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Gemini battled Tamil psyche
 In an age when melodrama, overacting and histrionics (read Sivaji Ganesan and his predecessors) ruled the roost in Tamil cinema,
Gemini Ganesan brought out the essence of acting in an uncomplicated, simple and subtle form that was highly successful given the climate of excesses that prevailed. In that sense, Gemini was a trendsetter who was probably ahead of his time and had no qualms in swimming against the tide.
A subtle expression, a look of longing, the drooping head indicating the melancholic mood, the wistful style in singing songs as against the exaggerated mannerisms of Sivaji Ganesan, AVM Rajan, S S Rajendran and the like - in a sense, he heralded the new Tamil cinema.
 Considering the odds stacked against him and sandwhiched between two superstars, MGR and Sivaji,
Gemini's path was full of thorns. In many films, he was even pitted against the powerful actors who believed in histrionics and melodrama. He had to fight not just them but also their concept of acting. This definition of 'acting' had gained deep grounds in the Tamil psyche. So much so, that if one has to display some emotion today, one must not just weep or shed tears - one should have the ability to reel off yards and yards of alliterative dialogue, beat the chest (even if it's not Moharram time), bang the head against hard objects, wail and wail till the cows come home. To the extent that, if one is genuinely grief-stricken - in fact, too grief-stricken to speak or come out with some great lines in chaste Tamil - he or she could be considered as not grieving at all! Just as the Karunanidhis and the Vaikos will be considered by many as 'genuine grievers' and not the others.
Gemini was even derisively called 'sambhar' which is expected to denote a lack-lustre performance. In subsequent years, however, 'sambhar' became hugely popular all over India and is considered a highly-rated dish in north India.
 Again, Gemini was considered the first intelligent and educated actor in the Tamil film scene. In an era when the film industry leaders rivalled one another in wasteful and lavish expenditure on ephemeral stuff, Gemini is believed to have begun the concept of wise investments in real estate and industries. This prompted Sivaji and others to follow suit.
Where Gemini scored again was in having soft, romantic numbers in his films which stand the test of time. From the gentle numbers of A M Raja to the smooth, flowing tunes of P B Sreenivos, every romantic duet of Gemini was a hit. In fact, even as the Sivaji-T M Sounderarajan or the MGR-TMS duo seemed to dominate the industry, the Gemini-PBS combo had its own charm and its own share of
rasikas.
 There have been villains on screen who were considered gentlemen in real life. We have heard of Nambiar in Chennai and Pran in Mumbai. Gemini was a phenomenon who was a Casanova in real life too, true to his 'Kadhal Mannan' image. However, he had the candour to admit that Rekha was his daughter. In a large measure, he had to admit it due to Rekha's candour, more than his.
Even in his last days, he hogged the headlines through what was considered his fourth marriage to a housemaid! At least, to be fair to him, he kept mistresses and kept count as well! Perhaps, he was carried away by the realistic portrayal of his role in 'Avvai Shanmukhi' of a business tycoon wanting to marry the housemaid!
In films and in real life, Gemini, who died March 22 at the age of 84, will be seen by posterity as a gentle rebel. Ironically, his death may trigger another wave of melodrama.
R Rangaraj
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