Install Sivaji statue on Marina Beach

The life-size bronze statue of the actor was removed from the Kamarajar Salai-RK Salai junction on the Marina beach front following a High Court order as it caused hindrance to traffic, for relocating it at the memorial coming up for the actor in the Adyar area of the city. The statue was installed on Kamarajar Salai in 2006 by the DMK government in honour of the actor.

In this backdrop, Tamil Film Director’s Association and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) urged the state government to re-install the statue at an alternate location on the Marina beach front.

In a joint memorandum to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, they highlighted the role played by Sivaji Ganesan in the growth and development of Tamil cinema.

“It will be a great honour to erect a statue for him on the Marina as he took Tamil to the international arena through his acting skills and powerful rendition of dialogues,” they said.

They urged the state government to reinstall the statue at an alternative location on the Marina where the “breeze from the Bay of Bengal could continue to sing his praises, while it wafts through his statue.”