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Gemini Ganesan

 
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Gemini Ganesan
Born Ganesan
November 17, 1920(1920-11-17)
India Pudukottai, India
Died March 22, 2005 (aged 84)
India Tamil Nadu, India
Other name(s) Kadhal Mannan, Sambar
Occupation Film actor
Years active 1947-2005
Spouse(s) Alamelu Ganesan, Savithri Ganesan, Pushpavalli Ganesan

Gemini Ganesan (17 November 1920 – 22 March 2005) was an Indian actor. He was nicknamed "Kadhal Mannan" (king of love) of Tamil cinema for the romantic roles he played in movies.

Contents

Biography

Marriage

Ganesan’s dream was to become a doctor. In April 1940 he went to Trichi to see T.R. Alamelu. 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. Later, he deserted Alamelu and married actress Savitri. He later left Savitri and married Pushpavalli.

Career

Ganesan was born in a Brahmnin family. He graduated from the prestigious Madras Christian College and was one of the few graduates to enter the film world in those days. He did not take the traditional route of the theatre to the tinsel world. His first job was as a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Madras Christian College. His first cinema-related work (Production Executive in 1947) with the Gemini Studios added the title Gemini to his name.

with well wishers MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, NTR, Director Sridhar in a meeting in Chennai

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 Savitri, 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 heyday (1950s–1970s). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1971. 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. Many memorable duets with P.B.Srinivos and female playback singer S.Janaki are popular even today. The song "Kalangalil Aval Vasantham" will always be remembered and associated with Gemini Ganesan.

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, KR Vijaya, Devika, and the Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha.

Later in his career, he switched to little different character roles. Notable among these was Rudraveena (remade in Tamil as Unnal Mudiyum Thambi), considered one of the best movies made in telugu ever. Another notable movie 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. Gemini Ganesan is known as the romance king of Tamil films.

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) were his wives. He is survived by eight daughters and a son. His children are: Dr. Revathi Swaminathan; Dr. Kamala Selvaraj; Ms. Narayani Ganesh; Dr. Jaya Shreedhar; the film actress Bhanurekha Ganesan aka Rekha; Ms. Radha Usman Syed; Ms. Vijaya Chamundeswari, and Mr. Sathish Kumaar Ganesan. He is the maternal grandfather of Bollywood debutante, Naveed Ozman.

Death

His end came at 22 March 2005, 13:30 IST at the age of 84 in his residence after a prolonged illness caused by Renal Failure and multiple organ failure. He was cremated with full state honours.

Biography Film on Gemini Ganesan-Kaadhal Mannan-The King of Romance

Kadhal Mannan – The king of romance -The Biography of South Indian Cinema’s Legendary Actor Gemini Ganesan. This Biography Film shot on the Film format is the First Biography film to be produced on a Legendary South Indian Actor in the History of Indian Cinema and is the First Biography Film produced in the History of South Indian Cinema for a worldwide release in Theatres, Television Channels and Video-DVD release.

The King of Romance-Biography Film Synopsis

Kadhal Mannan – The Biography of South Indian Cinema’s Legendary Actor Gemini Ganesan. Who has served the Tamil Audience for more than five decades acting in more than 200 Films in Tamil, Telegu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, playing the leading role of a hero in more than 180 Films.

This Biography Film is a Feature Length Film running for about 90 Minutes has a Docu-Drama kind of treatment where the first 45 Minutes of the Film runs as a Short Film starting from the birth of the actor in a rural province of Pudhukottai in Tamil Nadu in British India till the time he becomes a young man who after completion of his education, starts working as production coordinator in Gemini Studios under Legendary Producer / Director S.S.Vasan where he aspires to be an actor and the beginning of his romance with the silver screen.

The Later part of the biography film is the Docu part contains never before seen footage, rare pictures of the actor during his early years and clippings from old film from 1950’s to the Films and T.V Shows he has acted in Late nineties. Interviews of Legendary Actors from the Indian cinema like Kamal Hasan, Sivakumar, Sathyaraj, Prabhu Sivaji Ganesan, Charuhasan eminent producers like AVM Saravanan, Muktha Srinivasan, Cho-Ramasamy and directors like K.Balachander, K.S Ravikumar, K.Balaji, Chitralaya Gopu , Singers from that era like P.B.Srinivas lyricist like Varimuthu and Valee, Popular Actress Like Anjali Devi, Saroja Devi, K.R. Vijaya. Popular statesman and head of the states who have worked with him and Family and close friends and colleagues who are from the other fields.

