Chennai: It is an insult to former superstar Sivaji Ganesan and his contribution to cinema to have his 2.8-crore memorial inaugurated by a minister, the actor's family says, insisting that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami must make the time for the occasion.
Sivaji Ganesan, who starred in more than 300 films, died in 2001. His memorial is to be opened on Sunday which is also his 89th birth anniversary.
The memorial which is centred on a large statue, is located in Adyar, a fancy neighbourhood in Chennai.
The memorial was commissioned by J Jayalalithaa, actor-turned-politician, who died in December while she was Chief Minister. Her party's E Palaniswami or "EPS", who now heads the government, has assigned two ministers to throw open the memorial to the public.
"The scheduled small function by a minister will disrespect a legend," said Sivaji Ganesan's son, Prabhu, who is an actor, in a letter to the Information Minister. "This is Jayalalithaa's dream project. She would have inaugurated if she were alive," he claimed.
A statue of Sivaji Ganesan, built when the opposition DMK was in power, was removed in August from a main road leading upto the city's famous Marina Beach after the High Court said it was a traffic hazard and blocks the view of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
It is this statue that will be placed in the new memorial and sources say its provenance and links to the DMK may have spurred EPS to keep his distance from Sunday's ceremony.
Sivaji Ganesan, who starred in more than 300 films, died in 2001. His memorial is to be opened on Sunday which is also his 89th birth anniversary.
The memorial which is centred on a large statue, is located in Adyar, a fancy neighbourhood in Chennai.
"The scheduled small function by a minister will disrespect a legend," said Sivaji Ganesan's son, Prabhu, who is an actor, in a letter to the Information Minister. "This is Jayalalithaa's dream project. She would have inaugurated if she were alive," he claimed.
Advertisement
It is this statue that will be placed in the new memorial and sources say its provenance and links to the DMK may have spurred EPS to keep his distance from Sunday's ceremony.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Dubai Princess Shaikha Mahra Divorces Husband In Insta Post, Cites Reason In Massive Row Over Karnataka 100% Quota Bill, Chief Minister Deletes Post 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare The History Of Railway Budget And Why It Was Demerged From Union Budget Video: Rajasthan Teachers Caught Dictating Answers During Board Exams "UP Fed Up With Game Of Thrones": Akhilesh Yadav Amid BJP Infighting Buzz Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.