M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran | |
|---|---|
Portrait of M.G.R. from the 2017 Birth Centenary Commemorative Stamp | |
| Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | |
| In office 9 June 1980 – 24 December 1987 | |
| Governor | |
| Cabinet | |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | V. N. Janaki Ramachandran |
| Constituency | |
| In office 30 June 1977 – 17 February 1980 | |
| Governor | Prabhudas B. Patwari |
| Cabinet | Ramachandran I |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| Constituency | Aruppukottai |
| Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 24 December 1984 – 24 December 1987 | |
| Chief Minister | Himself |
| Political Party | AIADMK |
| Preceded by | S. S. Rajendran |
| Succeeded by | P. Aasiyan |
| Constituency | Andipatti |
| In office 9 June 1980 – 15 November 1984 | |
| Chief Minister | Himself |
| Political Party | AIADMK |
| Preceded by | T. P. M. Periyaswamy |
| Succeeded by | Pon. Muthuramalingam |
| Constituency | Madurai West |
| In office 30 June 1977 – 17 February 1980 | |
| Chief Minister | Himself |
| Political Party | AIADMK |
| Preceded by | Sowdi Sundara Bharathi |
| Succeeded by | M. Pitchai |
| Constituency | Aruppukottai |
| In office 1 March 1967 – 31 January 1976 | |
| Chief Minister | |
| Political Party | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | position abolished |
| Constituency | St. Thomas Mount |
| Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council | |
| In office 30 March 1962 – 7 July 1964 | |
| Chief Minister | |
| Succeeded by | S. R. P. Ponnuswamy Chettiar |
| General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |
| In office 17 October 1986 – 24 December 1987 | |
| Preceded by | S. Raghavanandam |
| Succeeded by | J. Jayalalithaa |
| In office 17 October 1972 – 22 June 1978 | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan |
| Treasurer of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |
| In office 27 July 1969 – 10 October 1972 | |
| President | M. Karunanidhi |
| General Secretary | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan |
| Preceded by | M. Karunanidhi |
| Succeeded by | K. Anbazhagan |
| President of the South Indian Artistes' Association | |
| In office 1961–1963 | |
| Preceded by | R. Nagendra Rao |
| Succeeded by | S. S. Rajendran |
| In office 1957–1959 | |
| Preceded by | N. S. Krishnan |
| Succeeded by | Anjali Devi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Maruthur Gopalan Menon Ramachandran 17 January 1917 Nawalapitiya, British Ceylon (present-day Kandy District, Central Province, Sri Lanka) |
| Died | 24 December 1987 (aged 70) Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Cause of death | Kidney failure |
| Resting place | M.G.R. and Amma Memorial |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1972–1987) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
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| Relatives |
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| Residence(s) | M.G.R. Thottam, Ramapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Profession |
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| Awards |
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| Nickname(s) | Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Thilagam Ponmana Chemmal Kodai Vallal Vaathiyar |
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known by his initialism M.G.R. and as Makkal Thilagam/Puratchi Thalaivar, was an Indian actor, politician, and philanthropist who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987. He was the founder and former general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. On 19 March 1988, M.G.R. was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. M.G.R. is regarded as one of the most influential politicians of post-independence India. Apart from politics, as a film personality, he won the National Film Award, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and three Filmfare Awards South.
In his youth, M.G.R. and his elder brother M. G. Chakrapani became members of a drama troupe to support their family. Influenced by Gandhian ideals, M.G.R. joined the Indian National Congress. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. By the late 1940s, he had graduated to lead roles. M.G.R. was one of the "three biggest names of Tamil cinema", the other two being Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan. While Sivaji Ganesan excelled in dramatic films, Gemini Ganesan was known for his romantic films, and M.G.R. was popular as an action hero.
M.G.R. became a member of the C. N. Annadurai-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rose through its ranks, using his popularity as a film star to build a political base. In 1972, three years after Annadurai's death, he left the DMK as it's treasuer, then led by M. Karunanidhi who was made as chief minister by him, to form his own new party—the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Five years later, M.G.R. steered an AIADMK-led alliance to victory in the 1977 election, routing the DMK in the process. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the first film actor to become a chief minister in India. Except for a four-month interregnum in 1980, when his government was overthrown by the Indira Gandhi-led government of India, he remained as chief minister until his death in 1987, leading the AIADMK to two more electoral wins in the 1980 and 1984 elections.
In October 1984, M.G.R. was diagnosed with kidney failure as a result of diabetes. He died on 24 December 1987 in his M.G.R. Thottam residence in Ramapuram after a prolonged illness. His autobiography, "Naan Yaen Piranthen? (Why Was I Born?)", was published in 2003.