MGR’s first breakthrough as Hero happened in 1947. He acted as Hero in Rajakumari. Which was highest grosser in 1947.
These are the number one film (Highest grosser) for the respective years. Only one woman dominated movie Avoiyar was the Box Office movie for 1953. Nadodi Mannan was released on 22.8.1958 and the next MGR movie Thai Magaluku Katia Thali was released on 31.12.1959. Longest gap for MGR movie.
On the specified date and specified time MGR devotees of Kalaiventhan MGR Bakthargal and Ponmanachemmal MGR Bakthargal eagerly waited to meet K.P.Ramesh and his brother K.P.Suresh (we fondly call them Dubai party) due to traffic problem they came 20 minutes late for the function.
After formal introduction we started to discuss about each other profession and their aim. Then we shared the MGR experience for 3 ½ hours.
K.P.Ramesh told an idea about uniting various MGR mandrams under one head. A dream I don’t know when that will happen.
The weather was so humid we were constantly sweating and we told this to Dubai party but K.P.Ramesh told that this weather is lot better than Dubai.
B.S.Raj Editor of Urimai Kural gave some insights into MGR film records and rare books. Murali of Kalaiventhan MGR Bakthargal showed us various rare images from MGR movies and as well as from political life. K.P.Ramesh choosed 4 images for his personal record.
We refreshed and found that time was so swift and K.P.Ramesh and his brother has to rush to get on their schedule.
The meeting went on till 3 p.m. When I was writing this post I just looked again at the images and the persons I have met this Sunday. Who are they? What is the relation between us? And Why did I wanted to meet them?
Most of us are from Chennai and around Chennai. K.P.Suresh from U.S., K.P.Ramesh from Dubai we are in unison by the name of MGR. what is the relation? Rathathin Rathamana Udanpirapu (Blood brothers) like MGR mentions in his speech after his accident in 1967. We felt we are one and our Wishes, Dreams, Leader, Mentor, God and whatever under the sky is MGR.
MGR Fan Mr.K.P.Ramesh visited Chennai and we had planned to meet him in MGR Square. The time fixed was 10 a.m. I reached Marina by 9.30 a.m. from distance I found someone cleaning and garlanding the MGR Statue and continued to the tomb. When I reached the Statue I found it was Sathya. Once a week he regularly visits MGR resting place and washes the tomb. This time I was witnessing. After thorough cleaning he placed a garland and prayed. I found that the whole 10 minutes he did not took his hands from the Tomb. His hands was caressing the stone. Before leaving the tomb he prostrated.
I thought what MGR has done to him or his family. None, but one thing is that he cultivated good human qualities that MGR propagated in his movies. How caring he is to MGR. When I see this I realized one thing – “Petral Than Pillaiya” movie name which turned true to its core.
Sathya Movies “Ithayakani” was released on 18th in Natraj. Two type of posters came out with this movie and the print came from Salem. I was late when I reached Natraj theatre. The function was already halfway.
As usual Kalaiventhan MGR bakthargal and Ponmanachemmal MGR Bakthargal has placed placards.
Check enjoyment of MGR Fans.
This is the opening scene of the movie. I paused several times to change the position and cover the fans and as well as the song and dialogues by MGR.
There is no second opinion that MGR knew the pulse of the people, their taste for entertainment. MGR movies gave them what they needed within the boundaries of Tamil culture. MGR was the foremost in Movie World in propagating two political parties through his movies.
The Flag in Emgeeyar Pictures Banner, Red and Black costumes, character names like Maran, Karikalan, Elango, Udaya Suriyan etc. Montage of Rising Sun scenes, Light rays behind him and tattooing the symbol in his chest not only catapulted the party to higher levels but also put his party to the zenith of Power in 1967. From then on in Tamilnadu no other political party except Dravidian party has taken that place. ADMK was formed when MGR was ousted from DMK in October 10th 1972.
After forming ADMK MGR needed the flag and symbol to be projected in the movies. His strategy though simple and different from what he used when he was in DMK. The character name did not changed, nor tattooed the symbol instead MGR used the border colour of the costume was different as in movies like Urimal Kural, Uzhaikum Karangal etc. placed the Election symbol Two Leaves in the Doors (Neethiku Thalai Vanangu) in his stick (Uzhaikum Karangal) oars (Meenava Nanban). Within 5 years he tried every possible chances in projecting the Party Flag and symbol and MGR triumphed.
This song clip is a classic example how MGR knew the pulse of his fans and how to motivate them. The song “Nalai Ulagai Ala Vendum” see the opening words how carefully he has choosen the words. Opting K.J.Yesudas instead of T.M.Soundararajan for this song. I feel that MGR at that time was the Leader of Political party he choosed K.J.Yesudas for his solo and philosophical songs to show the graceness in voice too.
Song Clip
The whole song, little slow has no dance number just everybody working in the field. But in the second stanza of this song “Vidiyum velai vara poguthu Dharmam theerpai tharapoguthu” the tempo of the song increases, the camera shows ADMK flag flying over a tree, the shot was so fast that the scene lasts for a second, but the appearance of party flag in midst of the song and appropriate line provoked enthusiasm for his fans. I experienced it! Watch MGR when he says these words he holds a bent stick a messiah like posture proclaiming that this truly will happen a kind of prophecy saying.
