On the shelf

Sivaji Ganeshan: The Making of a Legend

038; M G Ramachandran: Jewel of the Masses

By Roopa Swaminathan
Rupa Charitavali Series

Rs 150 each

WHEN the history of Tamil cinema itself is said to be divided into the era before and after Sivaji Ganeshan, a slim volume of 68 pages profiling Ganeshan8217;s life might seem rather trite. Instead, what the book offers is the extraordinary story of a nine-year-old Ganeshan running away from home to join a travelling theatre group and subsequently becoming a legend in Tamil films. Similarly, the glossy volume on MGR, hailing from Sri Lanka but adored by millions of Tamils, is divided into two sections 8212; the actor and the politician. Overall, a glossy glimpse into the lives of these Tamil legends.