Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (Malayalam: മരുതൂര് ഗോപാലന് രാമചന്ദ്രന്, Tamil:
மருதூர் கோபாலன் இராமச்சந்திரன்) (January 17, 1917 – December 24, 1987), popularly known by his initials
MGR (Tamil:
எம்.ஜி.ஆர்), was an Indian film actor, producer and politician.
In his youth, MGR and his elder brother, M. G. Chakrapani became members of a drama troupe to support their family. Influenced by Gandhian ideals, MGR joined the Indian National Congress. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1936 film
Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. In the late 1940s he graduated to leading roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry.
He became a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rose rapidly through its ranks. He successfully used his popularity as a film hero to build a large political base. In 1972, he left the DMK to form his own party the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK). In 1977 he became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu - the first film actor in India to become the chief minister of a state. He remained as chief minister till his death in 1987.
In Tamil Nadu, he has a reputation for philanthropism and is considered to be one of the greatest political leaders and actors of the state. He is idolized by his followers as
Puratchi Thalaivar (lit. Revolutionary leader MGR was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
Early life and background
MGR was born in Nawalapitiya near Kandy, British Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka), to immigrant Keralite parents — Melakkath Gopala Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama. His family was originally from Vadavannur, Palakkad, Kerala, but his father had migrated with his family to Ceylon. Melakkath Gopala Menon had been excommunicated from Keralite society (
bhrasht) during a Smarthavicharam in 1903, regarding an fake allegation that dealt with an illicit relationship with a widowed Brahmin woman; and hence he left his family, and married Maruthur Satybhama , and migrated to Ceylon
MGR was a Hindu and portrayed himself as a devotee of Lord Murugan, as is common practice for many Hindus in Sri Lanka.This was during his early days. Later, when he joined the DMK,a pro-rationalist party,he followed the rationalist ideology, though not appearing very aggressively atheistic.However,in later days after he founded his own party following his expulsion from the DMK, he seems to have shown some leaning towards religious faith. He had asked his followers to pray for the success of his AIADMK party.
His followers even prayed for him when it was determined that he had a kidney illness.
After his demise, his wife opened up a temple in his name.
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 career
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
Rickshakaran. 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. His 1973 blockbuster' Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan' broke previous box office records. It was one of the few movies shot in abroad in those days. It was shot in nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan.The DMK unsuccessfully tried to curtail that movie. His acting career ended in 1978 with his last movie, Madurai Meetta SundaraPandian, which he acted when he was the Chief Minister of the state.He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1988 (posthumous).
MGR embracing Rajkumar during the latter's visit to Chennai
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" aka
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.
On the 12th of January 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor M.R. Radha. 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.
MGR at a function in
January (1968)
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 publicized 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.
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. He also introduced Women's Special buses. 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.
His was instrumental in setting up the Tamil University and the Mother Theresa Women's University in Tamil Nadu.
Member of Legislative Assembly
| Year | Elected/Reelected | Place | Party |
| 1967 | Elected | St. Thomas Mount | DMK |
| 1971 | Reelected | St. Thomas Mount | DMK |
| 1977 | Elected | Aruppukottai | ADMK |
| 1980 | Elected | Madurai West | ADMK |
| 1984 | Elected | Andipatti | ADMK |
Chief Minister
| From Year | To Year | Election |
| 1977 | 1980 | Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 1977 |
| 1980 | 1984 | Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 1980 |
| 1984 | 1987 | Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 1984 |
Awards
- National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran in 1972.
- Honorary doctorate received from University of Madras and The World University (Arizona).
- Bharat Ratna was conferred by the Government of India (posthumously) in 1988 for his reformation activities and support from Tamil Nadu.
One famous incident was that MGR was nominated for the Padmashree award from the Government of India but he refused to accept as the wording was in Hindi and not in Tamil in 1960.
Philanthropy
He personally offered 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 (willed to charity) which produced many of the films he acted in. He gifted a golden sword weighing half a Kilogram to Mookambika temple in Kollur, Udupi district.
Death
In October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure and rushed to the Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, United States for treatment, undergoing a kidney transplant. MGR died on December 24, 1987 after his prolonged illness. His death sparked off a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Shops, movie theatres, buses and other public and private property became the target of violence let loose all over the state. The police had to resort issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Tamilians from Bangalore rushed to Madras in trains to see the mortal remains of MGR. Govt had announced free train facility for this visit. The violence during the funeral alone left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded. This state of affairs continued for almost a month all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Around one million people followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and people had their heads tonsured. After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa; they later merged in 1988. In 1989 Dr. M. G. R. Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was established in the erstwhile Residence MGR Gardens, Ramavaram, in accordance with his will dated January 17, 1986. His official residence at 27, Arcot Street, T.Nagar is now MGR Memorial House and is open for public viewing. His film studio, Sathya Studios has been converted into a women's college.
Filmography
As Actor
M. G. Ramachandran filmography
As producer & director
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Nadodi Mannan |
| MGR's First film as Director, |
| 1973 | Ulagam Sutrum Valiban |
| MGR's Second film as Director, |
| 1977 | Madhurai Meetha Sundharapandian |
| MGR's Third film as Director, |
Gallery
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MGR with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
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MGR with K. A. Mathiazhagan
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The Bharat Ratna Citation conferred on MGR.
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Bharat Ratna received by MGR's wife Janaki Ramachandran on his behalf.
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Temple built for MGR's mother by MGR
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