.
Padayappa
1999
7.5When a dancer makes a king realise the insignificance of the worldly pleasures, he decides to devote his life to the Almighty and starts reciting tales and songs of His greatness.
Thiruvarutchelvar
1967
NRA story of two rival kings, (R. Balasubramaniam, T.E. Krishnamachari); Sivaji Ganesan is the son of the latter. Krishnamachari is under the influence of an ambitious spiritual guru (Nambiar) who manipulates the king for his own ends. The prince works hard to prevent him from achieving his designs. He moves around the kingdom incognito fighting for people's rights. During this time he meets and falls in love with a dancer (Padmini). The rival king's daughter Lalitha is also in love with him. The wily advisor (Veerappa) of the other king tries to work out things in his favor and marry the dancer. After many twists and turns, the villains are exposed and the princess sacrifices her love in favor of the dancer.
Kaveri
1955
Valli and Muthu are in love but their marriage is interrupted when Muthu's father demands dowry for the humiliation he faced at the hands of Valli's family.
Ponnunjal
1973
NRManohar is an under appreciated poet and playwright. He is married to Kaveri, a kind hearted personality who cannot match Manohar's intellect. During his travails he is found by Chitra, a connoisseur of fine arts and drama. She encourages Manohar to become a published author and refers him to her contacts. Manohar achieves dramatic success, money flows in to his life, his lifestyle changes and he spends a lot of time with Chitra neglecting Kaveri. After some struggles he realises Kaveri is ready to let go of him and sacrifice her love for him. He realises his selfishness in this drama and apologises to both Kaveri and Chitra, finally making up with Kaveri.
Illara Jothi
1954
Film credits
1990s · 3 titles
7.4Padayappa, a mechanical engineer whose father gives up his property to his foster brother, and then dies of shock soon after. Neelambari initially loves Padayappa, but plans to humiliate him after his family humiliates her father. The rest of the plot deals with Padayappa overcoming all the obstacles placed by Neelambari.
Padayappa
1999
7.0London-educated Saktivelu returns to India and wants to open a chain of restaurants in Chennai. His father, however, wishes that he would stay back and help the villagers.
Thevar Magan
1992
Thangapandi stays with his grandfather after the birth of his stepbrother Sellasamy. He is jealous of him and leaves his mother after an unexpected incident leaves him feeling unwanted.
Pasumpon
1995
1980s · 6 titles
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Ratha Paasam
1980
NRKumaran, who is blind, gets attached with his eye doctor's daughter-in-law. However, he is shocked to learn that the man responsible for his sister's death is none other than the doctor's son.
Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum
1981
No synopsis available yet.
Kalthoon
1981
No synopsis available yet.
Vamsa Vilakku
1984
5.0A deeply pious man meets God, who tells him about various events that will take place in the future. The man tells everyone about these predictions but nobody believes him.
Uruvavugal Maralam
1983
7.0Subramaniam is an unemployed youth who has five sisters. He is unable to get his sisters married due to his poverty. He goes to town to find a job and an unexpected incident changes his entire life.
Dhavani Kanavugal
1984
1970s · 21 titles
8.5Rajaraja Cholan is a 1973 Tamil film about the life of the Chola king Rajaraja Chola.
Rajaraja Cholan
1973
Valli and Muthu are in love but their marriage is interrupted when Muthu's father demands dowry for the humiliation he faced at the hands of Valli's family.
Ponnunjal
1973
NRRavi, a businessman, falls in love with Lalitha, a professional dancer. But her father challenges him to learn the art of dance in order to marry his daughter.
Paattum Bharathamum
1975
Believing that he has killed his pregnant wife, a gambler flees the country and returns years later with a new identity. He meets his son but faces many problems before reuniting with his family.
Thaai
1974
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi is a 1970 Tamil language drama film directed by P. Madhavan
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
1970
6.2Pattikada Pattanama is a story about Mookkaiyan and kalpana who are completely opposite in their way of culture.Kalpana returns back to India after studying abroad and visits Mookkaiyans
Pattikada Pattanama
1972
When Punyakodi, a rich haughty man who is also an anti-labour, kills a union leader, one of his staff members, Latha, witnesses the murder. She exposes his crime with the help of Dharmadurai.
Mannavan Vanthaanadi
1975
6.0Sankar is an ambitious man who wants to make it big through fair means. However, the friend he works under, Sampath, begins to use corrupt measures to make them rich.
Sorgam
1970
NRIdentical twins Vani and Rani are separated at birth. One is tortured by her abusive aunt while the other grows up as a street performer. However, their lives change forever when they swap places. A remake of 1972 Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta.
Vani Rani
1974
A patient suffering from brain tumor lives with his old mother and sister with special needs. He accepts blame for a murder he did not commit in exchange for money to provide for his family.
Naan Vazhavaippen
1979
No synopsis available yet.
