The Hindu : Front Page : Rangarajan's contributions to sports, films recalled

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Friday, Feb 09, 2007
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Rangarajan's contributions to sports, films recalled

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Vino John

S. Rangarajan presents a memento to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the 125th Anniversary celebrations of The Hindu in Chennai on September 13, 2003.

CHENNAI: The contributions of S. Rangarajan, Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited, to newspaper publishing, sports and films and his love for animals were recalled by prominent personalities from different walks of life.

The Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu, in his message, described the death as an irreparable loss and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.

M.A.M. Ramaswamy, Member of Parliament and Pro-Chancellor of Annamalai University, said Mr. Rangarajan was a great personality, a lover of sports and a very humane person. His passing away was "a great personal loss for me," Mr Ramaswamy said.

Noting that Mr. Rangarajan was one of the earliest owners of horses in India, R. Ramakrishnan, former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), said "he had a real and natural eye for spotting great horses at an early stage. He was one of the past masters at evaluating dogs and was a doyen in breeding of dogs."

A.V.M. Saravanan, film producer, described the Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited as an all-rounder who mastered several arts.

Illayaraja, music composer, said Rangappa, as he was fondly known, became a good friend of his from the days of shooting for the film "Ore Oru Gramathile."

Sivakumar, veteran actor, said Mr. Rangarajan was one of the few producers who would interact with artists freely in an age when producers kept their distance from those working with them. Vaali, lyricist, said when Mr. Rangarajan decided to make `Ore Oru Gramathile', he had been advised that it might not be successful commercially. However, he took the risk and produced the film, overcoming several hurdles. Eventually, the film won a national award.

Lakshmi, who acted in `Ore Oru Gramathile,' said the movie, a non-commercial venture, was an indication of his interest in making meaningful cinema. The actor, who shared Mr. Rangarajan's interest in breeding dogs, said he was a very friendly person. Manorama, veteran comedian, said "Rangappa was a kind of person who would rush to the help of anyone suffering."

Prabhu, actor, said Mr. Rangarajan was supportive of his family after the demise of his father `Sivaji' Ganesan. "He was a soft-speaking man with abundant knowledge on cinema."

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