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Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran (Tamil: மருதூர் கோபால இராமச்சந்திரன், Malayalam:മരത്തൂര്‍ ഗോപാലന്‍ രാമചന്ദ്രന്‍) (January 17, 1917–December 24, 1987), popularly known as MGR எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., Puracthi Nadigar, Ponmana Chemmal, Makkal Thilakam and Puratchi Thalaivar (Tamil: Revolutionary Leader), was a longtime leading Tamil film actor and Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death.

Early life

He was born at Nawalapitiya near Kandy, Sri Lanka, to Maruthur Gopala Menon and Satyabhama. He was from a Menon family in Vadavannur, Palakkad, Kerala. But his grandfather had migrated with his family to Sri Lanka.

After his father's death, he could not pursue his studies beyond the primary stage due to poverty and joined a drama troupe called Original Boys. Gaining considerable experience on stage, he entered the world of cinema, and gradually rose to enviable positions by persistent efforts and endurance. He became an actor, with a huge mass appeal. He was also a very good director and producer, and was also known to be an expert movie 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. His third wife was V.N.Janaki, a former actress she divorced her husband Ganapati Bhat, to marry him. He did not have any children.

Tamil cinema

Making his film debut in 1936, in the film Sati Leelavathi, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director , MGR did not attain great popularity until he got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumari which was a super hit making him a top hero in Kollywood and one of the most successful in Indian Cinema history, the script for Rajakumari was written by Karunanidhi. He rose to stardom by playing characters that portrayed him as the saviour of the poor. His movies were the medium of communication for the Dravidian movement. For the next twenty-five years he remained the biggest celebrity in Tamil cinema and the most famous and worshiped man in tamil nadu. Movies like Madurai Veeran, a champion of the Tamil Devars. His star power did not diminish even after he was shot by fellow actor M.R.Radha, affecting his ability to speak clearly. Even then he undauntedly carried on only to give box-office hit after hits, later paving way for his entry into poiltics. He won the national award in the best actor category for the film Rickshakaran while his filmdom rival Sivaji Ganesan who was considered better actor than him didn't win it even once as a Hero (Sivaji Ganesan won the national award towards end of his career in Dhevar Magan). His Movie "Nadodi Mannan" (produced & directed by MGR and first released in 1956) released in 2006 ran house full shows in Tamil Nadu for 14 weeks which is rarity even with recently released movies of popular actors.

Political career

MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953 and he used to wear kathar and wear vibhuti on his forehead. In 1953 MGR joined the DMK. He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK (Dravidian Progressive Federation). 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.

In 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor and political aspirant M.R. Radha. The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. He wanted the financial details of the party to be publicised which enraged the leadership of DMK and in 1972, MGR was expelled from the party. MGR then floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) which was later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977, and remained in office till his death in 1987. In 1979, Members of his party became the first dravidian and non-congress party from Tamil Nadu to become ministers in the Union Cabinet. It is to be noted that the AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive. He was the first film actor to be a Chief Minister in India.

Chief Ministership

He enjoyed unending support during his time as Chief Minister. He placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. He founded the Tamil University, The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University and the Women's University in Tamil Nadu. One of MGR's most successful policies was the re-introduction of the "Mid-day Meal Scheme" in the Government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu, which encouraged underprivileged children to attend schools. Efforts taken by him and the subsequent Tamil Nadu governments ensured the development of Primary and Secondary education in the State. Jayalalitha the later Chief minister of TamilNadu was mentored by MGR.

Positions held

• 1962 Elected to Legislative Council
• 1967 Elected to Legislative Assembly from St Thomas Mount
• 1971 Reelected to Legislative Assembly from St Thomas Mount
• 1977 Elected to Legislative Assembly from Aruppukottai
• 1980 Elected to Legislative Assembly from Madurai West
• 1984 Elected to Legislative Assembly from Andipatti
• 1977-1987: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

Death

In 1984, MGR fell sick and was rushed to the U.S. for treatment. Mass hysteria gripped Tamil Nadu and over 100 people attempting self-immolation. MGR died December 24, 1987 after his prolonged illness. His death sparked off an inexplicable frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Shops, movie theaters, buses and other public and private property became the target of wanton violence let loose all over the state. The situation became so hopeless that the police had to resort issuing shoot-at-sight orders, something seldom seen or heard of in democratic India. The violence during the funeral alone left 23 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded. , This state of affairs continued for almost a month all over the state of Tamil Nadu, bringing normal life to a grinding halt and causing untold misery to millions. Around one million persons followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and lakhs of people had their heads tonsured. He was worshiped human in the history of tamil nadu. Some people in southern region of tamil nadu still worship him as god. After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and his political protege, J. Jayalalitha and later merged in 1988. In 1989 Dr. MGR Home & Higher Secondary School for the Speech & Hearing Impaired was established in the earstwile Ramavaram Gardens Residense as per his will dated 17 January 1986.

Awards

• MGR was nominated for Padmashree award from the Government of India but MGR refused to accept as the wording was in Hindi in 1960

• National Award for the Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran in 1972
• Bharat Ratna was conferred by the Government of India Posthumously.

Critics rose questions as whether he would have accepted it had he been alive having refused the padmashree

Doctorate received from

• University of Madras
• The World University (Arizona)

Social Work and Charity

MGR was always the first to personally offer relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones, he was the first donor during the war with China in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund. He was the founder and editor of THAI weekly magazine and ANNA daily newspaper in Tamil. He was the owner of Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures which produced many of the films he acted in. He also founded the MGR Schools in Kodambakkam giving free education and food for the film workers children in 1953. He was the president of Nadigar Sangam - South India Film Artists Association for four terms. He willed all his property for the welfare of the poor and hearing impaired people of Tamil Nadu.

MGR's filmography

Produced movies

• 1958 - Nadodi Mannan - Directed by MGR, a movie that seeded a change in Tamilnadu’s political history
• 1969 - Adimai Pen - unusual plot set in a fictional medieval European kingdom
• 1973 - Ulagam Sutrum Valiban - MGR's second venture as Director, Shot mostly in Foreign location

Notes

1. MGR
2. L. R., Jegatheesan. "ஆளும் அரிதாரம்" (in Tamil). BBC. Retrieved 2006-11-08. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
3. http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/celeb/MGR.asp

References

• M.G. Ramchandran: Jewel of the Masses
• The Hindu - Politics and Suicides in TN

External links

• Dr. MGR Educational & Research Institute Homepage
• M.G. Ramachandran at IMDb

• 1917 births
• 1987 deaths
• Actor-politicians
• Bharat Ratna recipients
• Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu
• Tamil actors
• Tamil politicians