Thalaivar's Car

When Thalaivar was in the acting stage he had a Chevrolet with white and green mix. It was having the number of 2248. Once when he became the Chief Minister he used green colored Ambassador with the number of TMX 4777. He never likes slow driving. He preferred the "Fast and Furious" way. His car dickey will always hav 100-200 oranges all the time. Since orange juices cleans the blood, chills the body and increases the digestive stamina, he drunk that. And moreover the juice has to be concentrated when given to him.

The titles

The title of "Makkal Thilagam" was given to Thalaivar by "Kalkandu" Tamizvaanan. Since he was constantly helping people out with his hand turning red Thiru Muruga Kirubananda Vaariyar Swamigal gave him the title of "Ponmana Chemmal". If my records are right the "Puratchi Thalaivar" title was given by K.A.K.

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.

MGR's Wiki

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

Resemblance of Naan Paarthathiley and Puthu Mappillaikku

MGR's only film with AVM was Anbe Vaa. It had numerous and evergreen songs by MSV. One of them was

Naan Paarthathiley
Aval Oruthiyaithaaan
Nalla Azhagi enben
Nalla Azhagi Enben

When Kamalhasan was producing Aboorva Sahodarargal he requested Ilayaraja to compose a song along the lines of Naan Paarthathiley. And Ilayaraja gave this song:

Puthu Mappillaikku
Nalla Yogamada
Antha Manamakalthaan
Vantha Neramada

I guess both were written by Vaali.

Ellis R. Dungan's Manthirikumari

True to his name, it was a perfect hollywood type of movie. He was the one who introduced Puratchi Thalaivar in Sathi Leelavathi in 1936. Manthirikumari was not only a box-office hit but also created Tamil film history. It was based on the Tamil classic Kundalakesi. MGR, M. N. Nambiar, Madhuri Devi, G. Sakunthala and S. A. Natarajan were in the prime roles. The dialogues were written by Karunanidhi. S.A. Natarajan, a tamil theatre import by then, stole the show with his scintillating performance as the king’s guru’s son and a bandit by night. Music was a huge plus. “Vaaraai…..nee…Vaaraai”, sung by Tiruchi Loganathan and Jikki became an immortal number. G. Ramanathan was the composer. Yercaud Hills was the spot for the latter half. It might be a huge tourist destination now. But those times of 1949-1950, it was all mountain, jungle, rocks and shrubs. So trekking was done and immense risks were undertaken. Ellis R. Dungan, the director, used three cameras (rare in those days) to shoot this song. But all his hard work helped him reap rich dividends, when the movie and the song became super hit. When the film was in the post-production stage, problems arose in Dungan’s personal life, which forced him to leave India to the United States. T. R. Sundaram, the then Modern Theaters' boss took over the film and completed it. But there is another story to this film i read somewhere. Don't know which is true. Dungan wanted, “Vaaraai…..nee…Vaaraai” in the film, which T.R. Sundaram initially refused, saying it would not be accepted by the masses. After some argument, Dungan threw a challenge. He proposed to screen in Madras alone and see the reaction of the public. Should there be good response, the song would be retained permanently in every other copy. Should there be bad response, the particular song scene would be cut off completely from all the copies. The challenge was taken up by T.R. Sundaram. As agreed the song scene was screened in Madras, and the cinema goers gave tremendous support not only to the melody, but also to the hidden meaning in the lyrics and the way Natarajan acted. Dungan won and am not sure when Duncan went to the United States. Anyways, even after 60 years, the interest in the film hasn't gone down one bit. Truly a cult classic.

Awkward situation faced by MGR

The late Puthaneri Subramaniam was a bakthan of MGR. MGR wanted to use his song in his home production "Nadodi Mannan". The song was "Veesu thendraley Veesu Vetkai Neengave Veesu". When MGR went outstation, the song was rejected by the cine politics. When MGR came back he found that the song was not accepted by his story unit. Out of deep sadness he called up Puthaneri Subramaniam and explained his awkward situation and paid him off Rs 500. The song was later used in Ponni Thirunaal-sung by PB Sreenivos and P Suseela.

MGR's magnanimity

At a time when Kannadasan and MGR had political differences, MGR did not allow the kaviyarasar to write for his films. But Sridhar cannot think of his film without the songs of Kannadasan. Sridhar was producing Urimaikkural. There was one song which was written and recorded without the knowledge of MGR. When MGR heard the song, he wanted to know if it was the work of Kannadasan. Director Sridhar admitted. MGR asked Sridhar to show Kannadasan's name in the title card in the film. The reason MGR gave was not to cover up the ability of any talented person. At times MGR's magnanimity swells by leaps and bounds. The song was the evergreen Vizhiye Kathai Ezhuthu with the musical score of MSV.

