MAKKAL THILAGAM MGR !!!

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Originally Posted by Cod

Here is a million dollar question. Who gave more hits - MGR or Sivaji?

Until last midnight, I was in the impression that MGR gave more hits than Sivaji. And that's why he became CM.

But now I am not so sure anymore.

MGR made his debut in 1936 but was struggling for survival until Independence. Sivaji made his debut in 1952 and his takeoff was instant!

By the end of the 1950s, Sivaji was already seen as equal of MGR even though he is a junior to him, strictly speaking.

It was in the 1960s that MGR probably narrowed the gap with Sivaji giving as many hits or even more.

In the 1970s, MGR cult was born and he took a decisive lead over Sivaji.

MGR's last film as a hero released in 1977.

Sivaji's last film as a hero was probably Mudhal Mariyadhai (1985). So he must have given statistically more hits than MGR in his film career overall.

Am I correct?

:P

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You are absolutely correct.

What is the secret of MGR's physique?

I was watching Naan Yaen Pirandhen (1972). He was 55 then. But he looks like 35!

:shock:

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Originally Posted by Cod

What is the secret of MGR's physique?

I was watching Naan Yaen Pirandhen (1972). He was 55 then. But he looks like 35!

:shock:

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Did you watch Sumathi En Sundhari (1971)..?. Sivaji was 45 then. But looks like 25..!! :D

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Originally Posted by Cod

If the above hypothesis is true, then it raises a new more baffling question.

Box office success does not necessarily translate into political power. That probably explains Rajini fiasco and Vijaykanth ambitions!

Oh my god!

:P

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True....Box office hits does not necessarily translate ....

but just analyse the kind of roles MGR had played and Shivaji had played....

Most of the MGR movies will be portraying MGR as a champion of the poor, as someone who is living only for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden.... this kind of image ...MGR had built up over a period of time... Lets take some movies to study about MGR :

1. Padagooteee - This movie is all about what problems and issues that fishermen community face in their day to day and how a person with geniuine intentions can bring them together so that the whole society is benefitted
2. Vivasayee - About the poor vivasayee ( not the agriculturist who owns the land )
3. Aayirathil oruvan - An ordinary man revolting against anarchy in a small kingdom ..in the process gets imprisoned and deported to another country....how he manges to capture the hearts of all the slaves and prisoners and gives freedom to them all....
4. Netru indru naalai - One MGR will be a scavenger forming part of a down trodden society and will make all efforts to uplift .........

Above all...the kind of power packed songs ....punch dialogues that he gave were instrumental in his steady rise to political stardom....

These are just few examples of how MGR steadily and consitently marketed and positioned himself to be the champion of the masses....and this might have convinced the innocent , ignorant , uneducated village people......
and finally this got translated into votes......and ultimately MGR could win the elections..... with thumping victories.....
but lets not forget that DMK always used to win the city and the metro assembly seats....while MGR used to comfortably win the rural seats........
Again ....despite the charisma and the mass appeal...without the support of COngress , MGR still could have won the elections but the margin of victory would have been tiny ......as the vote share MGR had was around 33 % I think.... ( which I think JJ is holding to now also ).....

Whereas SHivaji never projected himself in the manner MGR did....he was more focussed on the roles....and various characters.....
The sad thing was when SHivaji's party ( Thamizaga munnetra munnani ) participated in the elections they could not get their deposit back in most of the constituencies ( may be none )...Shivaji stood in Thiruvaiyaru constituency....and got defeated by an unknown guy........
SHivaji lost heavily financially.....basically he was an emotional character.....did not apply his mind ....on his strengths and weaknesses...rather he didnt do a Strength , weakness, opportunity and threat analysis ....and burnt his fingers.....

Another basic difference in the style of the 2 giants was ....

For a poor ....ordinary village guy....after slogging the whole day in the work spot will look for some entertainment and relief......which he got from Makkal thilagam movies....
while Nadigar thilagam movies...you will have to go with hand kerchief......

Adimai Pen (1969) was a bizarre outlandish film of sorts.

All the characters in this film wear Byzantine/Roman costumes!

But it had a terrific climax where MGR challenges a lion with bare hands!

I heard that this lion has been mummified after death and stocked in his memorial.

:P

africaavil raaju? raamu?
yesunathar
MGR gave up with the intent , anyone knws anything..maybe balaji ..bayarea
i saw MGR pics With blond hair and splendid physique like jesus

yeah.. i remember seeing clipping in tv with mgr and blond hair to play jesus

he really did look presentable.

