M. G. Ramachandran filmography
![M. G. Ramachandran looking towards his left](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/MGR_%28cropped%29.jpg)
M. G. Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987),[1] popularly known by his initials "MGR",[2][3] was an Indian actor, film director and film producer who had an extensive career primarily in Tamil language films. After starring in numerous commercially successful films from the 1950s to the early 1970s, he has continued to hold a matinée idol status in Tamil Nadu.[2] Ramachandran made his debut in Ellis R. Dungan's 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi, where he played a police inspector.[4][5] He followed it with a string of minor appearances and supporting roles in many films, notably Ashok Kumar (1941), where he played the general of emperor Ashoka's army,[6] and as a captain in Dungan's Meera (1945).[7]
Ramachandran's breakthrough came with his first lead role in A. S. A. Sami's swashbuckler film Rajakumari (1947) where he played a villager who marries a princess.[8][9] Based on the Arabian Nights, Rajakumari was a commercially successful venture.[10] He established himself as an action hero akin to Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks in Tamil cinema with Manthiri Kumari (1950) and Marmayogi (1951).[11][12] Both films had political undertones which earned Ramachandran a Robin Hood persona of being a champion for the downtrodden.[13] His performance as the caring brother Rajendran who tries to keep his family together in En Thangai (1952) earned him critical acclaim.[14] In 1953, he made his debut in Malayalam films opposite B. S. Saroja in Genova.[15] Ramachandran continued to play roles which enabled him to adopt his ideas of fighting injustice meted out to the poor such as an outlaw in Malaikkallan (1954), and Nadodi Mannan (1958).[2][13] In the latter, he featured in dual roles, as a king and a commoner, for the first time in his career.[16][17] Both Malaikkallan and Nadodi Mannan were commercially successful,[18] becoming the highest-grossing films of their respective release years.[2][19] In addition to social dramas, Ramachandran received positive feedback and commercial success for swashbuckler films such as Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956), the first South Indian full-length colour film,[20][21] Madurai Veeran (1956),[22] Chakravarthi Thirumagal and Mahadevi (both released in 1957).[2][23][24]
According to Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen in the book Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema, the success of Ramachandran's 1961 film Thirudathe, marked a beginning of transition to roles that had "a contemporary setting". He often played "a saintly member of an oppressed class".[3][9] The act of showering love and affection for his family members was a recurring theme in his films during this period.[25] The films he appeared in during the 1960s played a crucial part in his subsequent career as a politician.[26] The 1963 comedy-drama film Periya Idathu Penn had him play a farmer who seeks revenge from his village's zamindar.[27][a] The following year, he appeared in Thozhilali as a bus conductor who exposes the fraudulent methods of a rival bus company, and in Padagotti as a fisherman who resolves to end the dispute between two fishing communities.[25][29] In 1965, he collaborated with Tapi Chanakya in Enga Veettu Pillai, where he featured as twins of opposite natures, one a coward and the other courageous. He also featured in B. R. Panthulu's Aayirathil Oruvan the same year as a doctor who joins, and later becomes the leader of, a rebellion against a dictator.[30][31] Both the films were major commercial successes.[2] The romantic comedy Anbe Vaa (1966), where Ramachandran played an industrialist and was his only film under AVM Productions, is considered an antithesis of the roles he was doing during this period and was also commercially successful.[32][33] He continued to achieve success at the box-office with films like Arasa Kattalai and Kaavalkaaran (both released in 1967),[2][34] also garnering acclaim for the latter.[31][35] Ramachandran's portrayal of twins, a club dancer and a criminal, who are separated as children in Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968) garnered him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.[31][36] In 1969, he appeared as a prince who brings down a tyrant who usurps his throne and mistreats his people in K. Shankar's Adimai Penn, and as a government clerk who masquerades as a billionaire to defeat the corrupt trio of a doctor, a builder and a merchant in Nam Naadu.[2][37] The former won him the Best Film at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.[35]
Ramachandran began the 1970s with roles in such social dramas as Mattukkara Velan and Engal Thangam (both released in 1970), both of which enjoyed commercial success.[9][38] The following year, he received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as a cycle rickshaw driver in Rickshawkaran, making it the first film and him the first actor from South Indian cinema to win the award.[39] It went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.[2] He then directed and produced the science fiction film Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973) where he also starred in dual roles as brothers, a scientist and a CBI officer. It became his most commercially successful film to that point.[2][40] Ramachandran retired from filmmaking in 1978 to take up his duties as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; his last venture, entitled Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan, was a commercial failure.[9][41]
Films
[edit]- All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The word zamindar refers to a landowner who leases his land to tenant farmers.[28]
- ^ a b c M. G. Ramachandran played a single character in the film who has two or more different names.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q M. G. Ramachandran played dual roles in this film.
