Celebrities pay tribute to Gemini

(##include msid=43376741,type=11 ##)CHENNAI: PopularTamil film hero of yesteryear and ''King of Romance'', Gemini Ganesan, known forsober essaying of roles, died here on Tuesday after a prolongedillness.Aged 84, Ganesan is survived by ''Bobji'' T R Alamelu, sevendaughters, including Hindi actress Rekha, and a son. Ji Ji, another of hisdaughters, had also acted in a couple of Tamil films. He had been ailing sinceNovember last and the end came at 1.15 am, his family said.(##include msid=43376741,type=11##) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha and DMKPresident M Karunanidhi, both who had their origins in the film industry, wereamong the galaxy of personalities who placed wreaths on the body of Gemini andpaid their respects. "A chapter of Tamil cinema has come to an end," Karunanidhisaid.(##include msid=43376741,type=11##) Rekha, who is shooting for a film in Kulu Manali inHimachal Pradesh, would not attend the funeral, family sourcessaid.Among his last films was "Avvai Shanmukhi" in which as anelderly widower he fawns over the lady help portrayed by Kamala Hasan, which wasremade in Hindi as "Chachi 420".(##include msid=43376741,type=11##) One of the big three of the Tamil cinema along withthe late MGR and Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini earned the sobriquet ''kadal mannan''(King of Romance) for his easy acting and portrayal of subtle emotions,especially in love scenes.