MGR can be studied from many perspectives: Fans
TN CM had announced a chair on MGR at the International Institute of Tamil Studies. But is MGR a subject to be studied in universities?
Vivanesh.Parthiban@timesgroup.com 05.08.2019
If you start a discussion on fanbase and craze for actors in Indian cinema, you cannot skip actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MG Ramachandran’s name. Recently, the idea of creating a chair for MGR in Universities to study MGR as a research subject, was approved by the Tamil Nadu government, so that students have some referral work. Rajeshwari, a sexagenarian and an ardent MGR fan, who decided to write 100 books on the eve of MGR’s centenary celebration, has finished writing around 12 books. When we asked her what is there to study about MGR, she said, “There is a lot.”
WHAT CAN ONE LEARN FROM MGR?
Says Saidai Duraisamy, former Chennai Mayor, one among those who proposed the idea of including MGR as a subject in universities, “His title Vathiyar says it all. He is not an actor who acts, but someone who lives as a commoner in his films to teach the fellow folks of the country.” His films like Rickshawkaran and Padagotti, in which MGR plays the roles of rickshaw puller and fisherman, respectively, have made him a part of the lives of people of those communities, mostly downtrodden. Adds Rajeshwari, “You can study MGR from various perspectives — political, social, filmmaking and Tamil literature.” Tamil literature? “Yes,” she argues. And as an example, tells us how the romance scenes between MGR and his actresses in his films are framed according to the grammar of romance mentioned in Tamil Sangam. “Apart from cinema, the reformation program for Tamil alphabets was brought into effect by MGR,” adds Duraisamy.
FOREIGN RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING ON MGR AS A SUBJECT
Marcie Bower, an American, who came to Tamil Nadu in 2003 as a college student as part of the South Indian Term Abroad program, has done some informal research on MGR with the help of Rajeshwari, who was then working in Lady Doak College as a professor in the Tamil Department.
Why MGR addressed his fans ‘Rathathin Rathame’
Marcie’s article compares Arnold Schwarzenegger and MGR entering politics using the fame they gained as actors. In an email, Marcie told us, “The most fascinating thing about MGR and his fans are the intersection of hero-worship and politics, and I am still wondering how one man could leave such a legacy for generations who were not even adults when he was dead.”
FANS OR WORSHIPPERS?
All fans are somewhat crazy, but Kalaivanan took hero worship to the next level when he constructed a temple back in 2011 for MGR in Nathamedu, near Thiruninravur. “MGR is God for us and worshipping him has given health and wealth not only to our family, but to others who visit the temple as well,” Kalaivanan’s daughter, Sangeetha tells us, “Many people observe a one-month fast, from MGR’s death anniversary in December to his birthday in January, and come by foot to the temple.” Rajeshwari reminisces an incident back in the 70s, when poor fans started giving blood for money to see MGR films. This incident had worried MGR himself, who had then instructed his fans not to do such foolish things. After this incident, MGR started addressing the crowd as ‘Rathathin Rathame’, which means blood and kin in Tamil.
ARE PEOPLE STILL FOLLOWING MGR?
Yes, says Kumar, MGR Makkal Mandram member from Madurai. “MGR’s films are still running in theatres and you can see youngsters in their 20s and 30s enjoying his films. What more do you want as an evidence of the man’s fan following?” he asks. Duraisamy opines that MGR teaches us a way of life with his films and songs. He says, “If you follow the lyrics of any one introduction song of MGR in your life, it is more than enough to lead a good and meaningful life.” Kumar says he has never touched alcohol or cigarettes in his life
because true MGR fans would not even dare to. “MGR has only once consumed alcohol in his films, and that too, because he was tricked by the villains to drink in the film Sange Muzhangu.” Kumar’s eyes tear up as he tells us, “MGR will never fade away from memories of fans like us.”
Sathya Murthy, a 35-year-old who would have been but a toddler when MGR died, says he was influenced by his father, who was a MGR veriyan. He now goes every week to the MGR memorial, and cleans the place and distribute sweets to the people there. He does this week after week without fail, to show the respect he has towards the leader.