Music Directors for MGR films

1.Paithiyakkaran-CR Sbbaraman(CRS)
2.Rajakumari-SM Subbiah Naidu(SMS)
3.Abimanyu-CRSubbaraman/SM Subbiah Naidu
4.Mogini-SMS/CRS
5.Rajamukthi-CN Pandurangan
6. Ratnakumar-G RAmanatahan/CRS
7.Manthirikumari-G Ramanathan(GR)
8.Maruthanaattu Ilavarasi-MS Gnanamani
9. Marmayogi-SMS/CRS
10.Sarvfathikari-S. Dachinamurthi
11. Andamaan Kaithi-Govindarajulu Naidu
12. En Thangai-CN Padnurangan
13. Kumari-KVMahadevan(KVM
14. Genova-MSVisvanathan/MS Gnanamani/TA Kalyanam
15. Naam-CS Jayaraman
16. Panakkaari-SV VEngatraman(SVV)
17. Koondukkil-KVM
18.Malaikkallan-SMS
19.Kulebagavali-Visvanathan Ramamoorthy(VR)
20.Ali Baba & 40 Thirudarkalum-S.Dachinamurthy
21.Madurai Veran-GR
22.Tahikku Pin Thaaram-KVM
23. Chakravarthy Thirumakal-GR
24.Mahadevi-VR
25.Puthumaipithan-GR
26.Rajarajan-KVM
27.Nadodi Mannan-SMS
28.Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali-TR Paappa
29.Bagdad Thirudan-Govindarajulu Naidu
30.Mannathi Mannan-VR
31.Raja Desingh-GR
32.Arasilang Kumari-GR
33.Nallavan Vaazhvaan- TR Paappa
34.Sabash Mappillai-KVM
35.Thaai Sollai Thattathey-KVM
36.Thirudathey-SMS
37.Kudumbatha Thalaivan-KVM
38.Maadappura-KVM
39.Paasam-VR
40.Rani Samyuktha-KVM
41.Thayai Kaatha Thanayan-KVM
42. Vikkiramathithan-S. Rajeswararao
43.Ananda Jothi-VR
44.Darmam Thalai Kaakkum-KVM
45.Kalai Arasi-KVM
46. Kaanji Thalaivan-KVM
47.Koduthu Vaithaval-KVM
48.Neethikku Pin Paasam-KVM
49.Panathottam-VR
50.Parisu-KVM
51.Periya Idathu Pen-VR
52.Deivathaai-VR
53.En Kadmai-VR
54.Padagotti-VR
55.Panakkara Kudumbam-VR
56. Thaayin Madiyil-SMS
57. Thozhilaali-KVM
58. Vettaikkaaran-KVM
59.Aasai Mugam-SMS
60. Aayirathil Oruvan-VR
61.Enda Veetu Pillai-VR
62.Kalangarai Vilakkam-MSV
63.Kannithaai-KVM
64.Panam Padaithavan-VR
65. Thaazhamboo-KVM
66.Anbe Vaa-MSV
67.Naan Aanaiyittaal-MSV
68.Mugarasi-KVM
69. Nadodi-MSV
70.Chandrothayam-MSV
71.Parakkum Paavai-MSV
72.Petraalthaan Pillaiya?-MSV
73. Thaali Bagyam-KVM
74. Thanipiravi-KVM
75. Arasa Kattalai-KVM
76. Kavalkaaran-MSV
77. Thaaikku Thalai Magan-KVM
78.Vivasayee-KVM
79. Ragasiya Police115-MSV
80 Ther Thiruvizha-KVM
81. Kudiyiruntha Koyil-MSV
82.Kannan En Kaadalan-MSV
83. Puthya Boomi-MSV
84. Kanavan-MSV
85. Oli Vilakku-MSV
86. Kathal Vaaganam-KVM
87.Adimai Penn-KVM
88. Nam Naadu-MSV
89.Maattukkara Velan-MSV
90. EN Annan-KVM
91. Thalaivan-SMS
92. Thedivantha Mappillai-MSV
93. Engal Thangam-MSV
94. Kumarikottam-MSV
95. Rickshawkkaran-MSV
96. Neerum Neruppum-MSV
97.Oru Thaai Makkal- MSV
98.Sangey Muzhangu-MSV
99.Nalla Neram-KVM
100.Raman Thediya Seethai-MSV
101.Annamitta Kai-KVM
102.Naan Yen Piranthen-Sangkar Ganesh
103.Idaya Veenai-Sangkar Ganesh
104.Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban-MSV
105.Pattikkaattu Ponnaiya-MSV
106. Netru Indru Naalai-MSV
107.Urimaikkural-MSV
108.Sirithu Vaazha Vendum-MSV
109. Ninaithathai Mudippavan-MSV
110.Naalai Namathey-MSV
111.Pallandu Vaazhga-KVM
112. Idayakkani-MSV
113.Nethikku Thalai Vanagu-MSV
114.Uzhaikkum Karangal-MSV
115.Oorukku Uzhaippavan-MSV
116.Indru Pol Enrum Vaazhga-MSV
117.Navarathinam-Kunnakkudi Vaithiyanathan
118.Meenava Nanban-MSV
119. Maduraiyai Meetta Sundara Paandiyan-MSV
120. Avasara Police 100 (MGR songs - MSV)

Moondreluthil En Moochirukkum - MGR

How MGR saved Sivaji?

Surprised. I am talking about the movie "Sivaji". Rajnikanth might have played one of the best roles of his life. But he needed an MGR to win the final showdown. That's the power. Any other name to that character would not have worked. Hats off to director Shanker. If there was one Shanker for Puratchi Thalaivar, here is one Shanker for Rajni. All in all, even after twenty years of his physical death, MGR will be there in us forever. Because he is the real Thalaivar. He will be there till Tamil exists.

Bhanumathi unplugged with MGR

Bhanumathi, the charismatic actress of the (g)olden days. She always enjoyed working with our boss. The article lists down how cool both these were with each other and how professionalism worked well both on and off the sets. Let's enjoy reading this >>

MGR's association with AVM Saravanan