The legendary actor's grandson Vikram Prabhu took to social media to thank Google for the touching tribute, designed by Bengaluru-based artist Noopur Rajesh Choksi.
"Here is the Google doodle honouring the Legend #SivajiGanesan on his 93rd birthday. Appreciate the group of people from Google India and their guest artist Noopur Rajesh Choksi for the doodle art. Thank you for making us, his family & millions of his fans around the world happier today. Another proud moment! Love him and miss him more every year!," Vikram wrote as caption, further tagging Google India in his posts.
Ganesan was born on October 1, 1928, as Ganesamoorthy, in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu (then known as Madras). He left his home to join a theatre group, aged just seven. In 1945, he portrayed the 17th-century Indian King Shivaji in a play, and the regal name stuck as he conquered the world of acting with the name "Shivaji".
Ganesan made his on-screen debut with the 1952 film "Parasakthi", and went on to star in over 300 films in various languages, in a career spanning more than five decades. Renowned for his powerful voice and emotive skills, the actor made history in 1960 as the first Indian performer to win Best Actor at an international film festival (Afro-Asian Film Festival in Cairo, Egypt) for "Veerapandiya Kattabomman".
In 1995, France awarded Ganesan with its highest decoration, Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. Two years later, the Indian government awarded the actor with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which is the country's highest award in the field of cinema.
He was once described by the Los Angeles Times as the "Marlon Brando of South India's film industry". Ganesan passed away on July 21, 2001, at the age of 72.
Twenty years may have passed since the legendary actor left us, but it is undeniable that he has left an indelible mark in the cinema industry, as well as in the hearts of his countless number of fans.
Source: NDTV.com
Photo source: Google