Cinema Today 1991

Sri MGR Year 95, 31st December, Monday

We have been updating about MGR movies re-releases in Chennai and other major cities for the past 6 years. For a change here is the paper cutting from Daily Thanthi Chennai edition dated 17.7.1991 showing Tamil and English movies running in Chennai.

 

  

 

Revolutionary Leader MGR movies are highlighted in red colour.

 

Four MGR movies are running in 5 centres. They are:

1. En Annan (Colour) – Mini Motcham A/C and Star

2. Olivilakku (Colour) – West Mambalam National

3. Vikramadityan (Black and White) – Paragon

4. Pallandu Vazhga (Colour)  - Padmanaba

 

Today atleast one or two MGR movies are running each week, sometimes 3 movies in 3 centres.

 

Of the above mentioned theaters how many have been demolished and changed into shopping mall and residential houses. Some still exist and screens MGR movies.

Inscription Stone

Sri MGR Year 95, 30th December, Sunday

In Tamil Nadu our beloved Leader MGR have inaugrated and laid foundation stones, and I am collecting the images of such inscription stones. Whenever I travel around I used to capture these images.

 

Last Friday with my client I went to Thiruvannamalai, while returning back I saw this Inscription stone that was very old, which MGR presided when he was in DMK party.

 

 

The founder of DMK party Peraringnar Anna statue was opened by the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi and the function was presided by our beloved Revolutionary Leader MGR he was then the Treasurer of DMK party. The statue was opened on 12.10.1969, in the image a MGR banner has been kept for the 25th year remembrance.

 

 

MGR Devotee Tirupur Ravichandran has forwarded the image of Thozhilali movie that is running successfully for the second week in Delite theater.

Remembrance Day

Sri MGR Year 95, 24th December, Monday

Today is our beloved Leader MGR’s 25th Death Anniversary. Below are some images and videos.

 

Most of the streets in Chennai is adorned with MGR photo, garlanded and his philosophical songs occupied the cold December air. This post is the 25th remembrance day that was held in MGR memorial Chennai.

 

 

Below is the video from MGR memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

Above images are the newly constructed facade front and back view of MGR memorial.

 

 

MGR Fans and public paying their homage.

 

 

Video done by MGR Devotee Sailesh Basu.

MGR Documentary II

Sri MGR Year 95, 23rd December, Sunday

MGR’s grandson MGCB Pradeep and Arcot talkies are producing MGR documentary and we have already posted in our Blog. The Documentary title is MGR Vallalin Varalaru. The documentary is going to be released next month.

 

 

Thamizhaga Arasiyal a Tamil magazine has interviewed both MGCB Pradeep and the Director of the Documentary.

 

MGCB Pradeep shares some of his experience with MGR, his advices and MGR’s interest in Cartoon serial especially He- Man and the Masters of the Universe which was aired during 1986-87 in Doordarshan on Sunday morning.

 

  

 

MGCB Pradeep in the second page continues his experience with MGR and his ambition to write an English book about our beloved Revolutionary Leader MGR and why he took up the project of MGR – Vallalin Varalaru followed by the interview of Sangaiah the Director of MGR – Vallalin Varalaru.

Varamalar

Sri MGR Year 95, 23rd December, Sunday

Dinamalar on Sunday’s publishes a booklet known as Varamalar. During MGR’s birthday and remembrance day they publish unique articles. This year they have given two articles about our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR.

 

 

Above image is the cover of this week’s Varamalar.

 

  

 

One article is about MGR meeting a lady and naming the baby and unfortunately the boy urinates on MGR and how MGR behaved.

 

Another article is about MGR’s obsession with Camera and how well MGR utilized in his movies.  Camera enthusiast Sridhar has collected number of images of MGR handling cinema cameras and as well as ordinary cameras and he is exhibiting for public. Interested members can contact him for the exhibition. His mobile number is given in the above image.

Film News II

Sri MGR Year 95, 22nd December, Saturday

This is the continuation to the previous post titled Film News. Due to MGR’s remembrance day many MGR movies were released in Tamil Nadu.

 

MGR Devotee Tirpur Ravichandran has forwarded these messages to share in our MGR Blog.

 

In Trichy Palace Chakravarthy Thirumagal is released this week. In Tirupur Lakshmanan theater Olivilakku and in Dindukal Solai Hall, Emgeeyar Pictures Nadodi Mannan.

