Biography of M.G.Ramachandiran (M.G.R)

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (M.G.R) (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987)Was Born in Nawalapitiya near Kandy , British Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to Malayali Parents M.Gopala Menon and Maruthur Sathyabhama . M.G.R was an Tamil film actor, director, producer and politician. In his young Age , MGR and his elder brother, M. G. Chakrapani became members of a drama troupe to support their family.

Early life and background

After his father's death, he joined a drama troupe called Original Boys. Later, he entered the world of cinema, becoming an actor, and later a director, producer, and editor. MGR married Bargavi also known as Thangamani who died early due to illness. He later married Sathanandavathi who also died soon due to Tuberculosis. M. G. R. married V. N. Janaki a former Tamil film actress as his third wife after the death of his second wife. Janaki divorced her husband Ganapati Bhat, to marry MGR.

Acting Carrer :

He made his film debut in 1935, in the film Sati Leelavati, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director. Generally starring in romance or action films, MGR got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumaari, written by M. Karunanidhi. Soon he rose to superstardom in the 1954 blockbuster Malaikallan. He acted as hero in the Tamil film industry's first ever colour movie, the 1955 blockbuster Ali Baba and the forty thieves. He rose to become the heart throb of millions of Indians with movies such as Anbe Vaa, Aayirathil Oruvan, Mahadevi, Panam Padaithavan, Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan, 'Adimaippenn, etc. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972. His film Nadodi Mannan, which was a tamil version of the interpretation of the Prisoner of Zenda, was produced and directed by himself and released in 1956, ran to full houses. He began to act in many movies that appealed to the direct sentiments of the common man and the rich as well. His 1973 blockbuster Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan broke previous box office records. It was one of the few movies filmed abroad in those days. It was shot in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan.

Political Career :

MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953 and he used to wear Khādī. In 1953 MGR joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) with the help of M. Karunanidhi. He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK ("Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam"). He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu. He became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. After the death of his mentor, Annadurai, MGR became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after Karunanidhi became the chief minister.
On the 12th of January 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor M.R. Radha.Both had worked together in 25 films together.When MGR was acting in the film Kaavalkaran in 1967 opposite Jayalalitha this incident happened. Petralthaan Pillaya was the last movie of MGR-MR Radha together, shooting which ended just few days before MGR was shot at.The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. Within hours of the shooting, some 50,000-odd fans had gathered at the hospital where MGR had been taken. People cried in the streets. For six weeks, he lay in the hospital as fans awaited each report of his health. He was visited by a steady stream of commoners and luminaries of film industry, polity and bureaucracy.From his hospital bed, he conducted his campaign for Madras Legislative Assembly. He won twice the number of votes polled by his Congress rival and the largest vote polled by any candidate for the Assembly.

In 1972, DMK leader Karunanithi started to project his first son M.K.Muthu in a big way in film industry and also in politics. Understanding the tactics played by Karunanithi to corner him, MGR started to claim that corruption had grown within the party after the demise of Annadurai and in a public meeting asked for the financial details of the party to be publicised which enraged the leadership of DMK. Consequently, as expected, MGR was expelled from the party, and floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK.He mobilised the period between 1972-1977 to spread and preach his party ambiition with films like Netru Indru Naalai(1974), Idhayakani(1975) etc..,. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on the 30th of July 1977, remaining in office till his death in 1987. In 1979, members of his party Satyavani Muthu and Aravinda Bala Pajanor, became the first non-Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu to be ministers in the Union Cabinet. The AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive. Although Anna Durai as well as Karunanidhi had acted in stage plays in trivial roles, in their younger days, before becoming chief minister, MGR was the first popular film actor to be a Chief Minister in India.Though the Congress won by a small margin of votes with the DMK in the 1980 parliamentary elections, the AIADMK under MGR won the state elections the same year.This made the Congress to ally with the AIADMK in the 1984 elections.


