The audience at the trailer launch of the restored version of Sivaji Ganesan’s Karnan was in for a surprise. There were two seats reserved on the dais for Sivaji Ganesan and Pantulu. Talking about the unusual gesture, Shanthi Chokkalingam, who is recreating the digital version of Karnan, says that she herself was surprised to see the reserved chairs. She adds that the whole concept was the masterwork of actor-director Cheran. “He had asked us to keep aside two chairs and when the function started, he along with Y Gee Mahendra, who anchored the show, announced that the two chairs were reserved for the late legends.
Speaking to Behindwoods on the emotional gesture, Cheran says, “It’s common to reserve seats for the VIPs in an event. Though Sivaji Ganesan and Pantulu are not with us now, they are still living in our hearts. In order to signify that they are still alive in our thoughts and actions, we decided to have the seats ear-marked for them. Throughout the event I was thinking that both of them have got stuck in traffic and would arrive at anytime to grace the occasion.”
No need to say that event turned out to be an emotionally moving one not only for the organizers, but also for the audience.
