MGR: Three Letters That Stood for ‘Superstar’ and ‘Charisma’
- 5 years ago
17 January 1917, Kandy, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Exactly a hundred years ago, MGR – the charismatic film superstar and beloved Tamil Nadu CM – was born.
Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran was a little boy when he lost his father Maradhur Gopala Menon in that far-off land of tea-plantations, a country he could not call his own. So his widowed mother Satyabhama brought her sons to India. But schooling and playtime were not 'affordable luxuries'. So he began acting in plays.
After a few years in theatre, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role.
Incidentally, MR Radha, who played the hero in that film, later made an attempt on MGR’s life on 12 October 1967.
That gun shot had created so much of political drama that DMK member MGR filed his nomination for the Assembly elections from his hospital bed and won.
Video: The Quint
Music: Big Bang Fuzz
Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran was a little boy when he lost his father Maradhur Gopala Menon in that far-off land of tea-plantations, a country he could not call his own. So his widowed mother Satyabhama brought her sons to India. But schooling and playtime were not 'affordable luxuries'. So he began acting in plays.
After a few years in theatre, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role.
Incidentally, MR Radha, who played the hero in that film, later made an attempt on MGR’s life on 12 October 1967.
That gun shot had created so much of political drama that DMK member MGR filed his nomination for the Assembly elections from his hospital bed and won.
Video: The Quint
Music: Big Bang Fuzz