Tuesday, March 1, 2011

M. G. Ramachandran Biography

Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran (January 17, 1917 – December 24, 1987), popularly known by his initials M. G. R. was a Tamil film actor, producer and politician. As a well known Tamil activist, he served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987. Making his film debut in 1935, in the film Sati Leelavati, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director, M. G. R. dominated Tamil cinema during the Fifties and Sixties with multiple blockbusters. Generally starring in romance or action films, M.G.R. got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumaari, written by M. Karunanidhi.


Parents:Gopala Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama

Born:January 17, 1917(1917-01-17),Nawalapitiya, British Ceylon

Died:December 24, 1987 (aged 70),Chennai, India

Other name(s):M. G. R., Puratchi Thalaivar

Occupation :Actor, politician

Spouse(s) :V. N. Janaki

MGR family was originally from Vadavannur, Palakkad, Kerala, but his father had migrated with his family to Sri Lanka. After his father's death, he joined a drama troupe called Original Boys. Later, he entered the world of cinema, becoming an actor, and later a director, producer, and editor. M. G. R. married V. N. Janaki a former Tamil film actress as his second wife after the death of his first wife.

Acting career Making his film debut in 1935, in the film Sati Leelavati, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director, M. G. R. dominated Tamil cinema during the Fifties and Sixties with multiple blockbusters. Generally starring in romance or action films, M.G.R. got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumaari, written by M. Karunanidhi. He rose to superstardom in 1954 after Malai Kallan. Later, this film was used as a template for other films by playing roles that portrayed him as the saviour of the poor and the oppressd. His movies were the medium of communication for the Dravidian movement.[citation needed] He had the maximum number of all-time blockbusters to his credit at that time viz. Nadodi Mannan, Enga Veetu Pillai and Adimai Pen. He was shot by fellow actor Mohan R. Radha, affecting his ability to speak clearly. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran. His film Nadodi Mannan, which was produced and directed by himself and released in 1956, was re-released in 2006 and ran housefull .

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