M. G. Ramachandran

M. G. Ramachandran Biography

Full name of M. G. Ramachandran is Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran, but he is affectionately called as MGR. He was a famous film actor and politician. He has also directed and produced films. He served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for 10 years continuously and was in office till his death. He was a great philanthropist, and called by his followers as Puratchi Thalaivar. He got the highest civilian award of India, Bharat Ratna Award in 1988.

M. G. Ramachandran was born on 17^th January, 1917 in Nawalapitia near Kandy in Sri Lanka. His parents are Melakkath Gopala Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama. His ancestors belong to Palakkad, Kerala. After the death of his father, he started a drama troupe named Original Boys. Then he entered film industry and became an actor, director and producer. He married Bargavi also called as Thangamani. After her death he married Sathanandavalli. She too died due to tuberculosis. Then he married V.N. Janaki, Tamil film actress of that time. Janaki divorced her husband Ganapati Bhat and married MGR. He joined DMK and followed rationalist ideology. After he was expelled from DMK, he started AIADMK.

His debut film was Sati Leelavathi in the year 1935. The film that gave him big breakthrough was Rajakumaari in 1947 and Malaikkallan in 1954. Other famous movies he acted are Ali Baba and the forty thieves, Anbe Vaa, Aayirathil Oruvan, Panam Padaithavan, Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan, Richshakaran, Nadodi Mannan, etc. He won National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran. His last film was Madurai Meetta SundaraPandian. When he acted in this film he was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

M. G. Ramachandran was initially the member of Congress party. He joined DMK in 1953 and became the member of the state legislative council in 1962. He was elected for the first time in 1967 to the Legislative Assembly. He was shot and injured by his fellow actor M. R. Radha on 12^th January 1967. In 1972, he started All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to oppose DMK. He became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time on 30^th July 1977 and was there till his death. Some of his welfare measures are Midday Meal Scheme and Liquor ban. He died due to kidney failure on 24^th December 1987. 

Published: N/A

Updated: August 04, 2012