48th International Film Festival

Sri MGR Year 100, 18th November, Saturday

The 48th International Film festival  of India is going to held in Goa this year. The International Film Festival of India with patronage by the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and Films Division organised first festival in 1952. Now around 100 countries have submitted their films for the festival.

Divya Films Chockalingam who have digitized Padmini Pictures and our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar starrer MGR movie Ayirathil Oruvan has been selected to be screened on the occasion, the Government of India invited him to be a special invitee and as a special invitee Mr.Chockalingam has to attend and screen the digitized version and block buster movie Ayirathil Oruvan in IFFI.

Below you can find the images of the letter and invitation from the concerned authorities. The images are shared by Divya Films Chockalingam sir. We thank him for allowing us to use the images in our MGR blog.

His correspondence with me:

20-11-17 அன்று கோவாவில் தொடங்க உள்ள (International Film Festival of India)  48வது உலக திரைப்பட விழாவில் புரட்சி தலைவரும் புரட்சி தலைவியும் நடித்த "ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவன்"திரைப்படம் பங்குபெற தேர்வாகியுள்ளது.

அதனை Digitalல் வடிவமைத்தவன் என்ற முறையில் எனக்கு விமான டிக்கட், மற்றும் நட்சத்திர அந்தஸ்த்து விடுதியில் உபசரிப்பு  போன்றவைகளுடன் விழாவில் கலந்து கொள்ள சிறப்பு அழைப்பாளராக மத்திய அரசு அழைப்பு  அனுப்பியுள்ளது, எங்கள்  முயற்சிக்கு கிடைத்த மாமரியாதை என பூரிப்படைகிறேன்.

   இதனை எற்பாடு    செய்த IFFI, NFDC Govt of India, மற்றும் SIFCC அனைவர்க்கும் எனது பணிவான நன்றியினை தெறிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன். மற்றும் 1965ல் ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவன் -ஐ படைத்த இயக்குனர் B.R. பந்துலு ஐயா அவர்களுக்கு இது எமது சமர்ப்பணம் .

We srimgr.com team wish him all success.

Netru Indru Nalai

Sri MGR Year 100, 7th August, Monday

Amalraj Pictures hit movie of 1974 Netru Indru Nalai is re-released this week in Mahalakshmi theatre. I took couple of pictures outside the hall. I like to share one which is posted below.

Apart from our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR's double action roles the movie has many political dialogues and mesmerizing songs. In one song "Thambi Naan" MGR's political party's first electoral victory was recorded. Posted below is the MGR's philosophical song hinting on DMK's political atrocities of 70s.

"மக்கள் நலம் மக்கள் நலம் என்றே சொல்லுவார்

தம் மக்கள் நலம் ஒன்றேதான் மனதில் கொள்ளுவார்

வீடுகெல்லாம் வெளிச்சம் போட கொடுத்த பணத்திலே

தாங்கள் வெளிச்சம் போட்டு வாழ்ந்து விட்டார் நகர சபையிலே

ஏழைக்கெல்லாம் வீடு என்று திட்டம் தீட்டினார்

தாங்கள் வாழ்வதற்கு ஊர் பணத்தில் வீடு கட்டினார்"

Video from youtube.

Sister in Law 2

The most loved pair of MGR Fans is none other than Jayalalitha (now lovingly called by her Party members as "Amma") She first acted with him in the movie named "Ayirathil Oruvan" (One in One thousand) due to the success the pair continued from 1965 to 1973. Aggregating to 28 out of this in "Arasa Kattalai" (Kings Order) both Saroja Devi and Jayalalitha acted together. In the climax Saroja Devi dies and MGR marries Jayalalitha. But the real climax was MGR saves Saroja Devi and Jayalalitha chooses to be a Nun (Why they changed the climax?)

Jayalalitha was given prominent character which is equal to the Hero role. Domination of Jayalalitha in MGR movie is high when compared to other Heroines. She got individuals songs to show her talent in dancing, her dress sense and style. She was given a bigger role of teaching MGR all kind of martial arts in "Adimai Penn" (Slave Girl – for further reference click this http://mgrroop.blogspot.com/2006/03/story-of-adimai-pen.html) which MGR fan can't digest, but the fans were convinced in the film. In most of MGR-Jayalalitha starrer films in a song or in a dialogue, she mentions that MGR is born for her, which is notable.

After 1972 when MGR expelled from DMK, the pair also parted, the last movie they acted "Pattikattu Ponnaiah" she has the merit of acting with MGR in his 100th film and 2 Silver Jubilee films Oli Vilakku and Adimai Penn. Though she was cast as First Heroine in "Ulagam Sutrum Valiban" (World Trotting Youth) that role was given to Actress Manjula later.

In 1972 there were gossip columns in Newspapers that MGR married her in Nepal, but was turned as a rumour.

After MGR became Chief Minister for the second time he gave Jayalalitha a post in his party. There she gained importance and after his death she became the party Leader overcoming some difficulty.

The first MGR tomb was erected in Karunanidhi's period designed like an umbrella but it looked like a mushroom in directly meaning MGR not worthy. When Jayalalitha came to Power in 1991 she reconstructed the Tomb in the form of Lotus and paid respect to her Mentor and Guide.

