Gymming

Thalaivar gets up at 4 in the morning. He starts working out with all his favourites items like, "Karla kattai". In his Ramavaram house he had a mini gym in the first floor. He usually wears a white lungi when he exercises.

White hat

An aged Islamic friend of Thalaivar gave him a white hat. Except the shooting spot, he will be wearing that wherever he goes. And he continued to buy the hat from that particular friend's shop alone. The white hat symbolised Thalaivar all along his life.

Meeting Strategy

Usually when Thalaivar attends meetings or rallies, he makes a point to talk in the end. This is done because he witnessed that once if he finishes of his talk early the crowd leaves early. But this habit was not undertaken only in Annadurai's meetings. There he will talk ahead of Anna, so that Anna gives the final finish. In election rallies he used to say that that he never wanted monetary fortune. The amount of love people had in him will make his life so simple that he can have a meal everyday in their houses till the end of his life because they were his real fortune.

The launch of a fan club

For an actor there can be numerous fan clubs. But a country's prime minister inaugurating an actor's fan club can happen only for Thalaivar. Yes, The late Lal Bahadur Shastri inaugurated, "Panathottam MGR Rasigar Mandram" in 1965 when he was touring Andaman and Nicobar Islands. And i believe his fan club was the first to be launched in Dubai.

Foodie bit

Thalaivar does not eat non-veg on fridays alone. He likes aval paayasam very much. His favourite food is chicken fry and dried fish gravy. I believe this was said by S.S.R's actress wife Vijayakumari, who used to call Thalaivar as "Checha", some years back.

MGR's Wiki

A good link and some amazing pics of (y)our Thalaivar >>

Something common between the Thilagams

There are two films of MGR and Sivaji that never released the records. One is Sridar's Sithoor Rani Bathmini with Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini acting. The super songs were by GR but they never came out in record. The other is Kalai Arasi with MGR acting, and KVM providing the music. This is the first Tamil film to show outer space, a story loosely based on UFOs. I thought one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. But a flop. Still had good songs. This movie was directed by Ramanna if my records are right.

One more thalaivar related site

Wow. That's the word i wanted to use when i first saw the name of this website. It's a privilege to have one like this. Tons of information available here. Let me give you the link >>

Thairiyamaaga chol nee manithan thaana

It was MGR's 100th movie. MSV refused to compose music for the song, "Thairiyamaga chol nee manithan thaana", saying that the song was deliberately hitting out against Kannadasan. MSV is and very much till today is an ardent bakthan of Kannadasan. Vali and MSV were quarelling. MGR intervened to solve the problem. MSV told the matter to MGR. MGR asked MSV to play it for him and he okayed. In the Hindi film Dharmendra deliberatley drinks. In the Tamil films MGR can never be shown drinking or smoking. Tamilnadu can never bear it! So MGR modified the story where he is given chloroform-like spray after which he is forced to drink. As he returns home, his conscience teaches him a lesson by singing out the ill efects of alcohol. MSV cooled own and composed the music and it did come out very well. The famous song is:

Thairiyamaaga chol nee
manithan thaana? Manithan thaana? Illai!
neethaan oru mirugam
-intha mathuvil vizhum neram
manamum nalla gunamum
un ninaivai vittu vilagum

Maanai pol maanam enraai-nadayil
matha yaanai neeye enraai
vengai pol veeram enraai-Arivil
Uyarvaaga Chollik kondaai
mathuvaal vilanginum keezhaai ninraai

Alaiyaadum kadalai kandaai
kudithu pazhagaamal aadak kandaai
malaraadum kodiyai kandaai
mathuvai parugaamal aadak kandaai
neeyo mathuvaaley aattam kandaai

porul vendithirudach chelvaai
Pennai peravendi vilayiai cholvaai
thunivodu uyirai kolvaai
etharkkum thunaiyaaga mathuvai kolvaal
kettaal nanthaney manithan enbaai.

He was involved in too many night shootings. After shooting was over he used to return home. The others would remain to go through the rush copies. One midnight after the shooting was over, the director, producer, sound engineer, cameramen and lightsmen were all seated in the dark mini theatre to screen the rush copy of the "Thairiyamaga chol nee" song scene. They were all appreciating MGR's acting and were giving suggestions as to how the song scene could have been improved. Suddenly a white figure rose from the back seat and said, "OK. Get the settings ready again. I will improvise the acting as suggested". They were shocked to see MGR quietly sitting there. Luckily no adverse comment were passed. So the settings were put up again and the shots were taken. MGR improved on his performance. The shooting was completed around 4.am. MGR is that much a perfectionist and a hard worker and that is what we are seeing today in Oli Vilakku.