Fort of MGR

Madurai is historically a famous city and to MGR Madurai people are the first to introduce MGR Fans club in the year 1950, which later spread to all of India and the World.

MGR was very sentimental about Madurai. His first 25 weeks film was Madurai Veeran and his last acted movie was Madurai Meeta Sundarapandian. Many of the titles also came from Madurai some are KALIYUGA PARI and KALAI SUDAR. MGR contested from Madurai West constituency in 1980 and won by substantial vote difference. Madurai was said to be MGR's Fort as far as the film and political life are concerned.


Madurai Central Theatre

Pictures posted here are taken presently and during the re-release of MGR films such as Kulabaghavali, Thaiyai katha thanaiyan, Engal Thangam, Ayirathil Oruvan, Ninaithathai Mudipavan, Nadodi Mannan, Ithayaveenai etc. Note the decorations on MGR.

The Film records in Madurai: Source Sarithiram Padaitha Makkal Thilgam MGR, Special Edition - released as Kalaiventhan MGR Bakthargal Trust Silver Jubilee Year Issue 2006.

46 films has crossed more than 100 days in Madurai alone and 6 films has crossed 25 weeks they are :

Madurai Veeran
Enga Vetu Pillai
Matukara Velan
Adimaipen
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Urimai Kural.



100 days films are

01. Rajakumari
02. Mohini
03. Maruthanatu Elavarasi
04. Manthiri Kumari
05. Marmayogi
06. Sarvathigari
07. En Thangai
08. Jenovah
09. Malaikallan
10. Kulabaghavali
11. Alibabavum Narpathu Thirudargalum
12. Thaikupin Tharam
13. Chakravarthi Thirumagal
14. Puthumaipithan
15. Mahadevi
16. Nadodi Mannan
17. Baghdad Thirudan
18. Thirudatha
19. Thai sollulai thatatha
20. Thaiyai katha thanaiyan
21. Neethiku pin pasam
22. Panakara Kudumbam
23. Ayrathil Oruvan
24. Anba Vaa
25. Kavalkaran
26. Oli Vilaku
27. Nam Nadu
28. En Annan
29. Engal Thangam
30. Kumarikottam
31. Rickshawkaran
32. Nallaneram
33. Idhyaveenai
34. Netru Indru Nalai
35. Sirithu Vazha Vendum
36. Ninathathai Mudipavan
37. Idhyakani
38. Pallandu Vazhga
39. Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga
40. Meenava Nanban





Madurai Meenakshi Theatre


Meenaksh Theatre another view



Information from MGR Devotee S.Kumar - Madurai

Meenakshi Theatre first film screened was Oli Vilaku, and MGR has attended various functions in Meenakshi theatre particularly on the 100th day function for Nam Nadu, 175th day function in Chinthamani Theatre, 175th day function in Central Theatre for Enga Vetu Pillai. And Grand Function for Nadodi Mannan in Thamukam Grounds in 1958.

Records of Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

These paper cuttings are provided by Ponmanachemmal Sri MGR Bakthargal Trust, Chennai. (From Old paper pardon for the poor quality)

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban was slated to be released in May 1st 1973, the above advertisement shows the fact. The ad has the names not only MGR alone he has given the credit of others also
Dialogue writer Sornam
Music Viswanathan
Lyrics by Kannadasan, Vali and Pulamaipithan,
Camera work by Ramamurthy,
Sets by Angamuthu,
Stunt by Shyam Sundar,
Photos by Nagaraj Rao,
Studio - Sathya Studio,
Editing by Umanath.
Direction MGR

Note there is no mention of Theatres.



The Second Ad shows the release date as 11th May 1973 and the theatres for Chennai city Devi Paradise, Agasthiya and Uma.

When you zoom the picture you can the see the various locations of the movie in the rail MGR holds.

To be continued

Bonus:

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feel free to use the theme and if you do some themes give the web address in my comment section. Thanks.

http://www.ownskin.com/theme_detail?t=D00W36Sl

http://www.ownskin.com/theme_detail?t=7P76C16Q


Enjoy MGR Fans.

MGR One in One Thousand

Padmini Pictures Ayirathil Oruvan was released in 1965. Jayalalitha as MGR's heroine. Due to the huge response by the crowd this pair continued to act together for nearly 27 films.

Ayirathil Oruvan was a 100 days film depicting the life of Slaves and atrocities of the Dictator. And how MGR acted as a Doctor liberates his motherland.

This movie was released again two months back in Chennai City. Though the print was not good the cinema halls were crowded.

Pictures below represents the participation of MGR Fans in several Theatres in Chennai city.

The film distributors had erected captivating cut outs and digital banners and spent lavishly in film advertisement, daily big sized ad was placed in Daily Thanthi which I had uploaded in my previous blog.

Images represents the participation of MGR fans in several theatres in Chennai City. Captivating cut outs and Banners are kept by the film distributors.

Not only MGR fans kept various Banners and garlanded them, Actor Sathayaraj has kept a banner to MGR in Kamala Theatre.

Some of the celebrations of Fans when MGR appears in the Song "Yen endra Kelvi"

Note the Fans hands.

