Veteran actor Sivakumar, known for his work in several landmark Tamil movies from the '60s to the '90s has co-starred with several leading stars of his time including MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, SS Rajendran, R Muthuraman, AVM Rajan, Jaishankar and Ravichandran. He had also worked alongside contemporary actors including Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Sarath Kumar, Prabhu, Karthik, Mohan, Arjun Sarja, Ajith Kumar, Vijay, Vikram and Suriya.
The multifaceted actor proved his mettle in a myriad of roles after debuting in Kaakum Karangal (1965). Some of his notable movies include Saraswathi Sabatham (1966), Kandhan Karunai (1967), Thirumal Perumai (1968), Uyarndha Manithan (1968), Annakili (1976), and the very famous K Balachander’s Sindhu Bhairavi (1985).
In a recent event, Sivakumar recalled the bond he had with actor former late CM MG Ramachandran. Though they didn't frequently share screen space, Sivakumar grew in an era when MGR was already a towering figure, not just in cinema but also in politics.
Speaking at the event, he said, "At the function celebrating my 100th film in 1979, MGR told me something memorable. He said Murugan represents beauty and youth, and that this Sivakumar would remain youthful throughout his life. He cursed me that way and left. This is why, even today, I remain youthful. Now I am 85 years old, and I look like an old man."
In an earlier exclusive interview with CE, Sivakumar had opened about his divine beginnings in cinema and the impact it created among audiences globally, saying, “My appearance was fitting for the role of Lord Murugan, and that’s how I got the opportunity to play him in Kandhan Karunai. People think it's easy; just hold a spear and act like a god. But during the audition, I was asked to stand before a background with a peacock, hold the spear, and deliver a line as Murugan.”
He added, “A boy once called me from Sri Lanka and said, ‘I watched your old films recently, and you look exactly like Lord Murugan.’ I told him, ‘Back then, I didn’t even know how to act. I only started learning the craft later, through plays.’ He replied, ‘That’s exactly why you looked like Murugan, because you weren’t pretending. You were him.’”
Sivakumar’s 100th film, Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari, was released in 1979. Directed by Devaraj–Mohan, the film featured Deepa as the female lead, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Notably, Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari went on to become a massive success.
