The thespian's last journey brings Chennai to a standstill

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

and Feroze Ahmed

CHENNAI, JULY 23. It was the last journey of the juggernaut of Tamil cinema. And, Chennai virtually came to a standstill for those three and a half hours, as the funeral procession of thespian Sivaji Ganesan, wended its way to its final destination - the Besant Nagar crematorium today.

Even in his last journey, Sivaji appeared to create a record of sorts. It was the biggest funeral procession that Chennai saw in the past one decade and the entire film industry - from superstars to stunt artistes and technicians - was on the streets to give a tearful farewell to the `Nadigar Thilagam.'

Amidst heart-wrenching wails, the procession began about 8.40 a.m. from `Annai Illam' at T. Nagar and inched through Nandanam, Chamiers Road, Greenways Road and Besant Avenue, before reaching the Besant Nagar crematorium about noon.

As 13 horsemen dressed in black led the procession, the flower- bedecked truck carrying the hearse trundled through the 10 km route.

And, several lorries packed with small and big screen artistes, besides buses and maxi cabs carrying family members and fans followed.

The procession left a trail of flowers, sandals, posters and rubber tubes, and had conservancy workers swinging into action immediately.

All through the route, the police had a tough time keeping the crowd in check. The procession swelled along the route with mourners joining the convoy at various intersections. Starting with a few thousand people, it finally swelled to about a lakh as the convoy reached the crematorium.

The police found it hard to control agitated motorists and the bystanders at the intersections. At one point, the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the gathering at the junction of the Besant Nagar First Main Road and First Avenue near the crematorium.

Roads and by-lanes enroute were barricaded as the convoy went by, resulting in traffic snarls along Nandanam, TTK Salai, Mylapore, R.A. Puram and Adyar. Traffic was redirected through by-lanes to ease the congestion. Motorists had to wait for about an hour for the procession to clear and normal flow of traffic to be restored.

The strong gathering outside the crematorium was more keen to see their favourite tinsel stars. As they stepped out, actors and actresses were greeted with cheers and hootings.

Among the prominent film personalities in the procession were Bharathi Raja, Vairamuthu, Senthil, Vadivelu, Manorama, Radhika, Sujatha, Revathi and Kovai Sarala.

Sivaji's contemporaries like Nagesh, who could not join the procession, came directly to the crematorium. The Chennai Mayor, Mr. M.K. Stalin, the TNCC chief, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, and the Thondar Congress leader, Mr. Kumari Ananthan, paid their last respects to the actor at the crematorium.

Gun salute

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JULY 23. In a rare gesture, the city police gave a gun salute for the thespian Shivaji Ganesan during the last rites at the Besant Nagar crematorium.

The honour was given on orders from the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa. The only other film personality who was given this honour was noted film director, Satyajit Ray, police said.

Film actor, Kamal Hasan, thanked the Chief Minister for the gesture.

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