Google pays tribute to Sivaji Ganesan on his 93rd birth anniversary

Today, on the 93rd birth anniversary of Sivaji Ganesan, Google has paid tribute to the legendary actor by featuring a Google Doodle on its home page. The doodle is illustrated by Bangalore-based artist Noopur Rajesh Choksi.

Sivaji Ganesan was born as V Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy on October 1, 1928, in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu. Widely regarded as one of the finest actors of the country, he acted in 250+ films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi, during a career spanning over five decades.

Sivaji made his feature film debut in Parasakthi (1952), which was written by DMK leader and former CM M Karunanidhi and directed by Krishnan-Panju. Sivaji's flair for dialogues, unique style and body language ascended him as one of the greatest actors.

In 1960, he won the Best Actor award for Veerapandiya Kattabomman in the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo, Egypt, becoming the first Indian film actor to win the award in an international film festival.

Sivaji has a galore of accolades and awards. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1966, Padma Bhushan in 1984, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1996. He was awarded the Chevalier award by the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France. He was honoured with the Kalaimamani honour by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1962, and the NTR National Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1998. Sivaji Ganesan is also a three-time Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winner.

Sivaji Ganesan breathed his last on 21 July 2001, at the age of 72.