M. G. Ramachandran

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known as M.G.R, was an Indian politician and film actor who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for ten years between 1977 and 1987. He was also a philanthropist and a humanitarian icon.[1] In 1988, M.G.R. was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously.

"MGR" and "M. G. R" redirect here. For other uses, see MGR (disambiguation).
In this Indian name, the name Maruthur Gopala is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ramachandran.

M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran commemorative stamp
3rd Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office
10 February 1985 – 24 December 1987
GovernorSundar Lal Khurana
Preceded byV. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)
Succeeded byV. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)
ConstituencyAndipatti
In office
9 June 1980 – 15 November 1984
GovernorPrabhudas Patwari,
M. M. Ismail (Acting),
Sadiq Ali,
Sundar Lal Khurana
Preceded byPresident's rule
Succeeded byV. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting)
ConstituencyMadurai Merku
In office
30 June 1977 – 17 February 1980
GovernorPrabhudas Patwari
Preceded byPresident's rule
Succeeded byPresident's rule
ConstituencyAruppukottai
Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
15 March 1971 – 31 January 1976
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Political PartyDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
ConstituencySt. Thomas Mount
Member of Madras State Legislative Assembly
In office
6 March 1967 – 4 January 1971
Chief MinisterC. N. Annadurai
Political PartyDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
ConstituencySt. Thomas Mount
General Secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
17 October 1972 – 24 December 1987
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byV. R. Nedunchezhiyan
Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
1969–1972
Party PresidentM. Karunanidhi
General SecretaryV. R. Nedunchezhiyan
President of South Indian Artistes' Association
In office
1961–1963
Preceded byR. Nagendra Rao
Succeeded byS. S. Rajendran
In office
1957–1959
Preceded byN. S. Krishnan
Succeeded byAnjali Devi
Personal details
Born
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran

(1917-01-17)17 January 1917
Kandy, Central Province, British Ceylon
(present-day Central, Sri Lanka)
Died24 December 1987(1987-12-24) (aged 70)
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
(present-day Chennai)
Cause of deathHeart failure
Resting placePuratchi Thalaivar M.G.R Ninaividam
NationalityIndian
Political partyAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Other political
affiliations		Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1953–1972),
Indian National Congress (until 1953)
Spouse(s)
  • Thangamani
    ​
    (
    m. 1939; died 1942)

    Sadhanandavathi
    ​
    (
    m. 1942; died 1962)

    (
    m. 1963)
ParentsFather : Melakkath Gopalan Menon
Mother : Maruthur Satyabhama
RelativesM. G. Chakrapani (brother)
ResidenceM.G.R Thottam
Ramapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Profession
  • Film actor
  • producer
  • director
  • politician
  • philanthropist
Awards
  • Bharat Ratna (1988) (posthumously)
  • Honorary Doctorate (1974)
Nickname(s)Puratchi Thalaivar

In his youth, M.G.R. 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. By the late 1940s, he graduated to the lead roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry.

M.G.R. became a member of the C. N. Annadurai-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK party) and rapidly rose through its ranks, using his enormous popularity as a film star to build a large political base. In 1972, three years after Annadurai's death, he left the DMK, then led by Karunanidhi, M.G.R.'s once friend and now rival, to form his own party—the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Five years later, M.G.R. steered an AIADMK-led alliance to victory in the 1977 election, routing the DMK in the process. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the first film actor to become a chief minister in India. Except for a six-month interregnum in 1980, when his government was overthrown by the Union government, he remained as chief minister till his death in 1987, leading the AIADMK to two more electoral triumphs in 1980 and 1984.

