Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran(Jan 17,1917 -Dec 24,1987)popularly known by his initials MGR made his film debut in the film Sathi Leelavathi(1936) in a supporting role.
In the late 1940s he graduated to leading roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film Industry.
MGR's ' Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum'(1956)was the first Colour Film in Tamil Film Industry which was a blockbuster hit.
MGR's most successful films are -
Malaikallan(1954)
Kulabaghavali(1955)
Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum(1956)
Mahadevi(1957)
Nadodi Mannan(1958)
Mannathi Mannan(1960)
Arasilangkumari(1961)
Padagotti(1964)
Enga Veetu Pillai(1965)
Aayirathil Oruvan(1965)
Anbe Vaa(1966)
Kudieruntha Kovil(1968)
Adimai Penn(1969)
Nam Nadu (1969)
Mattukara Velan(1970)
Rickshawkaran(1971) - won the National Best Actor Award for this film
Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan(1973)was a mega hit film and broke previous box office records
Netru Indru Naalai(1974)
Urimai Kural(1974)
Ninaithathai Mudipavan(1975)
Nalai Namadhae(1975)
Idhayakani(1975)
Madurai Meeta Sundara Pandian(1978)-being the last film acted
MGR's Directorial Ventures
Nadodi Mannan(1958)
Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan(1973)
Madurai Meeta Sundara Pandian(1978)
Political Career
MGR was a member of the INC till 1953 and MGR became a member of the DMK in 1953and rose rapidly through its ranks and became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962 and was was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. He successfully used his popularity as a film hero to build a large political base.After the death of his mentor, C N Annadurai, MGR became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after M Karunanidhi became the chief minister of TN.
In 1972, MGR started to claim that corruption had grown within the party after the demise of C N Annadurai and in a public meeting asked for the financial details of the party to be publicised which enraged the leadership of DMK. Consequently, as expected, MGR was expelled from the party.
In 1972, he left the DMK to form his own party the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(ADMK)and he became the Chief Minister of TN on July 30, 1977 - the first film actor in India to become the CM of a State.
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 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.100 crore and was launched on July 1, 1982. A little more than 120000 children of the state were benefited
In 1979, members of his ADMK Party Satyavani Muthu and Aravinda Bala Pajanor became the first non-Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu to be ministers in the Union Cabinet.
Tenure of Chief Ministership
1977-80
1980-84
1984-87
Member of TN Legislative Assembly Details
Year Constituency
1967 St Thomas Mount(DMK)
1971 St Thomas Mount(DMK)
1977 Aruppukkotttai(ADMK)
1980 MaduraiWest(ADMK)
1984 Andipatti(ADMK)
AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive.MGR served 3 terms as CM of TN till his death on Dec 24, 1987.
MGR was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award in 1988.
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