MGR with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after the Emergency was lifted in 1977
Once he became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. One of his most successful policies was the introduction of the "Mid-day Meal Scheme" introduced by the popular Congress Chief Minister and Kingmaker K Kamaraj to a nutritious Mid-day Meal Scheme in the Government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu, which encouraged underprivileged children to attend schools. This scheme was at a cost of Rs.100 crore and was imposed in 1982. A little more than 12000000 citizens of the state were benefited. He also introduced Women's Special buses. He introduced Liquor ban in the state and Preservation of old temples and historical monuments, ultimately increasing the state's tourist income. He set up a free school for the Cinema Technicians children in Kodambakkam called MGR Primary & Higher Secondary School which provided Free Mid-Day meals in the 1950s. He led the ADMK to victory in the 1984 assembly elections despite not taking part in the campaigning. At that time he was undergoing medical treatment in America and his images were broadcast in Tamil Nadu through cinema halls. This was an effective campaign tactic and ADMK won the elections, indicating the depth of his popular support. He won the election in a double landslide victory in 1984.He still holds the record of being the chief minister with the highest consistent longevity of more than a decade .

M.G.R Filmography :

Thirties...

1. 1936 Sathi Leelavathi /Manorama Films, Ellis R.Dungan
2. 1936 Iru Sahothararkal / Parameswari Sound Pictures, Ellis R.Dungan
3. 1938 Thadcha Yagnam / Metropolitan Pictures, Raja Chandrasekhar
4. 1938 Veera Jegatheesh / V.S.Talkies, TP.Kailasam-R.Prakash
5. 1939 Maaya Machendrar / Metropolitan Pictures, Raja Chandrasekha
6. 1939 Prahalaatha / Salem Sankar Films, B.N.Rao

Forties..

7. 1941 Ashokumar / Murugan Talkies Film Company, Raja Chandrasekhar
8. 1941 Vethawathi or Seetha Jananam / Shyamala Pictures, T.R.Ragunath
9. 1942 Thamil Ariyum Perumal / Uma Pictures, T.R.Ragunath
10. 1943 Thaasi Penn or Jothi Malar/ Puvaneswari Pictures, Ellis R.Dungan
11. 1943 Arichandra / Sri Rajarajeswari Film Company, Nagapushanam
12. 1945 Meera / Chandraprabha Cinetone, Ellis R.Dungan
13. 1945 Saalivaahanan / Bhaskar Pictures, B.N.Rao
14. 1946 Sri Murugan / Jupiter, M.Somasundaram-V.S.Narayan
15. 1947 Paithiyakaaran / N.S.K.Films, Krishnan-Panju
16. 1947 Rajakumari / Jupiter, A.S.A.Sami
17. 1948 Abhimanyu / Jupiter, A.S.A.Sami
18. 1948 Mohini / Jupiter, Lanka Sathyam
19. 1948 Raja Mukthi / Narendra Pictures, Raja Chandrasekhar
20. 1949 Ratnakumar / Murugan Talkies Film Company, Krishnan-Panju

Fifties...

21. 1950 Manthiri Kumari / Modern Theatres, T.R.Sundaram- Ellis R.Dungan
22. 1950 Marutha Naatu Ilavarasi / G.Govindan and Co
23. 1951 Marma Yogi /Jupiter, K.Ramnath
24. 1951 Ektha Raaja in Hindi/dubbed
25. 1951 Sarvaadhikaari / Modern Theatres
26. 1951 Sarvaadhikaari in Telugu/dubbed
27. 1952 Andamaan Kaithi / Radhakrishna Films, V.Krishnan
28. 1952 En Thangai / Asoka Pictures, C.L.Narayanamurthy-M.K.R.Nambiar
29. 1952 Kumaari / R.Padmanabhan-Rajeswari, R.Padmanabhan
30. 1953 Genoa / Chandra Pictures, F.Nagoor
31. 1953 Genoa ; in Malayalam/dubbed
32. 1953 Naam / Jupiter-Mekala, A.Kasilingam
33. 1953 Panakkaari / Uma Pictures, K.S.Gopalakrishnan
34. 1954 Koondu Kili (1954)/ R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
35. 1954 Malai Kallan (1954)/ Pakshiraja, S.M.Sriramulu Naidu
36. 1955 Guleba Kaavali (1955)/ R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
37. 1956 Alibaabavum Naarpathu Thirudarkalum / Modern Theatres, T.R.Sundaram
38. 1956 Madurai Veeran / Krishna Pictures, Yoganand
39. 1956 Thaaiku Pin Thaaram / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
40. 1957 Sakravarthi Thirumagal / Uma Pictures, P.Neelakandan
41. 1957 Maha Devi / Sri Ganesh Movietone, Sundar Rao Nadkarni
42. 1957 Puthumai Piththan / Sivakami Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
43. 1957 Raja Rajan / Neela Productions, T.V.Sundaram
44. 1958 Nadodi Mannan / M.G.R.Pictures, MGR
45. 1959 Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali / Kalpana Kala Mandhir, R.R.Chandran