In October 1984, M.G.R. was diagnosed with kidney failure as a result of diabetes. He died on 24 December 1987 in his Ramavaram Gardens residence in Manapakkam after his prolonged illness. M.G.R. is regarded as a cultural icon in Tamil Nadu and is regarded as one of the most influential actors of Tamil cinema.[2] His autobiography Naan Yaen Piranthaen (Why I was Born) was published in 2003.[3]

Early life and background

M.G.R. was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka, to Melakkath Gopalan Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama[4] from Palakkad, in the modern-day state of Kerala.[5] Gopalan Menon died when M.G.R. was just two and a half years old. Just after the death of his father, his sister too died due to ill health. His mother had to struggle alone to bring up M.G.R. and his brother. She took the decision to return to India and went back to Kerala where she failed to get the support of her relatives. With the support of Velu Nair of Kumbakonam, Satyabhama found employment as a housemaid and put both her sons in school with her paltry earnings.

It was in school that M.G.R. started his acting career and joined the Boys Company drama troupe taking part in the rigorous training programmes conducted by the troupe in the areas of singing, dancing, sword fighting, diction and memory with active interest and involvement.

The challenges faced by him during his early life and childhood played an important role in shaping his character and political career. After a brief acting stint overseas with the help of Madras Kandasamy Mudaliar, during which he had play female roles, he returned to India and rejoined the Boys Company and started playing lead roles for the first time.[6]

In his early days, M.G.R. was a devout Hindu and a devotee of Lord Sri Murugan, and his mother's favourite god Lord Sri Guruvayurappan.[7] After joining the DMK, he turned a rationalist.[8]

M.G.R.'s first marriage was to Chitarikulam Bargavi, also known as Thangamani, who died early due to an illness. He later married for the second time, to Satyanandavati, who also died soon after marriage due to tuberculosis.[9] In 1965, M.G.R. married for the third time, this time to V. N. Janaki a former Tamil film actress who was once his leading lady and a future chief minister of Tamil Nadu.[10] Janaki divorced her husband, Ganapathy, to marry M.G.R.

Acting career
MGR with his wife Janaki in Mohini (1948)

Ramachandran made his film debut in 1936, in the film Sathi Leelavathi,[11] directed by Ellis R. Dungan, an American-born film director.[12] Generally starring in romance or action films, MGR got his breakthrough in the 1950 film Manthiri Kumari, written by M. Karunanidhi. Soon he rose to popularity with the 1954 film Malaikkallan. He acted as hero in the Tamil film industry's first ever full length Gevacolor film, the 1955 Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum. He rose to become the heartthrob of millions of Tamils with films such as Thirudadhe, Enga Veettu Pillai, Aayirathil Oruvan, Anbe Vaa, Mahadevi, Panam Padaithavan, Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan, etc. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972. He acted in many films that appealed to the direct sentiments of the common man and the rich as well.

His 1973 blockbuster Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan broke the previous box office records of his films. It was one of the few films filmed abroad in those days. It was shot in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. His acting career ended in 1987 with his last film Ullagam Suthi Paru, in which he acted even though he had been diagnosed with kidney failure.[13] Ramachandran said there was no question of ‘retirement’ for anyone associated in whichever capacity with the cine field.[14]

Mentor

Kali N. Rathnam, a pioneer of Tamil stage drama, and K.P. Kesavan were mentors of Ramachandran in his acting career.[15]

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), or Dravidian Progressive Federation, attracted by founder C.N. Annadurai. He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of DMK. He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu. M.G.R. became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962. At the age of 50, 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 Muthuvel Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister.

1968 assassination attempt

The actor and politician M. R. Radha and MGR had worked in 25 films together. On 12 January 1967, Radha and a producer visited M.G.R. to talk about a future film project. During the conversation, M. R. Radha stood up and shot MGR in his left ear twice and then tried to shoot himself.[16]

After the operation, M.G.R's voice changed. Since he had been shot in his ear, M.G.R. lost hearing in his left ear and had ringing problems in the ear. These further surfaced in 1983 when he had kidney problems. When Sinnappa Devar paid his first visit to see MGR at the hospital after the shooting incident he paid MGR an advance for MGR's next film. After getting released from the hospital and finishing Arasakattalai, MGR acted in Devar's film Vivasaayee against doctors' advice. Due to the operation, MGR's speaking parts in the film Kaavalkaaran were reduced. This was the only film in which MGR spoke with old and new voices between scenes: MGR was acting in the film Kaavalkaran in 1967 opposite J. Jayalalithaa when the shooting occurred.