- ^ a b M. G. Ramachandran played dual roles in this film, one of who has two or more different names.
References
[edit]- ^ Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (26 January 2017). "Magical "MGR" Charisma of Kandy- Born Actor-Politico M.G.Ramachandran". DBSJeyaraj.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mishra, Nivedita (17 January 2017). "MGR's centenary: The man who dominated Tamil films for 3 decades". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ a b c Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 188.
- ^ Kannan 2010, p. 85; Kannan 2017, p. 37.
- ^ a b Jeshi, K. (24 September 2012). "Tunes and trivia". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 288.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (28 March 2008). "Meera 1945". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (12 December 2012). "MGR Remembered, Part 1". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). சாதனைகள் படைத்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்பட வரலாறு – புரட்சி நடிகர் நடித்த திரைப்படங்கள் [History of Landmark Tamil Films – MGR Filmography] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (5 September 2008). "Rajakumari 1947". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ Kasbekar 2006, p. 220; Joshi & Dudrah 2016, p. 80.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (14 March 2008). "Marmayogi 1951". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ a b Phadnis, Aditi (6 December 2016). "Jayalalithaa: Tamil Nadu's mercurial pharaoh". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (28 November 2008). "En Thangai 1952". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ a b Vijayakumar, B. (5 April 2010). "Genova 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 355.
- ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). நாடோடி மன்னன் பற்றி எம்.ஜி.ஆர் [MGR on Nadodi Mannan] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (6 March 2015). "MGR Remembered – Part 25". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ சுவாமிநாதன், ஸ்ரீதர் (22 March 2016). "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 – 26 - படம் ஓடினால் மன்னன், ஓடாவிட்டால் நாடோடி!" [MGR100 – 26 – If the film is successful, he is a king, if not he is a vagabond!]. The Hindu Tamil (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, pp. 339–340.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (28 September 2013). "MGR Remembered – Part 11". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, pp. 339, 346.
- ^ Guy, Randor (9 April 2011). "Chakravarthi Thirumagal 1957". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (16 January 2016). "Mahadevi (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (30 January 2016). "Thozhilaali (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Kasbekar 2006, p. 220.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 377.
- ^ "Definition of zamindar in English". Oxford English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (28 February 2016). "Padagotti (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, pp. 188, 383–384.
- ^ a b c "எம்.ஜி.ஆர்-ன் சிறந்த சாதனை படங்கள்...!" [Best Films of MGR]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (10 November 2012). "Anbe Vaa 1966". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (24 March 2011). "Moorings and musings". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ சுவாமிநாதன், ஸ்ரீதர் (16 June 2016). "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 – 87 - பெண்களை தெய்வமாக மதித்தவர்!" [MGR 100 – 87 – Treated women as goddesses!]. The Hindu Tamil (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). சாதனைகள் படைத்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்பட வரலாறு – புரட்சி நடிகர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். அவர்கள் பெற்ற விருதுகள் [History of Landmark Tamil Films – Awards received by MGR] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ நரசிம்மன், டி.ஏ. (27 January 2017). "என்னருமை தோழி..! 20: எம்.ஜி.ஆருக்கு ஆலோசனை!" [My dear companion..! 20: Consultation to MGR!]. The Hindu Tamil (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, pp. 398, 400; Joshi & Dudrah 2016, p. 80.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, pp. 400, 403.
- ^ "Did you know?". The Hindu. 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 419.
- ^ Shanker, V. Prem (26 May 2017). "Rajinikanth's 'battle' remark may just be a publicity comment before his film Kaala Karikaalan's release". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (14 August 2009). "Iru Sahodarargal 1936". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (25 September 2011). "Daksha Yagnam 1938". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ Rajanayagam 2015, p. 271.
- ^ Guy, Randor (25 January 2014). "Maya Machhindra (1939)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (14 August 2011). "Prahalada 1939". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (20 April 2017). "Vedavathi (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (25 January 2008). "Ashok Kumar 1941". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (20 February 2011). "Dasi Penn (Jyothimalar) 1943". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (3 July 2009). "Harishchandra 1944". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Harichandra (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Sri Rajarajeswari Film Company. 1944. Opening credits from 00:00:00 to 00:00:20.
- ^ Guy, Randor (26 June 2011). "Saalivaahanan 1945". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Meera (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Chandraprabha Cinetone. 1945. Opening credits from 00:00:21 to 00:00:31.