Sixties...

46. 1960 Baghdad Thirudan / Southern Movies, T.P.Sundaram
47. 1960 Mannaathi Mannan / Nadesh Art Pictures, M.Nadesan
48. 1960 Raja Desingu / Krishna Pictures, T.R.Ragunath
49. 1961 Arasilankumari / Jupiter, A.S.A.Sami
50. 1961 Nallavan Vaalvaan / Arasu Pictures, P.Neelakandan
51. 1961 Sabash Maapillai / Ragavan Productions, S.Ragavan
52. 1961 Thaai Sollai Thattathey / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
53. 1961 Thirudathey / A.L.S., P.Neelakandan
54. 1962 Kudumba Thalaivan / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
55. 1962 Maada Pura / P.V.N.Productions, S.A.Subburaman
56. 1962 Paasam / R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
57. 1962 Rani Samyukthaa / Saraswathy Pictures, Yoganand
58. 1962 Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
59. 1962 Vikramaadhithan / Bharat Productions, T.R.Ragunath-N.S.Ramdhas
60. 1963 Anantha Jothi / Hariharan Films (P.S.V.), V.N.Reddy
62. 1963 Tharmam Thalai Kaakum / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
63. 1963 Kalai Arasi / Sarodi Brothers, A.Kasilingam
64. 1963 Kaanchi Thalaivan / Mekala Pictures, A.Kasilingam
65. 1963 Koduthu Vaithaval / E.V.R.Pictures, P.Neelakandan
66. 1963 Neethiku Pin Paasam / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
67. 1963 Pana Thottam / Saravana Films, K.Sankar
68. 1963 Parisu / Gowri Pictures, Yoganand
69. 1963 Periya Idathu Penn / R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
70. 1964 Theiva Thaai / Sathya Movies, P.Madhavan
70. 1964 En Kadamai / Nadesh Art Pictures, M.Nadesan
71. 1964 Padahotti / Saravana Films, T.Prakash Rao
72. 1964 Panakkara Kudumbam / R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
73. 1964 Thaayin Madiyil / Annai Films, Adurthi Subba Rao
74. 1964 Tholilaali / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
75. 1964 Vettaikkaaran / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
76. 1964 Aasai Mugam / Mohan Productions, P.Pulliah
77. 1965 Aayirathil Oruvan / Padmini Pictures, B.RPanthulu
78. 1965 Enga Veetu Pillai / Vijaya Combines Productions, Sanakya
79. 1965 Kalankarai Vilakkam / Saravana Films, K.Sankar
80. 1965 Kanni Thaai / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
81. 1965 Panam Padaithavan / R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
82. 1965 Thaalam Poo / Sri Bala Murugan Films, S.Ramadas
83. 1966 Anbe Vaa / AVM, A.C.Tirulokachandar
84. 1966 Naan Aanaiyittaal / Sathya Movies, Sanakya
85. 1966 Muharaasi / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
86. 1966 Naadodi / Padmini Pictures, B.R.Panthulu
87. 1966 Chandrothayam / Saravana Films, K.Sankar
88. 1966 Parakkum Paavai / R.R.Pictures, T.R.Ramanna
89. 1966 Petraal Thaan Pillaiyaa? / Sri Muthukumaran Pictures, Krishnan-Panchu
90. 1966 Thaali Paakiyam / Varalakshmy Pictures, K.B.Nagabhushanam
91. 1966 Thani Piravi / Devar Films, N.S.Varma
92. 1967 Arasa Kattalai / Satyaraja Pictures, M.G.Chakrapani
93. 1967 Kaavalkaaran / Sathya Movies, P.Neelakandan
94. 1967 Thaaiku Thalaimagan / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
95. 1967 Vivasaayi / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
96. 1967 Rahasiya Police 115 / Padmini Pictures, B.R.Panthulu
97. 1968 Ther Thiruvizah / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
98. 1968 Kudiyiruntha Koyil / Saravana Screens, K.Sankar
99. 1968 Kannan En Kaathalan / Sathya Movies, P.Neelakandan
100. 1968 Oli Vilakku / Gemini, Sanakya
101. 1968 Kanavan / Valli Films, P.Neelakandan
102. 1968 Puthiya Bhoomi / J.R.Movies, Sanakya
103. 1968 Kaathal Vaahanam / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
104. 1969 Adimai Penn / M.G.R.Pictures, K.Sankar
105. 1969 Nam Naadu / Vijaya International, Jambu