Petralthaan Pillaya was the last film of M.G.R.-M.R. Radha together. Shooting ended just few days before MGR was shot. The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. Within hours of the shooting, some 50,000 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 the 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.[17]

Split from DMK and formation of AIADMK

In 1972, DMK leader Karunanidhi started to project his first son M.K. Muthu in a big way in film and politics, around the same time MGR was accusing that corruption had grown in the party after the demise of Annadurai, and in a public meeting, asking for the financial details of the party to be publicised, thereby enraging the DMK leadership. Consequently, MGR was expelled from the party.

Upon his ouster from DMK, Ramachandran floated a new party which he called Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK. He mobilised between 1972 and 1977 to spread and preach his party ambition with films like Netru Indru Naalai (1974), Idhayakani (1975), Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga (1977), etc.

Continued success in TN Assembly elections

1977 Assembly elections

The AIADMK contested the 1977 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The election was a four cornered contest between the ADMK, DMK, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Janata Party. The ADMK allied itself with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), while INC(I) and Communist Party of India (CPI) contested as allies. The DMK and Janata Party (JNP) contested the elections alone. The ADMK did not field any candidate in the Usilampatti Constituency in support of the Forward Bloc leader P.K. Mookiah Thevar. Similarly, the ADMK also supported the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidate M. Abdul Latheef in the Vaniyambadi Constituency. In the parliamentary elections that occurred just three months prior to these elections, there had been two major alliances – the ADMK led ADMK-INC-CPI coalition and the DMK led DMK-NCO-JNP-CPM coalition. But in the months that followed the parliamentary election, these coalitions fell apart. The AIADMK alliance won the elections by winning 144 seats out of 234 and MGR became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Upon winning the 1977 state elections, MG Ramachandran became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 30 June 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 and 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.

1980 Parliament and assembly elections
Statue at AIADMK headquarters

Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam allied with Indian National Congress (Indira) in the 1977 parliamentary election. However, when Janata Party won the election and Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister, M. G. Ramachandran extended unconditional support to the Janata party Government. He continued his support to the Charan Singh Government in 1979. After the fall of the Charan Singh government, fresh parliamentary elections were conducted in 1980. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam struck alliance with INC(I). ADMK and Janata Party alliance won only 2 seats in Tamil Nadu in that parliamentary election. INC(I) won the election and Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister. Congress-DMK victory in the 1980 parliamentary election emboldened their alliance and made them think that people lost their faith in M. G. Ramachandran government. DMK pressed the central government to dismiss the Tamil Nadu government using similar allegations used by MGR to dismiss DMK government in 1976. The ADMK ministry and the assembly were dismissed by the central government and fresh elections conducted in 1980. Despite their victory at the 1980 Lok Sabha polls, DMK and Indira Congress failed to win the legislative assembly election. ADMK won the election and its leader and incumbent Chief Minister, M. G. Ramachandran was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time. He became the first leader since K. Kamaraj to win a re-election as Chief Minister.

