Behind the scenes

** Maratha warrior Chathrapathi Shivaji was crowned on July 21, 1674. Doordarshan's documentary on the warrior, with the title role essayed by Sivaji Ganesan was first shown on July 21, 1974. Sivaji Ganesan expired on July 21, 2001.

** Amitabh Bachchan was shooting for KBC when the organisers went to invite him. Since he will be shooting in Cyprus, he will not be able to attend, he regretted.

But he has promised to give `bytes' that could be telecast during the show.

** Ditto for Evergreen hero Dev Anand. He broke down because he could not be there.

** Telugu actor Nageswara Rao was among the first to call Sivaji's son Ramkumar to confirm participation.

** Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has been invited for the show.

** Around 20 children from different city schools will enact scenes from Sivaji's movies during the show.

** YG Mahendra will dramatise his new creation `Avan Than Nadigan' - a play in a very `sensitive' vein.

** Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust, started in 1996, supports art, culture and education activities.

The Trust sponsors the education of a number of children (from LKG to 12th standard) annually.

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Section  : Entertainment
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