Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani - Sivaji Ganesan

Sivaji Ganesan

Sivaji Ganesan was one of the foremost stars of Tamil film industry. Born as V. C. Ganesan, he was christened Sivaji by Periyar E. V. Ramasami, who was then leading the Dravidar Kazhagam and the Self-respect movement, in the 1940s. He debuted in the Tamil movie Parasakthi in 1952, a movie which heavily contained elements of Dravidian politics. Although Ganesan was a founder member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam he found that atheistic outlook of the party to cost him his movie fame. He was also frustrated with importance given to M. G. Ramachandran, another movie star, in the party. But yet he stayed on in the party until his visit to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple became a center of controversy within the DMK. Responding to the controversy Ganesan called the DMK "a glamour party" and moved to Tamil National Party. The Tamil National Party was itself formed by former members of DMK such as E. V. K. Sampath and Kannadasan. Later Ganesan joined the Indian National Congress when Tamil National Party was merged with it.