Gemini Ganesan, the eternal romantic of the silver screen, a charmer, and an actor par excellence, was one of the most adored icons of the Indian film industry.

Gemini Ganesan who was named earlier Ramaswami Ganesan was born on 17th November 1920 in Pudukottai of Tamilnadu. After initial studies at Ramakrishna Home, Chennai and Maharajah's College, Pudukottai, Ganesan graduated from Madras Christian College, Tambaram and started his career as a lecturer in this College. But soon he joined Gemini Studios as a Production Assistant.

His career as a film actor began with Tamil films Miss Malini (1947), Chakradari (1948) and Nava Jeevanam. Then he moved from Gemini  Studios to join M/s Iyengar Company, although the prefix 'Gemini' continued. Producers  Shri Narayana Iyengar and Shri W.P. Sarathy signed him up for the film 'Thai Ullam' in which he played the role of a villain. He then got the dual role in 'Manam Pola Mangalyam', which established him as a popular lead actor. This was followed by more hits including AVM's 'Penn', Kanavane Kankanda Deivam, and Nagi Reddy's 'Missiamma', which gave him star status.

Gemini Ganesan acted in the  lead role in over two hundred films in all the southern languages also including Hindi. His acting career touched enviable heights in films like 'Kalyana Parisu', 'Sumaithangi', 'Meenda Sorgam', 'Karpagam', 'Chinnanchiru Ulagam ', 'Kurathi Magan', 'Iru Kodugal', 'Punnagai', 'Velli Vizha', etc. He gave one of his most memorable performances in Sowcar Janaki's "Kaviya Thalaivi". His last film was  'Avvai  Shanmughi'.  He  even  acted  in  a  TV  serial, Krishnadasi.

A stalwart of Tamil cinema, Gemini Ganesan was honoured with several awards and titles including the Padmashree, Nadippu Chelvam and Nadigar Mannan.

Gemini Ganesan was a good orator besides being a considerably good singer in the carnatic style. He was also a keen sportsman and won several tournaments in Cricket, Tennis and Billiards in his early days. In 1973, he led the first Indian cultural performing troops delegation to South Africa.

He passed away in Chennai on 22nd March 2005 but he still rules the hearts of his admirers and fans, as the "King of Romance" (Kadhal Mannan) and above all, as a nice and gentle human  being.

The Department of Posts is pleased  to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Gemini Ganesan.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India