M G Ramachandran (1917-1987) was arguably India's most charismatic matinee idol, especially popular in Tamil Nadu, where he dominated films and politics for decades. With an enormous reputation as a philanthropist and friend of the under dog ,an
image his films assiduously cultivated, he was at once romantic hero and father figure in a film world known for its magnificent if incredible obsessions. MGR,as he was known to his fans and the cognoscenti alike, enjoyed the adulation of millions of Tamilians and became the state's chief minister in 1977, mainly on the strength of the devotion to the Tamil cause his party espoused.
MGR was born at Nawalapitiya, near Kandy, Sri Lanka, to Marudur Gopala Menon and Satyabhama. His ancestor shad migrated from Vadavannur, Palakkad, Kerala. MGR lost his father early. Moving to Tamil Nadu with his mother, he joined a drama troupe called the Original Boys Company, unable to afford school. After years of doing roles minor and major on stage, he became a film actor in time, and gradually rose to great heights, through years of hard work, disappointments, even humilia tion . MGR was unlucky in marriage, his first wife Bhargavi and second wife Sadanandavati succumbing to disease at a young age.
His third wife was V N Janaki, a former film actress. Making his film debut in 1935, MGR had to wait till the release of the 1947 superhit Rajakumari—which incidentally had dialogues by Karunanidhi—to attain star status. He became hugely popular among 30 the masses through playing the saviour of the poor and the meek in film after film. He also succeeded in conquering the hearts of women, by showing great concern for them in his roles. In between the romantic and valorous scenes which portrayed him as a superhero, he found time to be the perfect brother and son to adoring women characters. MGR's achievements were remarkable for someone of his humble origins. His good looks and proficiency in the martial arts of the cinematic kind led to his first break as an actor in Sati Lilavati.
In the 1940s and 50s, the Tamil film industry was being transformed by brilliant propagandists turned screenwriters like C N Annadurai, M Kar unanidhi and others of the Dravidian movement, who used the medium of cinema to reach the masses and transform the political complexion of the state in favour of the Tamil masses against the upper castes and classes wielding power at the time. MGR starred in many of the films they helped make.
Both Karunanidhi and MGR became stars of the party and played key roles in DMK's dramatic electoral triumph over the Congress Party in the 1967 elections. His films made MGR a matinee idol and he started helping people in need, sowing the seeds for his reputation as a philanthropist. When Annadurai died in harness as TamilNadu's chief minister, another brilliant disciple of Anna, Karunanidhi, who had achieved fame a safire brand script writer and Tamil scholar, succeeded him.
While Karunanidhi was in power, there grew differences of perception between him and his old friend MGR,now the party's treasurer, leading to their event ualestrangement.MGR led a campaign calling for probity in politics and was expelled from the DMK. In 1977, MGR's ADMK, later renamed AIADMK (All India Anna Dravid a Munnetra Kazhagam) was swept into power. In his first term, MGR earned a reputation as an honest politician. MGR's movies acted as an effective medium of communication for the Dravidian movement. For over 25 years, he was one of two major celebrities in Tamil cinema, along with the renowned the spian Sivaji Ganesan.Films like Madurai Veeran, Nadodi Mannan, AnbeVa and Adimai Penn took him to the pinnacle of stardom. MGR survived a gunshot wound in a startling incident involving co-star MR Radha in 1967.
Though the injury affected his speech, he carried on regardless, continuing to make box office hits for two more decades. He won the national award in the best actor category for the film Rickshakaran. MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953 when he joined the DMK. He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK (Dravidian Progressive Federation). 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. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977, the first film actor in India to do so, and remained in office till his death in 1987.
One of MGR's most successful schemes was the re-introduction of the "Mid-day Meal Scheme" in government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu. He founded the Tamil University, The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University and the Women's University in Tamil Nadu. In 1984, MGR fell sick and was rushed to the U.S. for treatment. He died on 24 December, 1987, after a prolonged illness.
The highest honour in the countr y came to MGR after his death, when he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.MGR was often the first to personally offer relief at times of disasters 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, a weekly magazine and Anna, a daily newspaper in Tamil. He owned Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures which produced many of the films he acted in. He also founded the MGR Schools in Kodambakkam offering free education and food for film workers' children. He was the president of the Nadigar Sangam, the South India Film Artists Association, for four terms.
MGR's contribution to the film industry was phenomenal and here mained on of the biggest celebrity in Tamil cinema for several years. He acted in over 130 films and produced 3 films . His film Malaikkallan, was inspired by Namakkal V Ramalingam's novel and was produced in 6 languages viz, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada , Hindi and Sinhalese.He starred with his contemporary Sivaji Ganesan in only one movie.
His co-stars in his 100th film were J Jayalalitha and Sowcar Janaki. MGR's films are watched by his ardent fans with great enthusiasm even today. His films offered wonder ful entertainment and had very valuable messages for the masses.
Illustration by S Girish