Legendary director SP Muthuraman, who has worked with Ganesh in films like Engeyo Ketta Kural and Sri Raghavendar, heaped praises about the actor in an exclusive conversation with Cinema Express. Praising Ganesh as a 'director's delight', Muthuraman says, "Ganesh makes the job of every director he works easy. From a simple comic role to the role of nuanced musician in Sindhu Bhairavi, he owned each and every character. Tamil cinema has lost its treasure today.
"Recounting his memories of shooting with Ganesh, Muthuraman says no matter how minor the role, he can 'steal the show' in a single scene. "Ganesh was first upset when he thought he wasn't included in the cast of Rajinikanth's film about saint Raghavendra, Sri Raghavendrar. But I told him he has a role but a small one, of Appanacharya (Raghavendra's first and foremost disciple). Ganesh is seen in just one scene, that of the jeeva samathi of Raghavendrar. Appanacharya braves all the obstacles out of devotion for Raghavendar and wants to catch a last glimpse of the saint. But once he comes the samadhi would have been complete. Ganesh would have absorbed the character so well that the single scene he is shown weeping and cursing his fate. The whole theatre wept for the scene. That is the kind of actor Ganesh is. His stint as a theatre artist during his initial days has given him the superpower to create such a pull through his roles, I feel."
Lauding the kind of a socially responsible and a humble person Ganesh is, Muthuraman remarks, "Ganesh had the zeal to spread Bharathiar's revolutionary thoughts to the next generation. We annually convene a conference for Bharathiar and for 10 consecutive years, not a single time he refused to attend the event. He humbly accepted everytime we invited him. He is a socially responsible person who thinks good and cares for everyone. He exemplied this trait of his during Bharathiar's annual conference events."
Summing up his admiration for Ganesh with a Thirukkural, Muthuraman says, "Delhi Ganesh's life can be summed up in a kural that goes: Ullaththaar Poiyaa Thozhukin Ulakaththaar Ullaththu Lellaam Ulan (He who in his conduct preserves a mind free from deceit will dwell in the hearts of all people).
Delhi Ganesh, known for both comedy and supporting roles, breathed his last on Saturday. He was 80. Ganesh's son Mahadevan informed about his father's demise on his Instagram handle. The Nayakan actor passed away due to age related illness at his Ramapuram residence
