CHENNAI: Two months after the late Tamil acting legend Sivaji Ganesan’s statue was removed from Marina promenade, it was flamboyantly unveiled on Sunday at his memorial, with the cinema fraternity rubbing shoulders with politicians.
While the speeches of both superstars Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth had political undercurrents, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam stuck to a rather benign script in praise of Sivaji and former CM J Jayalalithaa.
“OPS is a very lucky man, time and again. He has had the opportunity to build and unveil a memorial that is timeless,” said Superstar Rajinikanth. Kamal, on the other hand, said that there is no need to persuade anybody to be at the memorial given that Sivaji is an artist beyond borders. “Even if I wasn’t a star, I would still be his fan. I would have waited with the crowd outside the gate. I would’ve been at this exact venue at this time,” he said.
With ministers, potential future politicians and celebrities gathered in one compound, Nadigar Thilagam’s memorial attracted hunderds of people crashing at the gate outside. Lockets, badges, rings and T-shirts worn by them bore the face of not only Sivaji, but of Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam and AIADMK’s Two Leaves symbol. “To be successful in politics, the name and fame cinema offers you alone is not enough for public,” said Rajinikanth referring to the defeat suffered by Sivaji in the 1989 elections.
“I think Kamal knows what it is... and he won’t tell me. When I asked him, Anna (older brother), I’m your little brother in cinema, and you need to tell me this… He tells me, ‘You come with me, and then I’ll tell you,” he said.
Sivaji’s son Prabhu who was the day’s host said that late CM Jayalalithaa, told him before she died that there would be no one better than her to build Sivaji Ganesan’s memorial.
Rajini speaks
If you want to be successful in politics, you don’t just need the name, fame and stardom that cinema gives you. You need something more Only the people know what it is I think, Kamal Haasan knows what is required. But then, he won’t tell me what that is
Kamal speaks
I have come here only as one of his crores of fans. I have forgotten my standing, I have only come here as a fan of art
I came here to thank (Sivaji Ganesan). And I thank the world of art, government, and politics for giving me this opportunity
Apart from Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, actors Sharath Kumar, Nassar, Radhika, Vishal, Surya, Karthi and others were present along with leaders such as fisheries minister D Jayakumar, minister of archeology, Tamil language and culture Mafoi K Pandiarajan, Information and Information and Broadcast minister Kadambur Raja.
The memorial itself was built in dravidian architecture with domes on the top. The exterior takes the colours of most government buildings build during AIADMK reign: different shades of green; the interior on the other hand is lined with brown tiles and granite. The gold coloured statue is perched on a pedestal in the centre. A a corridor bearing black and white photographs of Sivaji Ganesan’s landmark achievements snakes around the statue. The 28,300 sq ft memorial has been constructed on Durgabai Deshmukk Road in Adyar in a budget of Rs 2.8 Cr by the Public Works Department.
Three years after the Madras High Court ordered Nadigar Thilagam’s statue to be moved out of the Marina promenade, the actor’s figure found a permanent residence at the memorial. With much controversy surrounding the arrival of chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for the function, the memorial was thrown open for public to visit on the actor’s birth anniversary. The controversy comes in context of Sivaji ganesan’s family being related to VK Sasikala by marriage.
While only Kadambur Raja and a few other ministers were supposed to come to the opening of the memorial, a protest by Sivaji Ganesan’s family members led to deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam throwing open the venue.
After the exit of politicians and celebrities, ardent fans of the late actor swarmed in with frangrant flowers and garlands. “If you ask me what Veerapandiya Kattabomman looks like, or what poet Bharathiyar looks like, I can only think of Sivaji Ganesan’s face,” said Venkatramanan Rajan, a fan of Sivaji Ganesan who came to visit the memorial.