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Sivaji Ganesan statue unveiled

Staff Reporter

Stone laid for Rs. 16 crore manimandapam in memory of K. Kamaraj

PONDICHERRY: The first ever statue of Tamil movie legend, late actor Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan, was unveiled on Saturday in Pondicherry by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. The life-size bronze statue, made by sculptor Mani Nagappa and installed at a cost of Rs. 6 lakh, is the first of its kind in the world.

Mr. Rangasamy, who also laid the foundation stone for the Rs. 16 crore manimandapam in memory of the late K. Kamaraj, announced that the film city coming up in Pondicherry would be named after the actor.

"We had planned both the functions at the same time because Sivaji Ganesan had immense respect for Kamaraj and the great leader also reciprocated it."

On the anguish expressed by actors at the function that a statue of the thespian had not yet been installed in Tamil Nadu, and that Pondicherry had taken the lead in honouring the actor, he said that Sivaji Ganesan belonged not only to Tamil Nadu, but to the entire Tamil-speaking world.

The actor's sons, G. Ramkumar and actor G. Prabhu, thanked the people and the Government of Pondicherry for their wonderful gesture. The secretary of the Nadigar Sangam, actor and M.P. Sarathkumar said work on the construction of the manimandapam commemorating Sivaji Ganesan in Chennai would be speeded up and would be ready within a year. A galaxy of stars, including Sathyaraj, Sibiraj, Radhika Sarathkumar, "Nizhalgal" Ravi, Kavithalaya Krishnan, Madanbob, Thyagu, M.S. Bhaskar and directors Santhanabharathi and Gajendran, were present on the occasion.

PCC president P. Shanmugam, Pondicherry Assembly Speaker M.D.R. Ramachandran, M.P. Ramadass, Minister Elumalai, MLAs Kamalakannan and Mary Theresa and Congress leader Kumari Anandan spoke on the occasion.

MLA Shahjahan urged the Pondicherry Government to start a college and a film city bearing Sivaji Ganesan's name. Mr. Ramadass suggested that a chair be installed in the Pondicherry University in the name of Kamaraj. Huge cut outs, with images of actor Sivaji Ganesan and Kamaraj, lined the Lawspet area where the function was held. A huge crowd had also gathered to see the stars.

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