Today (September 30), marks two occassions. One is that it has been a week since the National Award winners were handed out their awards by the President. Mohanlal joins the select list of cinema personalities from South India, to be awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award. He joins the likes of Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Rajkumar, Rajinikanth, and most of all Sivaji Ganesan to name a few.

But the other significant milestone, is one involving Sivaji Ganesan himself, as Vasantha Maligai was released on this day in 1972. Directed by KS Prakash Rao, the film featured the actor as a rich man who struggles with his alcoholism and his relationship with Latha, essayed by Vanisri.

The yesteryear actor was the recipient of Indian cinema's highest honour in 1996 at the 44th National Film Awards ceremony.

When Rajiv Mehrotra of Doordarshan, asked the actor if he thought that the award was long overdue, Sivaji Ganesan said, "Many people feel that way, but I don't. Because I have won so many awards since my childhood." He added, "Everybody thinks this award is very late, but I don't think so. I had doubts as to whether I am fitting of this award or not. But now the people who give out the awards think that I am fit for it. I am happy about it without any regrets".

The film also starred Nagesh as Panchavarnam, in one of his many collaborations with Sivaji Ganesan. Major Sundarrajan, K Balaji, Vennira Aadai Srikanth, Santha Kumari, and Pandari Bai, also star in the film.