 

In Coimbatore, MGR starred two black and white movies were released one movie Thaiku Pin Tharam released in Royal and another black and white movie Thozhilali in Delite.

 

 

The above ad is given in Maalai Malar Coimbatore Edition. The  news was forwarded by MGR Devotee Yukesh Babu.

 

 

The above image is during the opening show of Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban which is released in four centres in Chennai this image is from Mahalakshmi theater.

 

 

MGR Devotee Vellore Ramamoorthy has informed about the release of Olivilakku in Anna Kalai Arangam in Vellore. This image is captured by him.

Film News

Sri MGR Year 95, 21st December, Friday

MGR Remembrance day is nearing and movie distributors are re-releasing MGR movies all over Tamil Nadu. Here are some movies that are going to be re-released this week.

 

Chennai:

Emgeeyar Pictures Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban is released in 4 theaters, Pilot, Mahalakshmi, Krishnaveni, New Broadway.

 

Below are the ads given in yesterday and today’s paper (Daily Thanthi).

 

  

 

Coimbatore:

 

 

MGR Devotee Yukesh Babu has informed me that from today Thaiku Pin Tharam is re-released in Coimbatore Royal theater. A look at the ad and we feel that DMK person is releasing a MGR movie! The ad is from Maalai malar Coimbatore digital edition.

 

In Delite theater Devar Films Thozhilali is re-released this news is forwarded by MGR Devotee Tirupur Ravichandran.

 

Madurai:

In Madurai for remembrance day MGR starring En Annan is re-released in Central theater. This news is forwarded by MGR Devotee Marmayogi Manohar. Other movie news will follow.

Prathapan

Sri MGR Year 95, 19th December, Wednesday

Modern Theaters Prathapan starring MGR is the remake of Sarvathikari in Telugu language. The movie was released subsequently. The speciality of this movie is that MGR rendered the Telugu dialogues with his own voice this is the only film he did, his 60 Telugu dubbed movies dialogues were rendered by some other dubbing artist.

 

The cast include MGR, Anjali Devi, M.Saroja, V.Nagaiah, M.N.Nambiyar, T.P.Muthulakshmi. Music by S.Dakshinamurthy and directed and produced by T.R.Sundaram.

 

  

 

The black and white photo is been coloured and  the facial tone of MGR closely resembles his real colour.

 

Prathapan the Telugu version is released in DVD by UK Golden Movies the price of the DVD is Rs.60. The disc includes Tamil and Telugu movie. You can order the DVD by email ukgoldmovies@gmail.com

 

The Telugu movie print was excellent and Tamil version is good.

 

 

Here is a sample from the film Prathapan with my animation work.

 

 

Your comments can be sent to replytomgr@live.in

Chennai Theaters

Sri MGR Year 95, 16th December, Sunday

Beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR has acted as Hero in 115 films out of 134 (2 movies released after his death which is not included). Given below is the detailed list of MGR films that are released in Chennai theaters from 1947 to 1978.

List of theaters in Alphabetical order:

1. Agasthiya

2. Ashok

3. Abirami

4. Broadway

5. Bharath

6. Bhuvaneswari

7. Brighton

8. Crown

9. Chitra

10.Casino

11. Devi Paradise

12. Devi Kala

13. Gaiety

14. Globe

15. Jayaraj

16. Kamala

17. Krishnaveni

18. Kabali

19. Kamadhenu

20. Lakshmi

21. Liberty

22. Mahalakshmi

23. Midland

24. Maharani

25. Mekala

26. Murugan

27. Maharaja

28. Murali Krishna

29. Noorjahan

30. Natraj

31. Odeon

32. Prabath

33. Pandian

34. Paragon

35. Plaza

36. Palaniappa

37. Pilot

38. Roxy

39. Rajakumari

40. Ram

41. Star

42. Saraswathi

43. Sayani

44. Sagar

45. Srikrishna

46. Sri Murugan

47. Srinivasa

48. Saravana

49. Sapphire

50. Sathyam

51. Santham

52. Thangam

53. Uma

54. Wellington

 

 

MGR’s first movie released in 4 theaters is Jenovah.

 

 

This is ad for the movie Marma Yogi.

