Sri MGR Year 94, 21st March, Monday
Times of India today written an article about our Beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s movie re-release history in detailed manner. The same article in Tamil appeared in Nakkeran website. (Information from MGR Devotee K.P.Ramesh, Dubai)
The article and images are given below:
With the city in the grip of poll fever, MGR’s films are raking in the moolah...
Sreedhar Pillai
There is a belief in the Tamil film trade that those who own the rights to “evergreen MGR hits” will always have a perennial source of income.
Says Palanisamy, a veteran Madurai-based distributor, “MGR hits are pure gold. Their value increases every year in Tamil Nadu. No other actor in the world has had so many re-releases, especially when elections are held in the state.”
Palanisamy says that older films of today’s superstars have no resale value in the re-release market. Asks Palanisami, “How many times have you seen a Baasha or Ghilli on television? Some weeks back, both the films were rereleased but the response in theatres was lukewarm as compared to the response to re-releases of MGR’s popular hits of the 60s and 70s. Till very recently, most of MGR’s biggest hits were not shown on television due to problems arising over rights. MGR is an evergreen legend and part of the Dravidian movement.”
During election time, rundown single screens in rural or semi-urban areas screen MGR films. Some political parties are taking advantage of this craze and are providing free sops like towels, saris, dhotis and biryani packets for those who purchase tickets for an MGR film. Last week, the Election Commission cracked down on a theatre which was screening an MGR film (running to a packed house) in Thoothukudi suburbs for distributing free chicken biriyani along with the tickets.
Popular actor and chief of the Nadigar Sangam, Sarath Kumar, says, “First and foremost, I’m a theevira MGR rasigan (ardent fan of MGR). I have seen all his films at least half-a-dozen times since my school days. He is much more than a phenomenon and even today, you can get a houseful show for any of his blockbusters. Which other actor in the world has such recall value and audience response?”
No wonder ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth has styled himself as the ‘Karuppu MGR’ and is cashing in on the MGR charisma.
In all his poll posters, one can also find a picture of MGR along with the actor’s.
There are more cut-outs and posters of old MGR movies than new films in rural areas though nobody knows who has put it up. Last Saturday, a theatre in Chengalpet area showing an MGR film had better collections than an adjoining theatre screening a film which released the previous day.
Today, prints of MGR’s popular hits like Nadodi Mannan, Aayirathil Oruvan, Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, and Enga Veetu Pillai are more in demand among theatre owners in rural Tamil Nadu than any new Tamil film released in 2011!