Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran popularly known as MGR to the masses was born on January.17.1917 at Kandy, Sri Lanka.
He joined the Madras Boys Dramatic Company and started his career as a Drama artiste (1930 – 1936) and later moved to Cinema and established himself as popular actor (1936 – 1977).
He later joined politics and became well known by his white fur cap, dark sunglasses and two finger victory sign which also indicated his party symbol of two leaves.
He was elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977 and served in that office for two consecutive terms (1977 – 1987).
He died on December.24.1987 aged 70 years while in office at Chennai.
Drama & Cinema Artiste
He made his debut in Tamil cinema in 1936 and acted in over 125 movies in a career spanning four decades. His first film as supporting cast was Sathi Leelavathi (1936) and leading cast was Rajkumaari (1947) and his last movie was Maduraiyai Meeta Sundrapandiyan (1977).
His performance in memorable roles in all genres – mythological, historical, fiction, action, adventure, romance etc, attracted fans over the world who organized a record number of nearly 35000 fan clubs.
All his movies had social and political messages in their storyline, characters, dialogues and songs which propagated Dravidian ideals.
He also directed and produced four blockbuster Tamil movies – Nadodi Mannan (1958), Adimai Penn (1969), Ulagam Suttrum Valiban (1973), Madurayai Meetta Sundarapandiyan (1977) under his own production houses – Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures.
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu He was initially associated with Indian National Congress (1947 – 1953) and DMK (1953 – 1972). He founded ADMK in 1972 which was later renamed AIADMK in 1977. He was its first General Secretary (1972 – 1987).
He steered his party to a landslide victory in the Assembly elections in 1977 and served as the longest Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1977 – 1987). He was the first popular cinema actor to be elected as Chief Minister of an Indian State.
He introduced the Mid Day Meals Scheme which provides free nutritious noon meals, besides free uniforms and books to all children in government schools.
He established the Medical, Tamil and Women Universities of Tamil Nadu. He organized the Fifth World Tamil Conference in 1981 at Thanjavur.
The Krishna Water Scheme or Telugu Ganga Project to provide drinking water supply to Chennai was conceived and launched during his tenure.
Awards
*The Government of India posthumously conferred on him the Bharat Ratna in 1988. He became the first personality from Cinema and the third Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to receive this honour. He is the fourth person to be awarded posthumously*.
In 1971 He received the Film Fare Awards and National Award for Best Actor for Rickshawkaran. – Bharat Award
His film Malai Kallan (1954) won the President Award for Best Feature Film, while Kavalkaraan (1967), Kudiyiruntha Koyil (1968), Adimai Penn (1969) and Maduraiyai Meetta Sundarapandiyan (1978) won the Best Feature Film Awards from Tamil Nadu Government.
He received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Madras and World University of Arizona for his contributions to Cinema and Public Service.
Fellowships Memberships
He served successively as Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Council (1962 – 1967) and later Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (1967 – 1987).
*He is the first candidate to win a legislative election in absentia from a foreign land while he was undergoing medical treatment in USA in 1984*
He was bestowed the titles of Puratchi Nadigar, Puratchi Thalaivar, Makkal Thilagam and Pon Mana Chemmal and Kalaivendhan.
His Autobiography titled Naan Yen Piranthen ( Why was I born) was published posthumously in 2003 in 2 volumes.
He founded and edited Anna daily newspaper and Thai weekly magazine.
A number of Biographies on MGR have been published by various authors in Tamil and English including The Image Trap: M G Ramachandran in Film and Politics 1st Edition by M.S.S Pandian
Philanthropic activities
The Dr MGR Charitable Trust runs the Dr MGR Home and School for Speech and Hearing Impaired and the Dr MGR Janaki Arts and Science College for Women at Chennai.
Department of Posts commemorative postage stamp on MGR on his 73rd Birth Anniversary
Issued Date : 17. 01.1990
Denomination: 60 Paise
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