Ramachandran

Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran life and biography

Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), also popularly known as M.G.R., was an Indian politician, actor, philanthropist and filmmaker who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 till his death in 1987. M. G. Ramachandran was the founder of AIADMK and mentor of J. Jayalalithaa. On 19 March 1988, M.G.R. was posthumously honoured with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

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, M. G. Ramachandran made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. By the late 1940s, M. G. Ramachandran had graduated to lead roles.

M.G.R. became a member of the C. N. Annadurai-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK party) 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, M. G. Ramachandran left the DMK, then led by M. Karunanidhi to form his own 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. M. G. Ramachandran 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 Union government, M. G. Ramachandran remained as chief minister till his death in 1987, leading the AIADMK to two more electoral wins in 1980 and 1984.

In October 1984, M.G.R. was diagnosed with kidney failure as a result of diabetes. M. G. Ramachandran died on 24 December 1987 in his Ramavaram Gardens residence in Manapakkam after a prolonged illness. M.G.R. is regarded as a cultural icon in Tamil Nadu and is regarded as one of the most influential actors of Tamil cinema. His autobiography Naan Yaen Piranthaen (Why I was Born) was published in 2003.