1984 assembly elections

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984. During the same time, M. G. Ramachandran was diagnosed with kidney failure and admitted into a hospital in New York City. Rajiv Gandhi assumed office immediately and this required a fresh mandate from the people. Indian National Congress (Indira) and Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam formed an alliance and contested the election. M. G. Ramachandran was confined to the hospital. Video coverage of MGR recuperating in hospital along with Indira Gandhi's assassination were stitched together by the ADMK man in charge of campaigning, R. M. Veerappan. The video was distributed and played across all over Tamil Nadu. Rajiv Gandhi visited cyclone-hit areas in Tamil Nadu, which also boosted the alliance. The sympathy wave created by Indira's assassination, MGR's illness and Rajiv Gandhi's charisma helped the alliance sweep the election.[1][2] DMK leader M. Karunanidhi did not contest this election, due to the fact that the ADMK leader M.G.R was admitted to a hospital in the U.S. and Indira Gandhi being assassinated. It was a landslide victory for AIADMK-Congress combine which won 195 seats in assembly polls. The electoral victory proved the undying charisma of MGR upon the masses.

Achievements as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
M. G. Ramachandran's Ambassador Car with National flag

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 conversion of the "Midday Meal Scheme", introduced by the popular Congress Chief Minister and kingmaker K Kamaraj, which already was encouraging underprivileged children to attend school, into "MGR's Nutritious Meal Scheme" in the government-run and -aided schools in Tamil Nadu by adding saththurundai – a nutritious sugary flour dumpling. This scheme was at a cost of Rs. 1 billion and was imposed in 1982. A little more than 120,000 children of the state were benefited. He also introduced Women's Special buses. He introduced a 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 claiming around 56% of assembly seats, indicating the depth of his popular support. He won his seat 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.

Karunanidhi claimed on 1 April 2009 and again on 13 May 2012 that MGR was ready for the merger of his party with the DMK in 1979, with Biju Patnaik acting as the mediator. The plan failed, because Panruti Ramachandran, who was close to MGR acted as a spoiler and MGR changed his mind.[18][19]

Criticism and controversies

Even after his death, MGR proved to be very popular in the state and his rule has been cited by many of his contemporaries as best in the country.[20] However, his rule is not without criticism. Economic data under his rule showed that annual growth and per capita income was lower than the national average and the state went from being second among 25 industrialised states in development after Kamaraj's rule to tenth. This decline, according to critics has been due to shift of government resources from power and irrigation to social and agriculture sector according to Madras Institute of Development Studies reported in 1988. In addition, the emphasis on "welfare schemes" such as free electricity to farmers, mid-day meal schemes, etc. has been seen by many as taking money away from infrastructure development that could have benefited the poor. In addition, the liquor tax imposed during his rule was considered to contribute to a regressive tax mostly affecting the poor.

Other criticisms have been on MGR's centralised decision-making, which many blame for inefficiency and corruption taking hold of his administration. Some examples stated by the critics include Goondas act in 1982 and other acts that limited political criticism in the media, which led to a "police state" during his administration. While these criticisms have been in the minority, supporters of MGR counter that most of these problems were a result of the party members serving MGR rather than the leader himself. While he is not considered a divisive figure in the state, critics and supporters alike agree that his charisma and popularity trumped policy decisions that led to his eventual success during his tenure as chief minister.[21]

Natwar Singh in his autobiography One Life is Not Enough alleges that M.G.R. covertly supported the cause of independent Tamil Eelam and financed the LTTE and their cadres were being given military training in Tamil Nadu. He also alleges that M.G.R. considered Jaffna an extension of Tamil Nadu and without informing the Indian Government at the time, had gifted 40 million rupees to the LTTE.[22]

MGR has been accused of being intolerant towards the media. In April 1987, the Editor of Ananda Vikatan S. Balasubramanian was sentenced to 3 months in jail by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for publishing a cartoon, depicting government ministers as bandits and lawmakers as pickpockets, though specific legislature was not specified. But due to media outcry, he was released and S. Balasubramanian later won a case against his arrest. Earlier, Vaniga Otrumai editor A.M. Paulraj was sentenced to 2 weeks imprisonment by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for his writing.[23][24]