- ^ Guy, Randor (1 May 2009). "Sri Murugan 1946". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (13 June 2008). "Paithiakaaran 1947". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "Abhimanyu 1948". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (18 April 2008). "Raja Mukthi 1948". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ "26. அதிர்ச்சி தோல்வியுற்ற தமிழ்த் திரைப்படங்கள்" [26. Tamil films that surprisingly flopped]. Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 19 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 318.
- ^ "Manthiri Kumari (1950)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 323.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 325.
- ^ Guy, Randor (29 December 2012). "Naam (1953)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (30 September 2014). "MGR Remembered – Part 21". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (24 December 2015). "MGR Remembered – Part 32". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 336.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 346.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 349.
- ^ Guy, Randor (15 August 2015). "Raja Desingu (1960)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 367.
- ^ Guy, Randor (28 May 2016). "Thaai Sollai Thattathe(1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (19 September 2015). "Rani Samyuktha (1962)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (4 June 2016). "Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum (1963)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ ""Kalai Arasi" is full of synthetic thrills". The Indian Express. 26 April 1963. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Raman, Sruthi Ganapathy (3 June 2016). "A Tamil film that had aliens, spaceships, anti-gravity boots half a century ago". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (13 December 2015). "Kanchi Thalaivan(1963)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (21 February 2016). "Vettaikaaran (1964) Tamil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (2 April 2016). "Dheiva Thaai (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, pp. 383–384.
- ^ Guy, Randor (13 February 2016). "Naadodi (1966)tamil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (9 January 2016). "Blast from the past: Chandhrodhayam (1966)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (22 May 2016). "Thanipiravi (1966)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (14 May 2016). "Parakkum Paavai (1966)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (7 May 2016). "Petraalthan Pillaiya (1966)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 394.
- ^ Guy, Randor (24 April 2016). "Arasa Kattalai (1967)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ Ther Thiruvizha : MGR Speech. Tamil Movies (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Devar Films. 1968. Ramachandran appears as himself from 00:00:00 to 00:02:42.
- ^ Kudiyirundha Koyil. Rajshri Tamil (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Saravana Screens. 1968. Character's names mentioned from 00:15:50 to 00:18:05, 00:48:05 to 00:48:15 and 02:30:45 to 02:31:00.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 396.
- ^ Guy, Randor (6 March 2016). "Oli Vilakku (1968)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Kadhal Vaaganam. Tamil Movies (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Devar Films. 1968. Character's name mentioned from 00:04:35 to 00:04:45.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 398.
- ^ Adimaippenn. Raj Video Vision Tamil (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Emgeeyar Pictures Ltd. 1969. Character of Vengaiya Malaiyan seen from 00:01:10 to 00:07:30.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 400.
- ^ Maattukara Velan. Raj Video Vision Tamil (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Jayanthi Films. 1970. The name of M. G. Ramachandran's second character Raghu is mentioned from 00:19:30 to 00:22:30.
- ^ "Thalaivan Poster". Thomas Pictures. 1970. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 403.
- ^ Guy, Randor (30 April 2016). "Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban (1973)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Netru Indru Naalai. Tamil Movies (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Amalraj Films. 1974. Character's names mentioned from 01:12:35 to 01:19:25, 02:24:00 to 02:27:00 and 02:30:40 to 02:32:00.
- ^ Guy, Randor (10 April 2016). "Ninaithathai Mudippavan (1975) Tamil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (17 April 2016). "Idhayakkani (1975)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (20 March 2016). "Pallandu Vazhga (1975) Tamil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Guy, Randor (24 January 2016). "Neethikku Thalai Vanangu (1976)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ a b சுவாமிநாதன், ஸ்ரீதர் (12 April 2016). "எம்ஜிஆர் 100 – 41 - அமுதசுரபி!" [MGR 100 – 41 – Amudhasurabhi!]. The Hindu Tamil (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "விகடன் மேடை - கே.பாக்யராஜ்" [In Vikatan – K. Bhagyaraj]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Nallathai Naadu Kekum. Classic Movies (Motion picture) (in Tamil). India: Jeppiar Pictures. 1991. Character's name mentioned from 00:46:50 to 00:49:10.
Bibliography
[edit]- Joshi, Priya; Dudrah, Rajinder (16 May 2016). The 1970s and Its Legacies in India's Cinemas. New York City: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-83658-6.
- Kannan, R. (2010). Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-670-08328-2.
- Kannan, R. (2017). MGR: A Life. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-93-8649-588-4.
- Kasbekar, Asha (2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-636-7.
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-563579-9.
- Rajanayagam, S. (2015). Popular Cinema and Politics in South India: The Films of MGR and Rajinikanth. New Delhi: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-82203-0.
External links
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