From the drama troupe trainers, he was fortunate enough to learn acting and dancing. At the age of 10, he moved to Tiruchirappalli and joined a drama troupe in Sangiliyandapuram and began to perform in stage plays. Without his father's consent, Ganesan decided to join a touring stage drama company at the age of seven.

Media outlets said that the initial 'V' stood for Villupuram, though one of Ganesan's sons stated that it stands for Vettaithidal, a village from which their family originates. Early in his career, Ganesan acted under the name V. Ganesan was born on 1 October 1928, as the fourth son of Chinnaiya Manrayar and Rajamani Ammal in Villupuram, India. 10.1 Civilian honours: national and international.2.3 Puranic and historical roles: 1965вЂ“1969.Upon his death, The Los Angeles Times described him as 'the Marlon Brando of south India's film industry'. Ganesan is remembered as an iconic figure of Tamil cinema. He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 1997, Ganesan was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour for films in India. In addition, he received four Filmfare Awards South and a National Film Award (Special Jury). Many leading South Indian actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Ganesan. Ganesan was the first Indian actor to win a 'Best Actor' award in an International film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo, Egypt in 1960. Sivaji Ganesan is the only Tamil actor to have played the lead role in over 250 films. In a career that spanned close to five decades, he had acted 288 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.

He was known for his versatility and the variety of roles he depicted on screen, which gave him also the Tamil nickname Nadigar Thilagam ( transl.

He was active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Ganesan) better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, (1 October 1928 вЂ“ 21 July 2001) was an Indian actor and producer.

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) (1995).

Sivaji ganesan wife