Fans rushing to the screen to touch MGR image.

Images courtesy by Ponmanachemmal Sri MGR Bakthargal Trust, Chennai - Yukesh Babu and Sathya.

Two Devotees and a Fan

I contacted a MGR devotee Yukesh Babu and asked him to pass some details of MGR to me. And he obliged to send it through internet. I asked to hand over the details to me personally so that I can see him. Yesterday he came sharply by 4.30 pm. accompanied with him another MGR devotee M.Sathyamoorthy alias Sathya. Yukesh as well as Sathya belonged to "PONMANACHEMMAL SRI MGR BAKTHARKAL KUZHU" this network has reached up to Madurai which is headed by S.Kumar. Who updates them with info of collection in Box office done by MGR movies.



Yukesh Babu is of my age, and he had a Ring engraved the three letters Tamil people wont forget "MGR". Sathya was very young he was not even 26 years old who is residing in Narayana Maistry Street, Otteri, Chennai. To me Sathya was more than a Devotee, he adheres to MGR's principle, he did not even drink Coffee or Tea because they have caffine - which MGR has said not to drink to his fans. (MGR drinks only Milk) He only watches MGR movies in theatres not another film. He was a very strict MGR Devotee. I felt proud of him. They are eager to make a Web site for MGR.



They also told me that they are against of using MGR film name nowadays and the using MGR as a comedien in some shows which are telecasted in Sun and Vijay TV. I asked them what is wrong of using MGR film name, already some films Nadodi Mannan, Ragasiya Police have released but they failed in the Box Office. Now there is a news of using MGR film name Nam Nadu by Sarathkumar who is also a MGR fan. But they said, we are not against title Nam Nadu we did not like the name Ayirathil Oruvan used again. Because it is a synonym of MGR. I felt right, is there any suggestion MGR Fans? what do you feel?



Yukesh Babu said one thing which gave a tinge of melancholy in the spirited conversation is the death of MGR, he said if MGR death took place now I might not live, I cant think the death of Thalaivar. I also told them whenever I watch in a Cinema Hall the first scene of MGR my eyes becomes watery and ecstatic, I feel relived after seeing MGR.



After 15 minutes of preamble they started to reveal the tip of the Ice Berg giving out the details of MGR related stuff. Which is exhaustive to me. After they left my Office I thought about myself, really I am capable of doing this work. How did they believe I am the right person of doing this task. I don’t know. But I will try do my best, and the spirit of MGR will guide me.

Rajni as MGR

This was shot in a Mobile cam uploaded by sarav20 in www.youtube.com.



This is a clip from the film Sivaji acted by Superstar Rajnikanth, hear the fans joy when they see their Hero Rajnikanth in the costume used by MGR in Rickshawkaran. Rajni fans turns ecstatic on seeing Rajni as MGR. What this means?

They are seeing MGR in him because they are once fan of MGR.

Thanks for Sarav for his consent on adding this clip in my Blog.

To be or not to be God Part II

After getting a Second Hand Camera Mobile I stopped to take some pictures of the Cycle shop that I have mentioned in the earlier blog titled "To be or not to be God".

Please click the link below to read the entire article. And why MGR turned down the offer.

http://mgrroop.blogspot.com/2006/12/to-be-or-not-to-be-god.html



I took some pictures of the shop with the Nokia 6670 mobile. MGR posing as Jesus Christ and a lamp lighted to honour him as their God. Near MGR is the Owner of the shop and on the another side Anna Durai (The founder of D.M.K. Party) The shop is founded by Late Kali and now the shop is looked after by his son… his name you wont believe Karunanidhi.



As I am late to Office I planned to meet the Owner and have some conversations and want to know about his likings on MGR, which I want to post it in my blog as soon as possible.

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban Info

The footage used by MGR in foreign locations came to 80,000 feet. Out of these 10,000 feet were used for back ground scenes. MGR further deleted some 20,000 feet of the footage. But the duration of the film was over 4 ½ hours. He asked Sankar Director as well as Good Editor to trim the movie. After Sankar's work the Foreign footage came to 40,000 feet. that is what we see today in the Ulagam Sutrum Valiban.



And what happened to deleted footage? And what the story will be? And were is the remaining negative. Many film that are released DVD nowadays have included deleted scenes. Some movies are again released as Special Edition have not before seen footages, Alternate ending and deleted scenes. Can MGR fans have a chance to peek the remaining portion? God Only Knows.



MGR has habit of spending lavishly for his own productions. Not to say Ulagam Sutrum Valiban his own production! He spent nearly 4 lakhs for the Water ballad for shooting (only shooting the real water ballad and not the matching shots that he took in Satya Studios with a large Glass Tank)

Catering is another Budget for his movies, his crew has spent Rs.80,000/- in Hilton Hotel, Japan in a day for Ice Creams, remember it was in 1970-71. What could be cost now?




On completion of this movie MGR's home and all his properties were under Mortgage. The success gave the difference. The Budget got high because the negative were sabotaged and to make it up he has to recreate most of the scenes that are shot in Singapore, including the Tiger Balm Gardens, Beach Outdoor etc.

To be continued