Sivaji Ganesan is lion of Tamil cinema: Lata Mangeshkar

Late actor Sivaji Ganesan’s 88th birth anniversary on Saturday, sent melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, on a walk down the memory, as she recollected how Ganesan “ wasn’t just my brother, he loved my entire family, especially my mother..and a wonderful human being.” She doesn’t recall her first meeting with him, but said she shared “an unforgettable experience”.

Advertisement

Hailing the actor as the “lion of Tamil cinema”, Lata went on to applaud his acting talent, “I thought he was awesome in all his Tamil films that I’ve seen. He would send prints of films, especially for me to see in Mumbai. The last time I saw him was in Thevar Magan (released in 1992). Till the end, he was a brilliant performer. Every Diwali, unfailingly, he sent clothes for every member of the Mangeshkar family. I was never surprised by his largesse because I was his sister. Even if I forgot to send him a rakhi, he never would.”

Disclosing facets of the ‘rare bond’ the duo shared, Mangeshkar, informed how, “He (Ganesan) had rung me up in London when I had received the Bharat Ratna (in 2001). He said ‘Congratulations’. He knew his end was near.”

Overwhelmed with emotions, Lata recollected, “I think he was hospitalised on the same evening. When I heard about his death, I felt something had been lost irrevocably. There shall never be another person like him. He was the lion of Tamil cinema.” —IANS