MG Ramachandran 100th birth anniversary: Sasikala to unveil MGR’s statue, Deepa Jayakumar returns without paying tribute

AIADMK boss Sasikala Natarajan will unveil MGR’s statue at the Marina Beach today. To mark MGR's birth anniversary, Tamil Nadu government had already announced that it will be a public holiday in the state.

Updated: January 17, 2017 10:12 AM IST

By Sandhya Dangwal

Chennai geared up to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of M. G. Ramachandran
Chennai geared up to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of M. G. Ramachandran

Chennai, Jan 17: Chennai geared up to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) founder and former Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran on Tuesday. Along with party leaders and ministers from AIADMK, former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar was also) gathered at MGR’s memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai to make the event a grand one.

However, it was reported by ANI that Deepa returned without paying tribute to MG Ramachandran at his memorial due to massive crowd. AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan will unveil MGR’s statue at the Marina Beach today to celebrate MGR’s birth anniversary. MG Ramachandran is a legendary personality when it comes to Tamil Nadu politics and the film industry.

To mark the festivity of MGR’s birth centenary, the Tamil Nadu government had already announced that it will be a public holiday in the state. Huge crowd of MGR followers and supporters thronged at his memorial at the Marina Beach to celebrate the eve. As per reports, Deepa Jayakumar returned without paying tribute to M. G. Ramachandran due to massive crowd. AIADMK announced free rides for passengers on a private town bus on the Central Bus Stand-Srirangam route for two days.

Here’s all you need to know about M.G. Ramachandran:

  • Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran, popularly known as MGRwas born on 17 January 1917 in Kandy, Sri Lanka and left for his heavenly abode on 24 December 1987.
  • MGR was an Indian actor and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for ten years between 1977 and 1987.
  • MGR is a cultural icon in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where he is regarded as one of the most influential actors of the Tamil film industry.
  • G.R’s autobiography ‘Naan Yaen Piranthaen’ (‘Why I was born’) was published in 2003 in two volumes.
  • Influenced by Gandhian ideals, MGR joined the Indian National Congress. Later he became a member of the C. N. Annadurai-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rapidly rose through its ranks.
  • After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. By the late 1940s he graduated to lead roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry.
  • In 1972, three years after Annadurai’s death, he left the DMK, now led by Karunanidhi, MGR’s once friend and now rival, to form his own party—the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
  • Five years later, he steered an AIADMK-led alliance to victory in the 1977 election, routing the DMK in the process. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the first film actor to become a chief minister in India.

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