M. G. Ramachandran

film actor, chief minister of Tamil Nadu (1917 – 1987)

Person

Born: 1917-01-17
Died: 1987-12-24

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Film & TV

Acting · Kandy, British Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]

Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran, known by the initialism MGR, was an immensely popular Indian film actor, director, producer, and politician who also served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu successively for three terms. Renowned as a cultural icon in Tamil Nadu, Ramachandran is considered as one of the most influential actors of Tamil cinema, and a pioneering force in cinema's popularity in…

Known for

Avasara Police 100 — Raju (in archival footage)1990
Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan — Paintamizh 'Sundharapandiyan' Kumaran1978
Navarathinam — Thangam1977
Meenava Nanban — Kumaran1977
Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga — Murugan1977
Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga1977
Oorukku Uzhaippavan1976
Needhikku Thalaivanangu1976
Uzhaikkum Karangal1976

Article

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known by his initials M. G. R., was an Indian politician, actor, director, film producer, and philanthropist, who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987. He was the founder and first general secretary of the political party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). He is regarded as one of the most influential politicians of post-independent India, and was known by the epithets Makkal Thilagam (Jewel of the People) and Puratchi Thalaivar (Revolutionary Leader). In March 1988, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

Born in British Ceylon in 1917, Ramachandran's family emigrated later to India. In his youth, he became part of a drama troupe to support the family. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his debut in the Tamil film industry with Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. In a career spanning more than five decades, he acted in more than 135 films, majority of them in Tamil. He was regarded as one of the three biggest male actors of Tamil cinema during the period alongside Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1971, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and three Filmfare Awards South.