Sri MGR Year 103rd, 2nd November, Monday
When browsing through the old collection I found out this scan from 1967. A request made by the then Puratchi Nadigar MGR to the electorate before the 1967 Tamil Nadu General Elections.
Published on 17th February 1967 in Samaneedhi, a couple of lines altered the fate and the end of Congress rule in Tamil Nadu forever.
Sri MGR Year 96, 21st May, Tuesday
May 22nd 1973 is the 40th Anniversary of our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s party ADMK won its first election victory in Dindukal.
The election was held on May 20th 1973 just 9 days from the Magnum Opus release of Emgeeyar Pictures Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban. The expectations are very high. This is the day in the History of Tamil Nadu an Actor who was lifted by his caring people of Tamil Nadu to the undisputed position of Chief Minister and Party Leader of all time. MGR who then became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977 till 1987 to his last breath a record unparallel to this day.
Below is the article that already posted in our MGR Blog.
When MGR was ousted from DMK on 10th October 1972, his fans and public were against such an atrocious act. MGR came to understand that the people wishing him to start a party. On 17th October 1972 MGR formed Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in front of Millions.
The party was not even 8 months old when by election for Dindukal Lok Sabha Constituency was announced. MGR was in the field of releasing Emgeeyar Pictures Ulagam Sutrum Valiban. There was hurdles placed before him by the ruling party. The theater owners were threatened some withdrew from the agreement most of them stood on the side of MGR. Ulagam Sutrum Valiban was released on 11.5.1973 and the response was recorded in history.
After the stupendous success news MGR turned his attention to Dindukal Lok Sabha, he announced Mayadevar a lawyer to contest on behalf of ADMK. MGR Fans club members voluntarily entered into election campaign one such member was MGR Devotee S.Vinod, he said that people expectations were that ADMK will surely win the election, but DMK propagated false news, MGR fans did not cared they did their job with 100% dedication and lifted their Leader from an Actor to an undefeated Political Party Leader.
The election was held on 20.5.1973 and the result was announced on 22.5.1973, the seeds of victory sown by the people and the first victory of ADMK and also that this election recognized MGR as one of most important Political Power of Tamil Nadu to reckon with. It is not an easy task for a budding political party and the Party Leader MGR with one hand fighting with his film career and another contesting in this election, 8 month old ADMK against three big parties (Syndicate Congress, DMK and Indira Congress).
The DMK party printed posters before the results that MGR has suffered the defeat. But the result was different the one they imagined.
Poll Date : 20.5.1973
Total Voters : 6,43,704
Votes Polled : 5,05,253
Party Candidate Name Votes received
(ADMK) K.Mayadevar - 2,60,824
(Syndicate Congress) V.C.Sithan - 1,19,032
(DMK) Pon Muthuramalingam - 93,496
(Congress (I) Seemaisamy - 11,423
Seemai Samy of Congress (I), Suryamuthu, Sethrama Devar, Govindasamy, Vadhadesikan lost their deposit. ADMK won the by election by a margin of 1,41,792 votes a record unbeatable by any new party in India. And it has received nearly 52% of the votes polled.
For detailed view click here
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!