Thangaikkaaga
1971
NRLawyers Sattanathan and Ramaswamy, once best friends, now share a bitter rivalry. The two are left aghast when Saravanan, Sattanathan's son, falls in love with Devi, Ramaswamy's daughter
My Beloved, My Life
1975
8.0Antony, an ex-convict, leaves the country after killing his daughter's lover. He returns many years later as a reputable man, but his friend, Lawrence, recognises him and tries to expose him.
Gnana Oli
1972
NRThe atrocities of a landlord lead one brother to the life of a dacoit while the younger brother becomes a police officer. However, things take a turn when they are pitted against each other.
Iru Thuruvam
1971
No synopsis available yet.
Grahapravesam
1976
No synopsis available yet.
Chatrapati Sivaji
1974
10.0The story of this film is based on the life story of a prominent saint Tukaram.
Bhakta Tukaram
1973
7.5Rajinikanth, a veteran lawyer aspires to become the judge. But, the bar council promotes an undeserving lawyer to the post. Enraged by the system, he tries to seek his revenge by defending a murderer.
Gauravam
1973
NRAt the request of a wealthy man, a courtesan agrees to help heal his mentally disturbed son by pretending to be his wife. Her efforts only earn her abuse and wrath at the hands of most family members.
Engirundho Vandhaal
1970
NRBest friends Raja and Ramu decide to oppose the union leader of Raja's mill when he creates problems. However, they face several obstacles in their attempt to stop him.
Unakkaga Naan
1976
No synopsis available yet.
Thyagam
1978
1960s · 17 titles
7.5When a dancer makes a king realise the insignificance of the worldly pleasures, he decides to devote his life to the Almighty and starts reciting tales and songs of His greatness.
Thiruvarutchelvar
1967
After Sundaram resigns from the hospital, he goes to serve in a village but faces opposition from those practising traditional medicine. He finds himself in trouble when Meena gets pregnant.
Pesum Deivam
1967
8.0Harichandra (Tamil: ஹரிச்சந்திரா) is a 1968 Indian Tamil film, directed by K. S. Prakash Rao and produced by G. Varalakshmi. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, G. Varalakshmi, T. S. Balaiah and K. A. Thangavelu in lead roles. The film had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan
Harichandra
1968
9.0Thirumal Perumai tells three spell-bounding stories about how far you can get with Lord Vishnus
Thirumal Perumai
1968
A scheming landlord tricks a kind-hearted Sethupathi into losing everything he owns. He then swears to become wealthy and reclaim his ancestral mansion at any cost.
Enga Oor Raja
1968
No synopsis available yet.
Gurudhakshaneiy
1969
9.0Siblings Rakhi and Raju are orphaned at a young age but grow up to become successful entrepreneurs. However, petty differences over their earned wealth and property threaten to ruin their bond.
Rakhi
1962
Janaki and Sekar are in love with each other. However, when Janaki learns that she is incapable of giving birth to a child, she plans to get her sister married to Sekar.
Paaladai
1967
5.0Punar Janmam (Rebirth) is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by R. S. Mani. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, Ragini and P. Kannamba in lead roles. The film, produced by N. S. Diraviyam under Vijaya Films banner, had musical score by T. Chalapathi Rao and was released on 21 April 1961.
Punar Janmam
1961
Sivaraman, a railway station master, is very fond of his sister, Anandhi. However, when he sees her secretly meeting a man, he accidentally murders him.
Anbu Karangal
1965
No synopsis available yet.
Senthamarai
1962
7.3A classical bharatanatyam dancer and a nathaswaram player fall in love against the wishes of her family.
Thillana Mohanambal
1968
7.0Jeevagan, a brave warrior, is selected as the guard for Rathna, a princess. They fall in love, but the king's minister, Veera Kesha, frames him as a traitor to carry out his plan to seize the kingdom.
Marutha Nattu Veeran
1961
NRAalayamani is a tale of possessiveness and distrust towards one's partner and the eventual redemption by sacrifice. The story is an essential interplay of feelings and the shadows cast upon by darker feelings of one person and the effect it produces on himself and in his immediate circle of friends and family.
Aalayamani
1962
1963 Tamil Film
Chitor Rani Padmini
1963
7.3Brave and loyal warrior-archer Karna joins the Kauravas to battle the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra.
Karnan
1964
Babu and Vimala are lovers. However, under a circumstance Babu is forced to get married with dying Gowri without the acknowledgement of Vimala. Vimala and Gowri are friends. Shocked by the fact her lover get married to Gowri, Vimala and Babu tried to keep their past as a secret from Gowri.
Neela Vanam
1965
1950s · 13 titles
NRA story of two rival kings, (R. Balasubramaniam, T.E. Krishnamachari); Sivaji Ganesan is the son of the latter. Krishnamachari is under the influence of an ambitious spiritual guru (Nambiar) who manipulates the king for his own ends. The prince works hard to prevent him from achieving his designs. He moves around the kingdom incognito fighting for people's rights. During this time he meets and falls in love with a dancer (Padmini). The rival king's daughter Lalitha is also in love with him. The wily advisor (Veerappa) of the other king tries to work out things in his favor and marry the dancer. After many twists and turns, the villains are exposed and the princess sacrifices her love in favor of the dancer.