This Biography Film contains Songs and action sequences which are part of the narrative in the Drama part and re-enactments and scene recreations from films which the Legendary actor has worked and acted. Namely a Drum – Dance Song from the Film “Chandralekha“ B/W Film /1947 which was produced by Late Producer/Director S.S. Vasan have been recreated in colour and a Stunt scene and sword fight portion has also been re-enacted. Although the drama part of the biography film happens in a period no black and white tone or a sepia tone has been added but a specific color Palatte has been used both in the Production in Costumes/ make up and art department and also in the D.I – Digital intermediate process.

Gemini Ganesan is the most controversial Film Actor in the Indian film History.Gemini Ganesan is universally called and recalled as “Kadhal Mannan” which means “The King of Romance” had a lover boy image which has also jumped of from the reel life to real life.

An excellent raconteur with a bubbling sense of humour, he is an entrancing and rollicking companion even for men! With his handsome looks and charisma it is not surprising that many women have thrown themselves at him. The media always had a closer and fantasy look at Ganesan’s life where it created other numerous extra- marital liaisons and added grist to the gossip mills of Kodambakkam (South Indian Film Industry). Gemini was no gigolo but a Casanova. He was not a hypocrite and candidly admitted to these saying his life was an open book. Some writers have compared him to Gary Cooper in this respect. His wife Bobji stood by her husband throughout like the typical Indian loyal wife.

This Biography film is a very contemporary ode to the legendary Indian actor who has entertained the masses and classes with his soft looks and subtle dialogue delivery which was unheard of in the early 50’s and 60’s which had people from theatre and Dramas who dominated the film field then.

Biography Film Details

Producer : Dr.Kamala Selvaraj, daughter of the Legendary Tamil Actor Gemini Ganesan.

Name Of The Banner : ALAMELU CREATIONS, India.

Project Head and Executive Producer : Kalaimamani V.Thayanban.

Executive Producer : S.Aravinthan.

Music Director : Kalaimamani V.Thayanban.

Director and Executive Producer: M.Venkatesan.

Production Design : SAI Productions, Chennai.

Genre Of The Film : Biography Film – Docu-Drama.

Format/ Tone  : Super 35 mm and Colour.

Duration : 90 Minutes for Theatre Version.

Release Version  : Theatres, Television and DVD-Video.

Technical Formats-Specifications

Picture Format : Super 35 mm – Kodak Film Stock/ Negatives.

Output Format : Film Prints (Kodak Film Stock/ Negatives,Though D.I- Digital Intermediate Process- 2k Output)and Hard disk, H.D Tapes.

Audio : Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for Theatres and Audio Disc Formats and other Broadcast formats.

Language

This Film is being made in Tamil, Telegu, Hindi and English. The various International Version of the Films is available in French and Spanish apart from that the other versions of the film in European and Asian Languages and South Asian languages including Japanese and Korean is also under progress.

Both Dubbing and Subtitling of the Film in other Languages in both Print and other Version is also under processing.

Key words of Film Content Description

Dram part: Period Film- British India- Hindu Brahmin Rural Life Style – Ancient India. Cultural - Song.Indian Cinema of 1950’s- Song – Fight Enactment of 1950’s Classic Tamil Film “Chandralekha “ .

Docu Part: a complete life History of Sri Gemini Ganesan – Rare Photos – clips- Interviews With various stalwarts of Indian Cinema – Bollywood and Tamil Cinema, South Indian – Restored songs and Scenes from Indian Film Classics of that era and film of Sri Gemini Ganesan from 1951 to 1999.

Contact Details

Alamelu Creations, India.

GG Hospital 6-E, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai- 600 034. Tamil Nadu, India.

Gemini Ganesan Biography Film Websites

Gemini Ganesan Biography Film Media Articles

External links

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