 

 

This is one of the very oldest collection I have for MGR movie release, Marutha Naatu Ilavarasi, in the list of actors you can see V.N.Janaki is mentioned above MGR name

 

Below are some of the four theaters released advertisements.

 

 

 

 

The first MGR movie released in five centers in Chennai is Mahadevi and followed by Thayin Madiyil, Olivilakku, Ragasiya Police 115, Neethiku Thalaivanangu and Maduraiyai Meeta Sundarapandian.

 

 

 

To read further:

Click here

Break up details will follow soon.

Renovated MGR Square

Sri MGR Year 95, 11th December, Tuesday

Our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s renovated memorial was inaugurated by Chief Minister Jayalalitha on 9.12.2012. The facade has two pairs of 60 feet pillars, in between the pillars is a giant sized Two Leaves symbol (though appears as two wings) and a golden winged horse, Pegasus (winged divine horse).

 

 

MGR memorial spread across 8.25 acres and been renovated at a cost of Rs.7.70 crores.

 

  

 

The Chief Minister paid her floral tribute to our beloved Revolutionary Leader MGR.

 

 

As per the official release, the open space of MGR memorial had been decorated with Korean grass and ornamental species such as Plumeria, Alpha, Date Palm, Spider Lilly and Adenium. Granite blocks had been laid on the foot path.

 

While constructing they have kept in mind about the physically challenged and included ramps for that benefit. A fountain in the middle of the memorial and beautiful waterfall behind MGR’s resting place.

Unfinished MGR Movies II

Sri MGR Year 95, 5th December, Wednesday

This is the continuation of MGR’s unfinished movies post. This post contains some of the movie details which were planned in 1970s.

 

 

Vellikizhamai film produced by G.Sakunthala (MGR’s pair in Manthiri Kumari)  MGR acted as Muslim, Manjula as the heroine, written by Karunanidhi. The movie had a song shot with MGR and Manjula, the song is Nerungi Nerungi. After MGR was ousted from DMK the film was dropped. Later the same song is used in Netru Indru Nalai, MGR singing with Latha.

 

 

MGR in the role of Jesus Christ, film titled Yesunathar was produced by Thomas pictures who have already produced MGR movie Thalaivan couple of years back. The movie script was written by Karunanidhi (when he was Chief Minister at that time). The movie was planned in colour.

 

The project did not went into shooting, only pooja was done with couple of photos taken for advertisement purpose.

 

 

Samugame Naan Unakae Sontham (the title is perfect for MGR) was another colour movie in 1974 period. The movie had one scene and was dropped due to MGR ousted from DMK where the producer been threatened to halt MGR’s progress in politics.

 

 

Anna Pirantha Nadu produced by MGR’s makeup man Pithambaram and directed by M.Krishnan a colour movie. It was planned during late 1974. MGR was busy with his politics he had less time for this project and he had to prepare for the General Elections.  And the hurdles by the ruling party made sure that the movie was shelved for ever.

 

 

Director Sridhar’s home production Naanum Oru Thozhilali project started in late 1975 and the movie had some scenes with MGR and Latha. The movie did not progress as MGR became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

 

 

Anna Nee En Deivam directed by Sridhar (who at one time was handling three MGR movies Naanum Oru Thozhilali, Meenava Nanban and Anna Nee En Deivam) nearly 20 minutes of the movie was completed with two MGR songs one with Latha, Nee Ninaichathum and another En Maapillaiku.

 

 

MGR and Latha Song from Avasara Police 100 (Anna Nee En Deivam)

uploaded by rvvmgr.

 

 

uploaded by gopalsamy ragavan.

One whole stanza was not shot according to the song book.

 

 

Later the movie was completed with another story starring Baghayaraj, deleting some conversation scenes of MGR with other characters. The movie was released in 1990 titled Avasara Police 100.

 

 

A.P.Nagarajan second venture with MGR titled Annavin Thambigal was planned but unfortunately A.P.Nagarajan died and the project was dropped.

 

 

Nallathai Nadu Ketkum another colour movie which had just 9 minutes of footage and the movie was directed by Camera Man Karnan. Later the movie was released in 1990 by Jeppiar under the same title.

 

 

The above video is  by MGR’s Grandson MGCB Pradeep.

 

Some of the images are from Olikirathu Urimaikural Editor B.S.Raju, MGR Devotee Venkat.