Leaders, artistes pay homage to Sivaji

By M. R. Venkatesh

CHENNAI, JULY 22. Grief virtually knew no bounds, as thousands of mourners, including prominent politicians and film personalities, today paid a moving homage to the thespian, Sivaji Ganesan, who passed away yesterday.

All roads and lanes led to the actor's residence on Chevalier Sivaji Road in T. Nagar, which was the scene of collective sorrow for an unending stream of fans and friends.

People swarmed the palatial house, `Annai Illam', where the body was kept, even before day-break to have a last glimpse of their most enduring hero.

For them, after Kamaraj and MGR, it was Sivaji who, in death, evoked such an instant and overwhelming sympathy. Cinemas and studios downed shutters for the day as a mark of respect to the thespian.

Film artistes, directors and producers have decided to join the funeral procession tomorrow.

They petitioned the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, when she visited `Annai Illam' in the evening, for allotment of public land for cremation and subsequent erection of a memorial.

People from various walks of life and particularly a large number of women patiently filed past the body kept for public view in a refrigerated glass casing in the roomy verandah of his house, after it was brought from the hospital in the wee-hours.

Many shed a silent tear and several wept profusely beating their chests when nearing the body, even as an occasional `oppari' (folk mourning song) burst forth from emotional rural womenfolk.

``Don't you guys know what is sorrow? The lion is dead,'' screamed a Sivaji fan. At least two mourners fainted on the spot.

While the Information Minister, Mr. S. S. Thirunavukkarasu, paid homage on behalf of the Government, Ms. Jayalalithaa placed a wreath in the evening and consoled the bereaved family members.

The DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, who scripted the classic `Parasakthi' that launched Sivaji into the world of stardom, was among the early callers to pay homage to the departed soul.

Accompanied by the Union Minister, Mr. T. R. Baalu, and the Chennai Mayor, Mr. M. K. Stalin, and other party functionaries, the DMK leader broke down as he laid a wreath on the casing.

A shocked TMC President, Mr. G. K. Moopanar saw in Sivaji's death a ``great loss.'' The TMC-DF founder, Mr. P. Chidambaram, and scores of Congressmen including former MPs, MLAs and Pradesh Congress presidents including Mr. M. Arunachalam and Mr. M. P. Subramaniam, came to pay their last respects to the actor who was a close associate of Kamaraj and a member of the Congress for decades.

The Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, Mr. P. Nedumaran, and the Pondicherry Chief Minister, Mr. Shanmugham, called for a fitting memorial for Sivaji.

The MDMK leader, Mr. Vaiko, the PMK founder, Dr. S. Ramadoss, the Union Minister, Mr. Pon Radhakrishnan, leaders of the DPI and the PT, Mr. R. Thirumavalavan and Dr. K. Krishnasamy, and senior office-bearers of the Left parties also paid tributes.

Almost the entire film industry from the South was represented at the place of homage. It was `down memory lane' for the older generation film stars such as Mr. Raj Kumar, Mr. Akkineni Nageswera Rao, Mr. Gemini Ganesan, Ms. Bhanumathi, Ms. Sowcar Janaki, Ms. Manorama and Mr. Nagesh who were Sivaji's contemporaries.

For superstars of the south, Messrs Rajnikant, Chiranjeevi, Mammootty, Kamal Hassan, Vijaykanth and Sarath Kumar, it was an occasion to recall what they owed to their mentor.

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Section  : Southern States
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