Calling the films of today as those that are magnificent only in budget and locations, and not in content, actor Y Gee Mahendra said films like Karnan could never be remade with the charm of the original. This was at an event held to celebrate the Sivaji-starrer’s re-release recently, that has crosses over 150 days.
“Nobody can replace any of the actors of the 1964 film and it would amount to mockery if it is done,” he said.
The Sivaji-starrer was digitised and released by Divya Films and was running to packed houses even till recently in multiplexes. The celebration was organised by the All India Sivaji Ganesan’s Fans Club and the actor’s kin, including sons Ramkumar and Prabhu, and grandson Vikram Prabhu were present on the occasion, along with film personalities.
Marudhu Mohan, who is doing his PhD on Sivaji Ganesan, said he met the actor way back in 1980 in Madurai and told him that he wanted to do a PhD thesis on him. “The actor asked me if I could do it. I first didn’t understand why he asked it, but realised what he meant soon after I started my work. There is so much about the actor,” he said.
Chokkalingam of Divya Films said he wanted youngsters to see Karnan and thus came up with the idea of re-releasing the film in a digital format.
Technicians of the digitised version and heirs of actors who played important characters in the original were felicitated at the event. Actor Prabhu thanked all for their love for his father.
Earlier, Sivaji fans were enthralled by songs of their evergreen hero performed by UK Murali.