Bharat Ratna
MGR's statue at the MGR Memorial

After his death in 1987, he became the third Chief Minister from the state of Tamil Nadu to receive the Bharat Ratna after C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kamaraj. The timing of the award was controversial, due to the fact that it was given so quickly after his death and he was elected as Chief Minister only 11 years before the award. Many opponents, mostly outside Tamil Nadu, criticised then ruling party INC, under Rajiv Gandhi to have influenced the selection committee to give the award to help win the upcoming 1989 Lok Sabha election. The ruling party forming a coalition with Jayalalithaa, the successor to MGR at that time, were able to sweep Tamil Nadu, winning 38 out of 39 seats, INC were however unable to win nationally.[25]

Commemorative coins

To commemorate MGR's Birth centenary in 2017, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India decided to issue ₹100 and ₹5 coins that would bear his image as a portrait along with an inscription of "Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Birth Centenary".[26]

Elections contested and positions held

Tamil Nadu Legislative elections
Elections Constituency Party Result Vote percentage Opposition Candidate Opposition Party Opposition vote percentage
1967 Madras Legislative Assembly electionParangi MalaiDMKWon66.67T. L. RaghupathyINC32.57
1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly electionParangi MalaiDMKWon61.11T. L. RaghupathyINC(O)38.10
1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly electionAruppukottaiAIADMKWon56.23M. Muthuvel ServaiJNP17.87
1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly electionMathurai MerkuAIADMKWon59.61Pon. MuthuramalingamDMK37.59
1984 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly electionAandippattiAIADMKWon67.40Thangaraj @ VallarasuDMK31.22

Posts in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
Year Constituency Position Party From To
1967Parangi MalaiMember of Legislative AssemblyDMK6 March 19674 January 1971
1971Parangi MalaiMember of Legislative AssemblyDMK15 March 197131 January 1976
1977AruppukottaiChief MinisterAIADMK30 June 197717 February 1980
1980Mathurai MerkuChief MinisterAIADMK9 June 198915 November 1984
1984AandippattiChief MinisterAIADMK10 February 198524 December 1987

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 (Sino-Indian War), 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 had gifted a golden sword weighing half a Kilogram to Mookambika temple in Kollur, Udupi district.[27]

Illness and death
MGR's Tomb and Memorial at Marina beach, Chennai

In October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure as a result of diabetes, which was soon followed by a mild heart attack and a massive stroke.[28][29] He was rushed to the Downstate Medical Center in New York City, United States for treatment, undergoing a kidney transplant. Despite his poor health, he did contest the assembly election held later that year while still confined to the hospital, winning from Andipatti. During the election, photos of MGR recuperating in hospital were published, creating a sympathy wave among the people.[30] MGR returned to Madras on 4 February 1985 following his recovery. He was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the third consecutive term on 10 February 1985. The next two years and 10 months were spent in frequent trips to the United States for treatment.

MGR never fully recovered from his multiple health problems and died on 24 December 1987 at 3:30 am in his Ramavaram Gardens residence in Manapakkam[31] after his prolonged illness. He was 70 years old, just a month away before his 71st birthday. His death sparked off a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state. Shops, cinemas, buses and other public and private property became the target of violence let loose. The police had to resort issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Schools and colleges immediately announced holidays till the situation came under control. Violence during the funeral alone left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded.[32][33]

His remains were buried in the northern end of Marina Beach is now called MGR Memorial which is adjacent to the Anna Memorial.

This state of affairs continued for almost a month across Tamil Nadu. Around one million[34] 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 merged in 1989.

