The overnight removal of the statue of Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan on Thursday has deeply upset the legendary actor's fans as well as the film fraternity, Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan who considers the Nadigar Thilagam as one of his mentors and a father figure has expressed his strong objection in his Twitter page.

The meaning of his Tamil tweet on this issue can be translated like this:

"Sivaji lives forever in the minds of fans and Tamils who wanted to become actors. Let's make a new statute and protect it beyond the Government; my father."

The statue removed from the Kamarajar Salai (Beach Road) in Chennai will be reportedly erected at the Manimandapam (Memorial) that has been constructed for the veteran at Adyar.

சிவாஜி ரசிகர் மனதிலும் நடிக்க நினைத்த தமிழன் மனதிலும் பதிந்தவர். இனி ஒரு சிலைசெய்வோம் அதைக் எந்த நாளும் காப்போம் அரசுக்குமப்பால் என் அப்பா

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) August 3, 2017