Who Was Delhi Ganesh, Tamil Actor Who Shared Screen With Rajini, Kamal Haasan, Starred In 400 Films?

Who Was Delhi Ganesh? The veteran Delhi actor breathed his last at the age of 80 in Chennai. In a statement, his family confirmed the news of his passing from age-related ailments. Delhi Actor was known for essaying a variety of roles and featured in over 400 films.

Delhi Ganesh's debut in films and former job with Indian Air Force

A native of Tirunelveli, Ganesh's acting career began in the 1960s when he performed small roles in dramas in Delhi, where he served the IAF for a decade in a civilian post. Later, when he shifted to Chennai after resigning from his IAF job, he joined actor Kathadi Ramamoorthy's troupe and acted in dramas including Dowry Kalyanam.

When legendary director K Balachander made a film (1977) based on the play Pattinaprevasam, Ganesh got his first opportunity in the tinsel world and he reprised his role in the movie. There was no looking back since then and his filmography is impressive with main roles in films of top stars including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Vijayakanth.

Delhi Ganesh's most memorable roles on the big screens 
 

Ganesh's role as a loyal staff of gangster Velu Naicker, a character made immortal by Haasan's brilliant performance in the Mani Ratnam-directed Nayakan (1987), lent weight to the caring persona of the protagonist. His performance in Kamal Haasan's films including Michael Madana Kamarajan (Palakkad Iyer role) and Avvai Shanmughi (manager of a wealthy person) are regarded as iconic by film lovers. He also played one of the villains in Haasan's mega-hit Aboorva Sagotharargal, (Appu Raja in Hindi). Ganesh's stint in stage plays stood him in good stead in films when it came to dialogue delivery and in his career that spanned over four decades, he accomplished with ease an impressive show of a great variety of roles in more than 400 movies.

Delhi Ganesh was a state award recipient 

Delhi Ganesh was a recipient of the Tamil Nadu government's State Film Award for his performance in Pasi in 1979. In 1994, he was given the Kalaimamani Award for his excellence in the arts. Since he had lived in Delhi for a long time, the name of the city became a prefix to his name when he entered cinema.

About Delhi Ganesh's family
 

Very little is known about the family members of Delhi Ganesh. He was married to Thankom amd the couple has a son Mahadevan Ganesh. The actor's son has followed in his footsteps and has also made a career for himself in the entertainment industry. His son is also married and has a son - Krishna Ganesh, who too, is pursuing acting.

Delhi Ganesh's cause of death 

'Delhi' Ganesh, who essayed a spectacular variety of memorable roles in over 400 films, passed away late Saturday night at his residence here following a brief illness, his family said. He was 80 years old. The actor's son, Maha Delhi Ganesh, told reporters that his father had age-related ailments and that he was under treatment. "Last night when we tried to give him a tablet, he did not respond. A doctor confirmed that he was dead," he said. Another family member said Ganesh died in his sleep at his Ramapuram residence.

In a statement, the family said Delhi Ganesh passed away at 11 pm on November 9. Film celebrities condoled his death. Chief Minister M K Stalin condoled Ganesh's demise and said it was a "great loss" to the Tamil cinema industry. He recalled his variety of roles apprised in various films.

(With inputs from PTI)