In 1989 Dr. M. G. R. Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired[35] was established at the erstwhile residence MGR Gardens, Ramavaram, in accordance with his last will & testament written in January 1987. His official residence at 27, Arcot Street, T. Nagar is now M.G.R. Memorial House and is open for public viewing. His film studio, Sathya Studios, has been converted into a women's college.[36]

Legacy
M. G. Ramachandran in 1990 Stamp of India

After his electoral success with in 1977, the DMK has not yet returned to power in Tamil Nadu until his death. In 1988, M.G.Ramachandran was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously. He is widely acknowledged as "Puratchi Thalaivar" (Revolutionary Leader) in Tamil Nadu. One of the major roads in Chennai was named in his honor, Dr.MGR Road—it was previously called Gokula Kannan Road, and a statue of M. G. Ramachandran now stands there and MGR Nagar, a residential neighbourhood was named after him in Chennai, Salem Central Bus Stand was renamed Bharat Ratna Dr. M.G.R Central Bus Stand and Omalur Main Road was renamed MGR Road in Salem, Tirunelveli New Bus Stand was renamed Bharat Ratna Dr. M.G.R Bus Stand in Tirunelveli and two parks were named Bharat Ratna Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R Park and M.G.R Park in Thoothukudi.

A life-size statue of M. G. Ramachandran was unveiled on 7 December 2006 in the Parliament House by then Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee in his honor and the function was attended by then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and notable politicians.

The central government issued a commemorative coin of ₹ 100 and ₹ 5 denomination to mark the centenary celebrations of him on 17 January 2017 in Chennai.

On 31 October 2017, Government of Tamil Nadu renamed the Mattuthavani Bus Terminus in Madurai as M.G.R Bus Stand to honor him.[37]

On 9 October 2018, Government of Tamil Nadu renamed the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.R Bus Terminus to honor him.[38]

On 5 April 2019, Government of India renamed the Chennai Central railway station as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station to honor him.[39]

On 31 July 2020, Chennai Central metro station in Chennai has been renamed as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Metro by Government of Tamil Nadu to honor him.[40]

Filmography

As an actor
Main article: M. G. Ramachandran filmography

As producer and director

Awards and honours

Honours
Year Event / Venue Award Work Ref
1974 The World University (Arizona) Honorary doctorate For the contribution to Indian Cinema [41]
1987 University of Madras For the contribution to Tamil Cinema [42]
1988 Government of India Bharat Ratna For the contribution to public affairs [43]

Other cinema awards
Year Event Award / Category Film / Work Ref
1965 Filmfare Awards South Special Jury award Enga Veettu Pillai
1968 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Actor Kudiyirundha Koyil
1969 Best Film Adimaippenn
Filmfare Awards South Best Film [44]
1971 National Film Awards Best Actor Rickshawkaran
gollark: I mean, *bad* E2E would be easy as I'd want clients to have a set of keys for signing messages and such anyway, but no.
gollark: Possibly E2E but this would complicate much of the design if it was available I think.
gollark: And modernised/simpler other stuff.
gollark: *I* would do IRC with global email-like identity and server stored history.
gollark: And your homeserver uses hundreds of MB of RAM during this.