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Originally Posted by tfmlover

africaavil raaju? raamu?
yesunathar
MGR gave up with the intent , anyone knws anything..maybe balaji ..bayarea
i saw MGR pics With blond hair and splendid physique like jesus

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I have seen those pics too....But I donno either which movie they come from !!

m.g. ramachandran

http://www.upperstall.com/people/mgr.html

The height of emotional response that 'MGR' could evoke was evident when in 1987 during a critical illness, 22 people committed suicide in the hope their deaths would save him! Stories of poor people selling their blood in order to get money to see his films on first release are legendary!

Born Marudur Gopalamenon Ramachandran in Kandy, Sri Lanka, his family moved to Tamil Nadu where they lived in poverty. When he was 6, he joined a theatre group - the Madurai Original Boys. Here he picked up acting, dancing and swordplay.

MGR made his screen debut in Ellis R. Duncan's Sati Leelavathi (1936) but his first major breakthrough came much, much later with Rajakumari (1947).

MGR's 1950s screen persona in adventure films constructed an image of political as well as physical invincibility. Often the themes of his films were derived from heroic ballads which are part of the oral tradition of rural Tamil Nadu. For example - Madurai Veeran (1956), one of his most popular films, is based on the legend of Madurai Veeran, a popular deity of Southern Tamil Nadu. His legend has been the subject of various ballads and plays and this was the second filmed version of the story.

In the 1960s MGR turned to more 'realistic' fantasies mostly in a contemporary setting often playing someone from the oppressed class - a peasant, taxi driver or fisherman. For millions of fans, his image as the knight in shining armour, saving damsels in distress and being totally dutiful towards his mother was in fact a reality. Mother tongue, motherland and motherhood were what he based his popularity on. To quote M.S.S. Pandian in The Image Trap: M.G. Ramachandran in Film and Politics...

"The social universe of the MGR is a universe of asymmetrical power.......The conflict between the upper caste/ class oppressors and MGR as a subaltern, and its resolution forms the core of the film. MGR, in the course of the conflict, appropriates several signs or symbols of authority or power from those who dominate."

MGR used food, colour patterns (black and red, symbols of the DMK) and masquerades (often through double roles of oppressor and oppressed) to construct this universe. In Engal Thangam (1970) for example, MGR playing a truck driver Thangam, fights, sings, cares for the poor and preaches against smoking and drinking. The DMK colours - black and red are frequently featured in the clothes he wears. He even appears as himself in the opening scene at a Small Savings Function. Thangam is in the audience and even refers to him as 'vathiyar' (teacher), the reverent title by which he was known to his fans!

MGR had joined the DMK party in 1953 and remained its member till 1972. This included a brief stint in the Madras Legislative Council from 1962 - 64, being a member of the Legislative Assembly (1967) when the party won the state elections and the DMK Treasurer (1970).

He fell out with the DMK chief Karunanidhi and used the DMK's propaganda idiom against the DMK itself in Nam Naadu (1969). In 1972 he set up the rival Anna - DMK party claiming allegiance to the DMK's founder, the late Annadurai.

In 1977, his party renamed the AIADMK won the state elections in alliance with Indira Gandhi's Congress party. MGR became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and was re-elected for three consecutive terms. As Chief Minister, he organized a totalitarian crackdown on all political dissent while introducing populist schemes such as the Chief Minister's Nutritious Meal Programme.

Having survived a bullet wound when he was shot at by fellow actor M.R. Radha in 1967 (which affected his speech), he achieved demi-god status following a paralytic stroke in 1984 which he survived for three years thus acquiring the label 'thrice born'. When he died in 1987, his funeral procession was attended by over 2 million people!

A temple has been built in Madras with MGR as deity.

Memorable Films

Rajakumari (1947)
Marmayogi (1951)
Andaman Kaithi (1952)
Malaikallan (1954)
Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1955)
Madurai Veeran (1956)
Chakravarthi Thirumagal (1957)
Nadodi Mannan (1958)
Arasilankumari (1961)
Periya Idathu Penn (1963)
Ayirathil Oruvan (1965)
Thaikku Thalaimagan (1967)
Kanavan (1968)
Pudhiya Bhoomi (1968)
Mattukkara Velan (1969)
Nam Naadu (1969)
Engal Thangam (1970)
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973)

thanks bay area ..link good too