Golden Jubilee MGR Movies

Sri MGR Year 98, 14th August, Friday

Below are some MGR movies that have celebrated Golden jubilee i.e. 50 years of first release and which have been published as a special post in our MGR blog from 2008 to till date.

The first I wrote about the golden jubilee celebration movie is Emgeeyar Pictures Nadodi Mannan. The movie was released on 22.08.1958 all over South India and it became a super hit and also the highest grosser movie of 1958.

Name of the movie : Nadodi Mannan

Date of Release : 22.08.1958

Production : Emgeeyar Pictures

Direction : MGR

Click the above image for the post

The second post published for the Golden jubilee celebration is social oriented first super hit movie Thirudathey, MGR retained his title ‘Vasool Chakaravarthi’ (Emperor of Box Office collection)

Movie Name : Thirudathey

Date of Release : 23.03.1961

Production : ALS Productions

Direction : P.Neelakandan

Click the above image for the post

The third post published in the series is Thai Sollai Thatathey, MGR as a CID, the movie was the second highest grosser of 1961.

Movie Name : Thai Sollai Thatathey

Date of Release : 07.11.1961

Production : Devar Films

Direction : M.A.Thirumugam

Click the above image for the post

The fourth of the series is Devar Films Thaiyaikatha Thanayan, a black and white movie with MGR as a hunter and the highest grosser movie of 1962.

Movie Name : Thaiyai Katha Thanayan

Date of Release : 13.04.1962

Production : Devar Films

Direction : M.A.Thirumugam

Click the above image for the post

Will continue.

A Shrine In Seven Acres

Sri MGR Year 98, 10th August, Monday

Officially two shrines were dedicated to our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR one is in Nathamedu, Thirunindravur near Chennai and another in Taiping, Malaysia. The shrine in Malaysia is constructed in seven acres by MGR Narpani Illam. MGR devotee R.J.Damodaran manages the temple.

Click the above Dinamalar issue to enlarge

Last year Dinamalar had published an article written by K.P.Ramakrishnan’s son R.Govindaraj, titled MGR Temple in Seven acres, issue dated 6th April 2014, Vellore edition. Information regarding construction of the temple, locality and who lighted the lamp for the first day etc.

The four sides of the temple having four images of our God MGR.

A close up view of MGR idol in the temple.

The New York Times

Sri MGR Year 98, 6th August, Thursday

One of MGR devotee S.A.Alagarsamy, couple of days back forwarded one article from the New York Times. The article is titled “The star power of Jayalalitha”, though it is about the aftermath of acquittal of Jayalalitha, two paragraphs were about our beloved Leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR.

The contents about our Thalaivar, is not worthy to be published as I give one example for the reason. We know how MGR smiles in the movie it is a captivating smile for many and bewitching smile for some but the author has written “In the movies, M.G.R. was a swashbuckler: fencing with the dastardly, rescuing the innocent, dancing, romancing, laughing madly”. From this single line we can weigh the article.

But the photos published along with the article are worth for sharing. As some of the images are in high resolution and also rare.

 

An Evening With MGR’s Bodyguard

Sri MGR Year 98, 1st August, Saturday

For the past one week Chennai city is having dual climate like our Puratchi Thalaivar dual action movies. In the morning it is hot and humid in the evening it is breezy and rainy. One of these days I had a chance to visit and meet MGR’s bodyguard K.P.Ramakrishnan. He is now 86 years old still active and healthy.

K.P.Ramakrishnan the bodyguard of our beloved Leader MGR

His son R.Govindaraj took me to his private room, a large portrait of our MGR took half of the space, he introduced me, the very first word K.P.Ramakrishnan sir said is MGR and he blessed me for my work.

Photo taken in his private room behind him is the large portrait, I am standing with him, a proud moment for me and to cherish forever

K.P.Ramakrishnan sir talked about his close association with our Puratchi Thalaivar from the 1950s. He had worked nearly in all his movies as one of the stunt men or a character role or as MGR double when MGR is facing the camera and if the shot is not masked.

He also said that our Puratchi Thalaivar suffered lot of hindrances while touring Tamil Nadu from 1953 to 1977. The five bodyguards looked at our Thalaivar well being. 

 

To the left KPR and his son Govindaraj, to the right KPR and MGR Devotee Venkat

The talk went to movie he told MGR took utmost care while shooting fight scenes. He always double checks the stunt performance before going for the take, sometimes he has to do home work, one such scene is the walking scene in Neerum Nerupum movie.

K.P.Ramakrishnan mentioned one incident in the movie Ninaithathai Mudipavan, involving knee pad, the production assistant had given 150 rupees worth foreign knee pad for MGR and 25 rupees knee pad to Ramakrishnan, before take MGR asked to show the knee pad he is wearing, with little hesitation he showed, MGR became angry and asked them to provide same kind of costly and protective knee pad to Ramakrishnan and then only he will go for the take. The scene had lot of diving and sliding the knee pad is vital for that scene there are also chances that the knee will be injured during such scenes. Ramakrishnan sir eyes glistened when he told this incident, MGR cared so much for co actors.

The famous skating scene from the movie Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban

I asked about Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban climax scene he said MGR planned a very different climax scene having fight in a mirror room, but he changed it to skating sequence. Ramakrishnan sir said he and Asokan daily practised skating, in the movie MGR did 99% of the stunt.

During action scenes involving jumping or falling from a balcony MGR will come up to the balcony for checking and asks the stunt director about the precautionary measures for that stunt. If he feels something will go wrong he will break the shots into two, one before fall from balcony another hitting the floor in this way he reduces the chances of accident.

I thank K.P.Ramakrishnan Sir and his son R.Govindaraj for allowing me to take an interview and publish this in our MGR blog.