Kamal Haasan remembers Sivaji Ganesan: 'Tamil Nadu's answer to world's best actors'

Legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan would have turned 95 if he were alive today. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, Kamal Haasan, who is considered Sivaji's heir in Tamil cinema, paid a rich tribute to the late movie icon. He took to Twitter to remember the once in a generational talent of an artist, who has left an indelible mark not just on the Indian film industry, but on the world cinema.

"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. Today is the birthday of the great actor Sivaji Ganesan, Tamil Nadu's answer to the world's best actors. It is our honour to wish you," Kamal wrote on his X account while sharing a still picture from the iconic movie Thevar Magan.

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Thevar Magan, a milestone in Indian cinema

Thevar Magan came out in 1992 and it became an instant classic. Besides sweeping the critics off their feet, the movie was also a smash hit at the box office that year. In addition to writing, and producing it, Kamal had also played the lead role in it.

In Thevar Magan, Kamal gifted himself the opportunity to share the screen space with Sivaji Ganesan. The duo essayed the father-son roles in the movie, which was loosely inspired by The Godfather. While the narrative style had the imprint of a Hollywood classic, the story of Thevar Magan was inspired by the 1973 Kannada movie Kaadu, written and directed by Girish Karnad.

Thevar Magan became a milestone film in the Indian film industry bagging multiple National Film Awards. It revolves around the story of a reluctant son, who rises to the occasion to complete the unfinished work of his late father.