Kaveri
1955
NRManohar is an under appreciated poet and playwright. He is married to Kaveri, a kind hearted personality who cannot match Manohar's intellect. During his travails he is found by Chitra, a connoisseur of fine arts and drama. She encourages Manohar to become a published author and refers him to her contacts. Manohar achieves dramatic success, money flows in to his life, his lifestyle changes and he spends a lot of time with Chitra neglecting Kaveri. After some struggles he realises Kaveri is ready to let go of him and sacrifice her love for him. He realises his selfishness in this drama and apologises to both Kaveri and Chitra, finally making up with Kaveri.
Illara Jothi
1954
NRSet in a historical backdrop, the narrative revolves around political intrigue, power struggles, and royal conflicts.Prince Suryakanthan (played by Sivaji Ganesan) and Chandran (played by K.R. Ramasamy) navigate complex relationships and rivalries involving figures like Veeramarthandan (S.V. Ranga Rao).
Thuli Visham
1954
NRA doctor husband wants to make his wife go blind by putting drops that would harm her eyes making her believe that it would improve her eyesight. The purpose is to marry his wife's sister.
Eyes
1953
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Manithanum Mrigamum
1953
NRNalla Veedu (transl. Good House) is a 1956 Indian Tamil language film, directed by Jyotish Sinha. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, M. N. Rajam, Pandaribai and Mynavathi. It was released on 14 January 1956.
Nalla Veedu
1956
NRSivagnanam works as a bank clerk. Though his pay is meagre, he deals with a lot of cash at the bank. His family consists of his wife Lakshmi, a daughter whose marriage is being negotiated and two school going children. The bank where he works crashes and Sivagnanam is unable to find another job.
Modala thedi
1955
NRMarma Veeran (1956) is a Tamil swashbuckler adventure film directed by T. R. Raghunath and produced by its lead actor Sriram, who portrays a Zorro-inspired vigilante fighting political injustice. The film stars Vyjayanthimala, Rajasulochana, and M. N. Rajam, and features notable guest appearances by Sivaji Ganesan, M. G. Ramachandran, and Gemini Ganesan.
Marma Veeran
1956
9.0An impoverished woman named Rani (Padmini) escapes from her abusive and predatory drama company owner, Babu (S.S. Rajendran), after being robbed and finding herself unconscious in the car of wealthy stage actor Raja (Sivaji Ganesan). Mistaken by Raja for a rich runaway named Leela, Rani plays along and joins his new theater troupe, leading the two to fall in love. However, the vengeful Babu attempts to sabotage their romance by poisoning Raja during a live stage enactment of Socrates, setting up a dramatic climax where the lovers must overcome this deadly plot to finally unite
King and Queen
1956
In an attempt to bring reforms amongst his students, a righteous school teacher hailing from a small village gets embroiled in politics.
School Master
1959
NRThe story tracks interpersonal entanglements, deception, and moral choices involving Kannan (Sivaji Ganesan) and Janaki (G. Varalakshmi), complicated by familial opposition from characters like Vazhavanthan
Vazhvile Oru Naal
1956
NRShekar, a rich young man, discovers that his cousins, Gowri and Sundar, are finding it difficult to lead a comfortable life. He decides to help them against his father's wishes.
Naan Petra Selvam
1956
Vaidyalingam Moopanar and his younger brother Sundaralingam live together along with their family. It is one big happy joint family. Vaidyalingam does not have any children while Sundaralingam has two sons. His older son's left hand is paralysed since childhood, while his younger son is studying in college in the city. Vaidyalingam's wife is bitter and keeps cursing Sundaralingam and his family, while Vaidyalingam is very affectionate towards them and is unhappy with his wife for her bad behaviour.
Bhaaga Pirivinai
1959
Behind the camera
9.0Siblings Rakhi and Raju are orphaned at a young age but grow up to become successful entrepreneurs. However, petty differences over their earned wealth and property threaten to ruin their bond.
Rakhi
1962
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Ratha Paasam
1980
7.7Prestige Padmanabha Iyer retires from his company executive position and has a lonely and unhappy life with his family in the ancestral home Vietnam House, named for the constant fighting and arguing.
Vietnam Veedu
1970
NRChandru steals a diamond necklace to help his sister unite with her husband but things do not go well when he decides to replace the stolen one with a new necklace.
Vidivelli
1960
7.0Gopal, a rich widower, falls in love with Latha. As they are getting prepared to marry, Gopal's presumed-dead wife, Chitra arrives.
Puthiya Paravai
1964
6.5In order to marry Lalitha, Madhan sets out to find suitable bachelors to marry her three beautiful sisters as part of a condition set by her father.
Galatta Kalyanam
1968