The first tomb was constructed by a contractor named B.L.Srinivasan and he is the same contractor who again given Tender to demolish the Tomb. How I know it? Because I worked as Typist in the Public Works Department, the work was carried out by Buildings Sub Division I of Buildings Division II. I also had the chance to talk with the Contractor he was a nice gentleman.

SISTER IN LAW

MGR acted in 134 films (2 films after his death) and he co stared with many actress but MGR fans most loved pairs are Saroja Devi, Jayalalitha and Lath. MGR Fans admire these 3 actresses, so much and they call them lovingly as Sister-in-laws.

Saroja Devi was called Elder Sister-in-law (Periya Anni) MGR first paired with Saroja Devi in the movie "Thirudathae" (Don’t Steal) as she was a new face to Tamil movie. Her mother tongue is Kannada. She was also called as "Abinaya Saraswathi" and "Kannada Paingkili". The shooting of "Thirudathae" was postponed and eventfully MGR's block buster movie "Nadodi Mannan" (Wander and King) released. That gave her immediate Stardom status.


This pair continued for a decade until Saroja Devi got married with Mr.Harsha. MGR and Saroja Devi acted as Hero and Heroine in 26 films and out of these "Nadodi Mannan" and "Enga Veetu Pillai" were Silver Jubilee films. One flop film (only flop film for MGR) "Pasam" (Love)

When MGR was shot in January 12th 1967 by his fellow actor M.R.Radha, some of his films were dropped, some films were rechristened and some of the film heroines were changed one of these was "Ragasiya Police 115", earlier Saroja Devi was in the role of Heroine but after the accident Jayalalitha donned the role.


One peculiar thing is that all of MGR most loved pairs showed their skin to the camera but not Saroja Devi, her character as well as the costumes is immaculate, that gave her homely appearance.

Whenever she was interviewed she says her God is MGR and she has two sad incidents in her life that were the death of her Husband and death of MGR. She never forgets MGR.

False Prophecy of an Editor

A Comedy of 1977.

Those who know Tamil please click this link.
http://allaboutmgr.blogspot.com/2007/02/blog-post.html

How fast (H) is fast

Sorry for the inconvenience.

The Post I have published here is been published as a Book. Publication date of the book will be conveyed soon.

Thanks for visiting my site.

Michael Jackson Sings for MGR

Although I posted a remix of "Beat It" earlier, this video is more apt. Just CVP – Click, View, Post - Enjoy and post your comment.

Photos II

This is the Photo I have mentioned in my earlier blog (The Pendant and Bracelet)
For further reference for MGR click this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._G._Ramachandran

STALWARTS OF SOUTH INDIAN CINEMA

From 1950's to 1980's Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film world was ruled by five members. For Telugu it is N.T.R. (N.T.Ramarao) and Nageswara Rao, in Kannada it was by Rajkumar (Dr.Rajkumar for Kannadiga) and for Tamil M.G.R. and Sivaji.

Despite the fact that India is divided into language based states, Tamil people live in large not only Tamilnadu but in other States also. There was always Kaveri River dispute between the States of Tamilnadu and Karnataka but the people of Karnataka (Kannadiga) love MGR films. Even now MGR films released in Bangalore runs with packed houses.

MGR showered love to all his fellow actors, here are two pictures showing his respect and love to N.T.R. and Rajkumar. N.T.Ramarao has mentioned that his Brother (MGR) is his mentor for his political activity.

After 1972, MGR movies were shot in studios and locations mostly in Mysore and Bangalore.

Lord Murugan

Lord Murugan
Chinnappa Devar, Producer as well as Close Friend of MGR requested to don the role as Murugan (Tamil God) for a song to satisfy his wish, MGR put on the costume (it is rarity though he was in the Dravidian Movement opposed to superstitious beliefs and presence of God – Only Hindu God!) But MGR satisfied his Friends wish.

Secret of Success

Sorry for the inconvenience.

The Post I have published here is been published as a Book. Publication date of the book will be conveyed soon.

Thanks for visiting my site.

Celebrations

Today 17.1.2007 is MGR's 90th Birthday. As I expected every T.V. Channels in Tamil Nadu broadcasted MGR acted movies and shows. For the MGR fans they followed there protocol by putting a temporary shed and placing MGR photo and garlanding.

From my home to Office is 4.5 kilometers, I have to travel by main road, on my way o counted, there were 7 such temporary sheds broadcasting MGR songs. MGR Idols washed and garlanded. The cycle shop I mentioned in the earlier blog saw a facelift.

But I was astonished when MGR's opposing parties the D.M.K and the newly formed Vijayakanth party celebrating MGR's birthday. (Maybe to set eye on MGR Vote bank, beware "Amma")

Raj T.V. and Jaya T.V. remembered MGR well and I watched some scenes from MGR movie, there were SMS messages sent to MGR's birthday scrolling in the bottom of that some catchy ones –

"MGR is great Actor"
"MGR – is great"
"I Love MGR"
"MGR=MGR"
"MGR is my Lord"
"MGR - beloved God of my family"
"Long live MGR fame"

Different Back Ground Music

In most of MGR colour movies, he used to wear Red costumes or red hue in the background for Fight scenes. In "Ulagam Sutrum Valiban" (World Trotting Youth) I remixed Michael Jackson song "Beat It" for the action scene.

Buddha Temple

This is the Set used by MGR in Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (World Trotting Youth) a rare photo, published in "The Hindu" dated 5.11.1993