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Makkalthilakam M G Ramachndran King of Indian south cinema

M. G. Ramachandran - known as M. G. R. - was the biggest star of Tamil cinema. But also, he was an important politician, ruling Tamil Nadu as its chief minister for 11 years. MGR was born in Nawalapitiya near Kandy in 1917, British Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka), to immigrant Keralite Nair parents — Gopala Menon,

Starting as a stage actor in his childhood, he made his screen debut in 1936 with Sati Leelavathi. But M. G. R. had to go a long way, until he finally had his first hit Rajakumari.

Acting career

his film debut in 1936,but his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumaari, written by M.Karunanidhi. He had the maximum number of all-time blockbusters to his credit at that time viz. NadodiMannan, Enga Veetu Pillai and Adimai Pen. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran. His film Nadodi Mannan, which was produced and directed by himself and 6eleased in 1958, and ran to full houses.He also got Bharata ratna.

On the 12th of January 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor M.R. Radha. The bullet waspermanently 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; shops closed for 6 weeks.

Political career

MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953.In 1953 MGR joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) with the help of M. Karunanidhi.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 1972, DMK leader Karunanithi started 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 he was expelled from the party, and floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK),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.

His was instrumental in setting up the Tamil University and the Mother Theresa Women's University in Tamil Nadu.

 For more information about him go to the pages like biography, movie, articles etc... in this web

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