Kamal Haasan Remembers Sivaji Ganesan’s Legacy: “I Learned Humility from Him”

May 22, 2025 : Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has once again paid heartfelt tribute to legendary Tamil cinema icon Sivaji Ganesan, reaffirming the deep influence the late actor had on his life and craft. During the promotions of his upcoming film ‘Thug Life’, Kamal shared a touching anecdote from their time working together on the critically acclaimed 1992 Tamil film ‘Thevar Magan’.

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Produced under Raaj Kamal Films International, ‘Thevar Magan’ remains one of the most iconic films in Tamil cinema. Recalling a moment from the film’s shoot, Kamal Haasan said:

“I still remember Sivaji Saab asking to redo all his close-ups. I didn’t want to question him, but I asked why. He told me, ‘It’s been nine months since I acted. I’m rusting. It shows. Can I redo it again?’ That humbled me. I called the unit and said, do all the close-ups you want.”

Kamal noted that this exchange was a formative moment in his journey as an actor and producer, emphasizing Sivaji Ganesan’s discipline and self-awareness, even after decades in the industry.

Directed by Bharathan, ‘Thevar Magan’ explored a poignant father-son relationship, with Ganesan playing the father and Kamal the son. The film won five National Film Awards, including:

• Best Tamil Film
• Best Supporting Actress (Revathi)
• Special Jury Award (Sivaji Ganesan) – which Ganesan graciously declined.

Kamal Haasan’s reverence for Ganesan goes beyond the film set. On Sivaji Ganesan’s 95th birth anniversary in 2023, Kamal wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“A singular artist who created hundreds of people within himself and gave them to the world. He presented art not as acting but as life. Tamil Nadu’s answer to the world’s best actors.”

Their professional association began when a young Kamal appeared as a child artist alongside Ganesan in ‘Parthal Pasi Theerum’, later reuniting for ‘Naam Pirandha Mann’.

Known affectionately as ‘Nadigar Thilagam’ (The Pride of Actors), Sivaji Ganesan made his cinematic debut in 1952 with ‘Parasakthi’ and went on to become one of Indian cinema’s most revered performers, with a career that spanned nearly five decades.

Sivaji Ganesan passed away on July 21, 2001, but his legacy lives on, shaping generations of performers, including Kamal Haasan himself.