Seventies...

106. 1970 Maatukaara Velan / Jayanthi Films, P.Neelakandan
107. 1970 En Annan / Venus Pictures, P.Neelakandan
108. 1970 Thalaivan / Thomas Pictures, P.A.Thomas
109. 1970 Thedi Vanda Maapillai / Padmini Pictures, B.R.Panthulu
110. 1970 Engal Thangam / Mekala Pictures, Krishnan-Panchu
111. 1971 Kumari Kottam / Kay Cey Films, P.Neelakandan
112. 1971 Rikshawkaran / Sathya Movies, M.Krishnan Nayar
113. 1971 Neerum Neruppum / New Mani J.Cine Productions, P.Neelakandan
114. 1971 Oru Thaai Makkal / Nanjil Productions, P.Neelakandan
115. 1972 Sange Muzhangu / Valli Films, P.Neelakandan
116. 1972 Nalla Neram / Devar Films, M.A.Thirumugam
117. 1972 Raman Thediya Seethai / Jeyanthi Films, P.Neelakandan
118. 1972 Annamidda Kai / Ramachandra Productions, M.Krishnan
119. 1972 Naan Een Piranthaen? / Kamatchi Agencies, M.Krishnan
120. 1972 Ithaya Veenai / Uthayam Productions, Krishnan-Panchu
121. 1973 Ulagam Suttrum Vaalipan / M.G.R.Pictures, MGR
122. 1973 Paddikaatu Ponnaiah / Vasanth Pictures, B.S.Ranga
123. 1974 Netru Inru Naalai/ Amalraj Films, P.Neelakandan
124. 1974 Urimai Kural/ Chitrayuka, C.V.Sridhar
125. 1974 Siriththu Vaazhavendum / Uthayam Productions, S.S.Balan
126. 1974 Ninaithathai Mudippavan / Oriental Pictures, P.Neelakandan
127. 1975 Naalai Namathe / Gajendra Films, K.S.Sedhumadavan
128. 1975 Pallaandu Vaazhha / Uthayam Productions, K.Sankar
129. 1975 Ithaya Kani / Sathya Movies, A.Jeganathan
130. 1976 Neethikku Thalai Vanangu / Sri Umaiyambikai Productions, P.Neelakandan
131. 1976 Uzhaikkum Karangal / Kay Cey Films, K.Sankar
132. 1976 Oorukku Uzhaippavan / Venus Pictures, M.Krishnan
133. 1977 Inru Pola Enrum Vaazhha / Subbu Productions, K.Sankar
134. 1977 Navarathnam / C.N.V.Movies, A.P.Nagarajan
135. 1977 Meenava Nanban / Muthu Enterprise, C.V.Sridhar
136. 1977 Maduraiyai Meedda Sundara Paandiyan (1978)/ Soleeswar Combines, P.Neelakandan