MGR was greatest technician there is no doubt this song is just an example to show his power and how he used the media.
Vijaya Productions most successful movie “Enga Veetu Pillai” was released on 14.1.1965, MGR dual acted movie, one as coward Ramu and another dashing and daring Elango. This movie was also remade to Hindi “Ram aur Shayam” lead artist Dilip Kumar and Telugu N.T.Ramarao taking up the bow done by MGR in Tamil.
Mallai Kallan also remade to Telugu and Hindi and other languages but the Producer & Director Sriramulu told that the acting prowess of MGR is not matched by other actors. When I recently saw the Hindi remade of Enga Veetu Pillai, what he said was right not only Mallai Kallan but also Enga Veetu Pillai.
Enga Veetu Pillai movie theme is still used in movies, and also male character is changed to female character one is “Vani Rani” were Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji also acted as a pair to Vanisree.
This one movie Enga Veetu Pillai holds the record for most number of theatres for Silver Jubilee run. The number is MGR’s lucky number 7. The record was unbroken till 1977.
Below is the Box Office Collection of 13 theatres of the movie Enga Veetu Pillai.
Chennai:
Casino- Rs.5,33,275.93 (211 days)
Broadway - Rs.4,29,119.29 (176 days)
Mekala - Rs.3,61,293,95 (176 days)
Pallavaram Janata – Rs.1,27,783.50 (107 days)
Madurai:
Central - Rs.3,85,108.34 (176 days)
Coimbatore:
Royal - Rs.3,76,0005.35 (190 days)
Salem:
Santhi - Rs.2,25,817.15 (113 days)
Nellai:
Lakshmi - Rs.1,61,089.13 (149 days)
Thanjavur:
Yagappa – Rs.1,51,099.72 (176 days)
Trichy:
Jupiter – Rs.3,36,401.50 (236 days)
Vellore:
Taj – Rs.1,20,629.60 (100 days)
Dindugal:
NVGB – Rs.1,00,726.40 (106 days)
Virudunagar:
Radha – Rs.75,186.01 (106 days)
Below 100 days theatres collection data are not available to me. I thank Sathya and S.Kumar who forwarded the collection data within a day. Images provided by Ithayakani Vijayan and B.S.Raj of Urimai Kural.
This is from the interview of Amitabh Bachchan to Times of India. It was published in Chennai Times on April 27th 2008. His fans fondly call him Big B. One of the Box Office Emperor in Hindi movies.
One of the fight scene involved in the movie “Coolie” Amitabh Bachchan has to fight with Puneet Issar (the one who acted as Duryodhan in Mahabaratha TV serial) during shooting a table got stabbed in his stomach area but Bachchan did not worried about that but later it became complicated and he was in near to death, all these happened in 1982. He survived and came back to acting within few months.
Amitabh Bachchan remembered it in that interview this is what he said to Rinku Gupta.
“I have worked with a lot of production houses like Gemini, AVM and others. The Southern Actors like MGR, Sivaji, Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalitha and others always treated me with great respect and love. I was very humbled when MGR undertook a difficult penance in a temple for my good health, when I had a major accident in 1982. He was a great personality.”
Chief Minister MGR, Ambitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi in Filmfare award function in 1978.
MGR movies such as “Malai Kallan” and “Enga Veetu Pillai” were remade to Hindi. But MGR has acted only one movie in Hindi “Ek Tha Raja” and Amitabh’s one movie remade to Tamil and MGR acted in it the name is “Sirithu Vazha Vendum” (Janjeer).
There is myth about the success of Oli Vilakku movie stated to be the 100th movie of MGR, here is the proof.
Below is the Newspaper ad about the completion of 100 days in theatres such as Maduari Meenatchi, Trichy – Raja, Kumbakonam (Kudanthai) – Vijayalakshmi.
So what about Capital city Madras (Chennai) below is the paper cut of 14th week completion in Broadway. Comes to 98 days. What happened to the last 2 days, why the movie was lifted?
Below is another paper cut showing the crowd on the 105th successful houseful shows in Madurai Meenatchi.
Neethiku Thalaivanangu is another such movie which was said unsuccessful. MGR acted as an College student having passion for fast driving without his knowledge he knocks down 2nd heroes brother and how MGR becomes the family guardian of the deceased is the rest of the story.
Below is the paper cutting from Thennagam dated 15.4.1976, the movie was released on 18.3.1976 in 5 centers in Madras they are
(1) Devikala (2) Maharani (3) Uma (4) Krishnaveni (5) Odeon
This is the Box Office Collection Record for 28 days.
3,10,940 people watched this movie and
Box Office collection is 6,51,325.50 this is only for Madras city for 28 days.
Devikala – 106 days – 2,88,905.55
Maharani – 100 days – 4,24,794.50
Uma – 77 days – 2,68,749.35
Krishnaveni – 70 days – NA
Odeon – 36 days – NA
In 1993 Ayirathil Oruvan was re-released in two theatres in Srilanka, the movie reached 52 days records unparallel for re-released the two theatres are Themattakodai – Samantha and Nuvaraliya – Fairland.
Records provided by B.S.Raj, Editor, Urimaikural, S.Kumar, Madurai, Sathya and Ma.Ki.Venkat for the Box Office collection records.