See also

References
  1. Kantha, Sachi Sri (8 April 2015). "MGR Remembered – Part 26". Sangam.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. "Modi to Mamata, MGR to NTR: Vir Sanghvi lists 70 politicians who changed India". Hindustan Times. 15 August 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. "Janaki's son alone has copyright to MGR's autobiography: court". The Hindu. 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. "MGR's childhood home in Kerala to become a cultural hub - Times of India". The Times of India. 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  5. Mani Shankar Aiyar (1 January 2009). A Time of Transition: Rajiv Gandhi to the 21 Century. Penguin Books India. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-0-670-08275-9.
  6. Veeravalli, Shrikanth. "MG Ramachandran's early years: a poor childhood, drama school, and the first big break". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  7. Linda Woodhead Religions in Modern World. Fletcher, Kawanam. p. 39
  8. M.S.S. Pandian (1992) The image trap. SAGE Publications. ISBN 0803994036. p. 131
  9. திருமணமும் தகுதி உயர்வும் || Marriage qualifying high Archived 7 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Cinema.maalaimalar.com (19 February 2014). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  10. பொன்மனச் செம்மலின் வெற்றி வரலாறு (பகுதி 5): வி.என். ஜானகியை வாழ்க்கைத் துணைவியாக ஏற்றார்! || Mgr Cinema History Archived 24 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Cinema.maalaimalar.com (19 February 2014). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  11. M. G. Ramachandran. bookrags.com
  12. "Americans in Tamil cinema". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 6 September 2004. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  13. "MGR-Sivaji-Gemini: TRINITY Album Launched". IndiaGlitz. 22 January 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  14. "MGR, man of the masses". The Hindu. 17 January 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  15. "MGR Remembered – Part 4". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  16. A. Srivathsan (23 December 2012) The day M.R. Radha shot MGR Archived 21 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu
  17. Selvaraj Velayutham (2008). Tamil cinema: the cultural politics of India's other film industry. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-39680-6.
  18. "Tamil Nadu News : ADMK came close to merging with DMK: Karunanidhi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  19. "Karuna recalls Biju's bid for DMK-ADMK merger". Zeenews.india.com. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  20. "Polls show MGR as the best CM of Tamil Nadu". news.oneindia.in. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  21. Ingrid Widlund (1993). "A Vote for MGR Transaction and Devotion in South Indian Politics". Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrifts. 96 (3): 225–257. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  22. K. Natwar-Singh (2014). One Life is Not Enough: An Autobiography. Rupa Publications India. ISBN 978-81-291-3274-1.
  23. "Arresting affair Arrest of Ananda Vikattin editor another press vs Ramachandran Government battle". S.H. Venkatramani. India Today. 30 April 1987. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  24. Ramachandran, K. (16 November 2003). "A trophy to remember". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  25. Bharat Ratna- Isn't the arbitrary selection & politics making this highest civilian award controversy prone? Archived 28 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Merinews.com (20 November 2013). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  26. Centre to mint ₹5, ₹100 coins to commemorate MGR's birth centenary Archived 12 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. 12 September 2017
  27. "The Hindu : Karnataka News : Jayalalithaa offers prayers at Kollur temple". Hinduonnet.com. 31 July 2004. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  28. Venkatramani, S. H. (15 November 1984). "M.G. Ramachandran's kidney ailment remained a well-kept secret". India Today. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  29. "MGR DIES OF HEART ATTACK". The Indian Express. 25 December 1987. p. 1. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  30. https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/wheres-the-personal-doc/299400 Archived 5 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine Where's the personal doc?
  31. "M.G. Ramachandrans death marks the passing of an era of stability in Tamil Nadu".
  32. "Popular Tamil Leader Dies in India;Rioting, Suicides Follow Death of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 25 December 1987. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  33. "Tamil leader's death stirs India riots". Chicago Sun-Times. 26 December 1987. Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2006.
  34. "Charlotte: Search Results". 26 December 1987. Archived from the original on 24 March 2007. Retrieved 19 September 2006.
  35. "MGR Home & Higher Secondary School for the Speech & Hearing Impaired" Archived 30 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Mgrhome.in. Retrieved on 18 April 2015.
  36. ".:: Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India ::." Archived 9 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Mgrjanaki.ac.in. Retrieved on 18 April 2015.
  37. "It is now MGR bus stand at Mattuthavani". The Hindu. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  38. "CMBT renamed as 'Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Bus Terminus'". The New Indian Express. 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  39. M, Manikandan (5 April 2019). "Chennai Central railway station renamed after AIADMK founder MGR". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  40. "Tamil Nadu government to rename three metro rail stations in Chennai after late Chief Ministers". The New Indian Express. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  41. "TN CM to receive honorary doctorate from Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute". thenewsminute.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  42. "M.G.R". mgrhome.in. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  43. "List of all Bharat Ratna award winners". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  44. "M G Ramachandran, Times Exclusive Photo, Matinee idol M G Ramachandran". Timescontent.com. 1 April 1970. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
Political offices
Vacant
President's Rule
Title last held by
Karunanidhi		 Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
1977–1987		 Succeeded by
Janaki Ramachandran
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.