K Balachander and Sridhar were two filmmakers who used the actor in consistently challenging roles: he fit easily into them because his on-screen persona was like water, capable of taking the shape of the vessel.
Most people today, when you speak of Gemini Ganesan, will probably remember him as ‘Mahanati’ Savitri’s husband. Or as the intolerant, disciplinarian father of Kamal Haasan in K Balachander’s half-masterpiece Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (1988). Or as Kamal Haasan’s father-in-law in the Mrs. Doubtfire-inspired Avvai Shanmugi (1996), which has a meta layer if you look for it: Gemini hates Kamal as a man, but loves (literally loves) Kamal when dressed as a woman. Put differently, one generation’s heartthrob (‘Kadhal Mannan’, King of Romance) falls for another generation’s heartthrob in drag. The man was clearly a sport. Or maybe he had a soft spot for Kamal, who debuted as his cherubic son in Kalathur Kannamma (1959). It’s a film wokesters will rip to shreds today, but it’s also a film of its time. It’s a melodrama. It’s a “family story”. It has an amazing soundtrack.
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Baradwaj Rangan 
Jeeva Pitchaimani
November 17, 2020
Expected some mention of Gemini’s roles as Lord Shiva.. He looked apt next to Sivaji in those roles.
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Rahini David
November 17, 2020
A few months back I saw a movie called Then Mazhai for it’s Nagesh & Cho comedy and saw that Gemini, ostensibly the hero had to be rescued by K R Vijaya, Cho and Nagesh and all he does for himself is feel very very sorry. Now that is a type of story that even Kamal in his 16 Vayathinile period would hardly have gone for. It was absolutely a charm after watching so many macho movies.
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Satya
November 17, 2020
Well, Telugu memers are having a field day today, berating him for ‘ditching’ Savitri amma… 🙂 Btw, what was “half-masterpiece” BR? Just curious.
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Srinivas R
November 17, 2020
@Rahini – Then Mazhai is comedy gold, just thinking of it makes me smile.Thanks for reminding about that.
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Enna koduka sir pera
November 17, 2020
Lovely writeup. I personally didn’t like watching him that much, but the songs in his movies though! Thanks for reminding of many gems – Vaadikai marandhadhu, manidhan enbavan, Nilavum malarum… Ahhhh the melodies…
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Anu Warrier
November 17, 2020
Gemini Ganesan is my comfort food – he’s pleasant to watch, his films are as mild-mannered as he is, and one gets great songs. I always felt like he had stumbled onto a film set by mistake. He had that look of Alice in Wonderland most of the time.
His Malayali counterpart would be Prem Nazir, holding his own between a stellar Sathyan and a fiery Madhu. Nazir also had that same bewildered countenance – as if he was wondering whether he really was such a sought-after star, and pinching himself to ensure he wasn’t dreaming. He too serenaded a succession of pretty heroines in chaste romances.
I guess it’s time to revisit one of Ganesan’s films… I’m in the mood for gentle melodrama.
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v.vijaysree
November 18, 2020
“nobody ever gave him ten-page stretches of dialogue, which would have probably been blown away by the flapping of the voluminous pyjamas he liked to wear on screen.” –:-)). I recently watched him in Yaar Paiyyan, which I quite enjoyed…
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KayKay
November 18, 2020
Nice article B, but a Gemini reminisce without mention of “Naan Avan Illai? Produced by him and directed by Balachander, I thought Gemini knocked it outta the park with his portrayal as a womanizing con artist with a penchant for disguises (which my mum snidely remarks is Gemini playing himself).
Or has that craptacular remake starring that blank faced baddie from Kaakha Kaakha erased all memories of the original? 🙂
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Rad
November 18, 2020
BR: Or as Kamal Haasan’s father-in-law in the Mrs. Doubtfire-inspired Avvai Shanmugi (1996), which has a meta layer if you look for it: Gemini hates Kamal as a man, but loves (literally loves) Kamal when dressed as a woman. Put differently, one generation’s heartthrob (‘Kadhal Mannan’, King of Romance) falls for another generation’s heartthrob in drag.
BR, you are amazing!! So far, never saw Avvai Shanmugi from the above angle!! Thanks, this adds another color to the viewing.
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Yajiv
November 18, 2020
@KayKay:
Thank you for reminding me of the original Naan Avanillai. It was such a wonderfully different genre attempt in yesteryear Tamil cinema. I think it was Gemini’s own production too, if I’m not mistaken. If only we could erase that dreadful remake from the annals of history…
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Madhu
November 18, 2020
@KayKay, I keep rewatching the original just to leak the bad memory of the new one out of my brains. That man had charm.
I like him in Vallavanukku Vallavan too – that movie of reversing of tropes! It is was sporting of both him and R.S.Manohar (what amazing sound track there too)
My father likes to make fun of his stress on the first phonic whenever he needs to call his female lead. He calls it his Gemini trademark.
For all the common theme of two heroines to one hero in MGR movies, Gemini Ganeshan probably had his fair share too. Bhagyalakshmi, Iru Kodugal, Ramu, Vanji kottai valiban, etc.
He could do the “painful clarity to do the unthinkable” emotion very well. My favourite one is in Karpagam, where he tells her he is going to consider it his painful duty to give her a child to make the father his dead wife happy. En aasaabasangalai thooki erinjittu, en manasai kallakkikka poren. And Savithri’s reaction to it is also priceless: mannikanum neenga enna pesreengannu ungalukkey pureela.
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