Gemini Ganesan

Overview

Ramasamy Ganesan (17 November 1920 – 22 March 2005), better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. Popularly referred to as Kaadhal Mannan (King of Romance) for his romantic portrayals, he was regarded as one of the three biggest names of Tamil cinema, alongside M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. While Sivaji Ganesan was known for dramatic roles and M. G. Ramachandran for action films, Gemini Ganesan carved a niche for himself with romantic cinema.

Ganesan was among the few college graduates to enter the film industry of his time. He made his debut with Miss Malini in 1947, but came to wider notice only after playing the antagonist in Thai Ullam (1952). His lead role in Manam Pola Mangalyam (1953) helped him attain star status. Unlike Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran, he was not a stage performer and did not enter politics. Over a film career spanning more than five decades, he appeared in over 200 films. His on-screen performances were complemented by playback singers such as A. M. Rajah and P. B. Sreenivas.

Ganesan was a recipient of the Padma Shri in 1971. He also received several other honours, including the Kalaimamani, the MGR Gold Medal, and the Screen Lifetime Achievement Award. He had eight children, among them the actress Rekha. His marriages, including one to the actress Savitri, have been noted in accounts of his personal life.

References

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Gemini Ganesan.