Early Life

M.G. Ramachandran was born on 17 January 1917 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, to a Malayali family of Melakkath Gopalan and Maruthur Satyabhama from Palakkad, in the modern-day state of Kerala.

M.G. Ramachandran was a devout Hindu and a devotee of Lord Sri Murugan.

Acting Career

M.G. Ramachandran made his film debut in 1936, in the film Sathi Leelavathi, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American-born film director.

Generally starring in romance or action films, MGR got his big breakthrough in the 1950 film Manthiri Kumari, written by M. Karunanidhi.

M.G. Ramachandran
                                                 M.G. Ramachandran

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.

In 1965, M.G. Ramachandran married for the third time, this time to V. N. Janaki a former Tamil film actress. Janaki divorced her husband, Ganapathy, to marry M.G.R.

Later he won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972. He acted in many movies that appealed to the direct sentiments of the common man and the rich as well.

His acting career ended in 1987 with his last film Ullagam Suthi Paru. He acted in the movie even though doctor  diagnosed him with kidney failure.

Political Career

M.G. Ramachandran was a member of the Congress Party till 1953, and he used to wear khadi. In 1953 M.G. Ramachandran  joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) attracted by founder C.N. Annadurai.

Soon he became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist. He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu.

M.G. Ramachandran 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, M.G. Ramachandran became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after Muthuvel Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister.

Assassination Attempt

On 12 January 1967, Radha and a producer visited MGR 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.

Since he had been shot in his ear, M.G. Ramachandran lost hearing in his left ear and had ringing in the ear problems.

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. He understood the Karunanidhi to corner him and retaliated.

Soon, MGR claimed that corruption had grown in the party after the demise of Annadurai. Later in a public meeting he asked for the financial details of the party to be publicized, which enraged the leadership of DMK.

Consequently, Karunanidhi expelled MGR from the party. Upon his ouster from DMK, Ramachandran floated a new party which he called All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK.

1977 Assembly elections 

Soon 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 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. The AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive.

Achievements as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

Once he became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he placed great emphasis on social development, especially education.

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.

Criticism and Controversies

M.G. Ramachandra covertly supported the cause of independent Tamil Eelam and financed the LTTE. Later he arranged  military training of cadres in Tamil Nadu.

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.

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.

He published a cartoon, depicting government ministers as bandits and lawmakers as pickpockets.

Bharat Ratna

After his death in 1987, he became the second Chief Minister from the state of Tamil Nadu to receive the Bharat Ratna.

The ruling party forming a coalition with Jayalalithaa, the successor to MGR were able to sweep 1989 Lok Sabha election winning 38 out of 39 seats, INC were however unable to win nationally.

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