Mahajan's assurance on Bharat Ratna to Sivaji

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, OCT. 1. The Union Communications Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, today promised to impress upon the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, the passionate plea, made by the entire south Indian filmdom, for confering Bharat Ratna posthumously on the legendary thespian, Sivaji Ganesan.

Speaking at a glittering function after unveiling a portrait of the late actor and releasing a Rs. 4 commemmorative postal stamp, Mr. Mahajan said Sivaji Ganesan became the eighth film personality to have a commemorative postal stamp released.

``I will certainly carry the sentiments and spirits of the entire South Indian filmdom to the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, for favourably considering the plea for the most covetd and highest civilian award, which would be yet another befitting honour the country would be bestowing on the nationally and internationally acclaimed actor.

Mr. Vaiko, president, Dr. Sivaji Ganesan Commemoration Committee, who presided, thanked Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Ram Vilas Pawan and Mr. Mahajan for bringing out the colourful commemorative postal stamp on the birth anniversary of the thespian.

Mr. Prabhu, film actor and son of Sivaji Ganesan, who received the stamp from the Minister, said he was moved by the `love and affection' showered by the people from different walks of life all over the world.

The star-studded function saw a galaxy of personalities from the tinsel town - Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth, Shatrughan Sinha, Bharathiraaja, Ilayaraaja, B. Sarojadevi, and Vyjayanthimala Bali - paying tributes to the mass entertainer whose irrepairable loss could not be ever replaced in the Indian cinema.

Dr. U. Srinivasaraghavan, Chief Postmaster General, Mr. `Kalaippuli' S. Thanu, secretary, Dr. Sivaji Ganesan Commemoration Committee and Mr. R. Sundarrajan, treasurer of the Committee were among those present.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Court orders on Oct. 4 on resubmitted CB-CID
           report
Next     : 5 more AIADMK women file papers for Nellai Mayor