“Like my grandfather, I too will perform Therukoothu (street theatre)…”
Darshan Ganesan—grandson of the legendary ‘Nadigar Thilagam’ Sivaji Ganesan and second son of Ramkumar—makes his debut as a lead actor!
He arrives with high expectations in the film Lenin Pandian.
A brief conversation with him:
“Rather than simply carrying my grandfather’s name, I want to carve out my own identity—one that would make him proud.” — Actor Darshan Ganesan
He is the grandson of the legendary ‘Nadigar Thilagam’ Sivaji Ganesan. Darshan Ganesan marks the entry of the next generation of the Sivaji Ganesan family into cinema. Lenin Pandian is the film in which he makes his debut as a lead actor.
“First, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Sathya Jyothi Thyagarajan for believing in me and launching me. I play the role of a police constable in the film.” “This is a story set in a village. Since I was born and raised in the city, I saw this as both a challenge and an opportunity to showcase my acting skills and training. Because the story takes place in the village of Manamadurai, I stayed there for a month to immerse myself in the lives, emotions, and body language of the locals. I observed the people, learned about them, interacted with them, and truly got to know them. I even visited a police station and spent about two days there… it was an eye-opening experience.
My grandfather set the benchmark for acting in Tamil cinema. I am truly grateful to be part of this family, and my goal is to bring 100% dedication and honesty to everything I do. If I work hard and people appreciate my work, they will naturally come forward to support me, recognizing that ‘this young man isn’t just from that family—he is doing his job well.’
Forging my own path and building an independent acting career would be the best tribute I could offer my grandfather. I strive to learn as much as I can about the craft from both my grandfather and my uncle, Prabhu.
I started out performing Therukoothu (street theatre)—specifically, Marathi Therukoothu. It brings me joy to know that my grandfather also began his journey with a form of street theatre known as Kambalathar Koothu; he was a multifaceted artist.
He used to say that performing in plays teaches you every facet of acting. He would explain that there are different forms—such as realistic drama and stylized theatre—where one must sing, act, and dance.
I am delighted to have received formal training as an actor. In my view, a complete actor should know how to act, sing, and dance. I am a huge admirer of my grandfather’s acting, because…” His range and versatility were unparalleled. I have heard that, as an actor, he used to work three shifts a day. Just imagine—he must have possessed immense acting prowess and dedication to pull that off.
Some people consider acting an innate talent; others argue that, like any other art form, it is something you hone through practice. Personally, I believe it is a blend of both. More than just talent, you need to have a passion for the craft of acting. You must feel a strong pull towards it and be willing to practice. Acting demands discipline. I feel that acting is something one learns rather than something that is merely taught; if you have the discipline and put in the practice, you can master it.
“Lenin Pandian” is a very significant film for me. I have worked hard on this project to prove my acting capabilities. The identity of being Sivaji Ganesan’s grandson will always be with me, and I have no desire to deny it. However, I do not wish to remain confined within that identity alone. Rather than simply carrying my grandfather’s name, I want to carve out my own identity—one that would make him proud. That is my goal,” says Dharshan Ganesan.