TN CM had announced a chair on MGR at the International Institute of Tamil Studies. But is MGR a subject to be studied in universities?
Vivanesh.Parthiban@timesgroup.com 05.08.2019
If you start a discussion on fanbase and craze for actors in Indian cinema, you cannot skip actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MG Ramachandran’s name. Recently, the idea of creating a chair for MGR in Universities to study MGR as a research subject, was approved by the Tamil Nadu government, so that students have some referral work. Rajeshwari, a sexagenarian and an ardent MGR fan, who decided to write 100 books on the eve of MGR’s centenary celebration, has finished writing around 12 books. When we asked her what is there to study about MGR, she said, “There is a lot.”
WHAT CAN ONE LEARN FROM MGR?
Says Saidai Duraisamy, former Chennai Mayor, one among those who proposed the idea of including MGR as a subject in universities, “His title Vathiyar says it all. He is not an actor who acts, but someone who lives as a commoner in his films to teach the fellow folks of the country.” His films like Rickshawkaran and Padagotti, in which MGR plays the roles of rickshaw puller and fisherman, respectively, have made him a part of the lives of people of those communities, mostly downtrodden. Adds Rajeshwari, “You can study MGR from various perspectives — political, social, filmmaking and Tamil literature.” Tamil literature? “Yes,” she argues. And as an example, tells us how the romance scenes between MGR and his actresses in his films are framed according to the grammar of romance mentioned in Tamil Sangam. “Apart from cinema, the reformation program for Tamil alphabets was brought into effect by MGR,” adds Duraisamy.
FOREIGN RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING ON MGR AS A SUBJECT
Marcie Bower, an American, who came to Tamil Nadu in 2003 as a college student as part of the South Indian Term Abroad program, has done some informal research on MGR with the help of Rajeshwari, who was then working in Lady Doak College as a professor in the Tamil Department.
MG Ramachandran (above), A temple dedicated to MGR in Nathamedu, built by Kalaivanan
Why MGR addressed his fans ‘Rathathin Rathame’
Marcie’s article compares Arnold Schwarzenegger and MGR entering politics using the fame they gained as actors. In an email, Marcie told us, “The most fascinating thing about MGR and his fans are the intersection of hero-worship and politics, and I am still wondering how one man could leave such a legacy for generations who were not even adults when he was dead.”
FANS OR WORSHIPPERS?
All fans are somewhat crazy, but Kalaivanan took hero worship to the next level when he constructed a temple back in 2011 for MGR in Nathamedu, near Thiruninravur. “MGR is God for us and worshipping him has given health and wealth not only to our family, but to others who visit the temple as well,” Kalaivanan’s daughter, Sangeetha tells us, “Many people observe a one-month fast, from MGR’s death anniversary in December to his birthday in January, and come by foot to the temple.” Rajeshwari reminisces an incident back in the 70s, when poor fans started giving blood for money to see MGR films. This incident had worried MGR himself, who had then instructed his fans not to do such foolish things. After this incident, MGR started addressing the crowd as ‘Rathathin Rathame’, which means blood and kin in Tamil.
ARE PEOPLE STILL FOLLOWING MGR?
Yes, says Kumar, MGR Makkal Mandram member from Madurai. “MGR’s films are still running in theatres and you can see youngsters in their 20s and 30s enjoying his films. What more do you want as an evidence of the man’s fan following?” he asks. Duraisamy opines that MGR teaches us a way of life with his films and songs. He says, “If you follow the lyrics of any one introduction song of MGR in your life, it is more than enough to lead a good and meaningful life.” Kumar says he has never touched alcohol or cigarettes in his life
because true MGR fans would not even dare to. “MGR has only once consumed alcohol in his films, and that too, because he was tricked by the villains to drink in the film Sange Muzhangu.” Kumar’s eyes tear up as he tells us, “MGR will never fade away from memories of fans like us.”
Sathya Murthy, a 35-year-old who would have been but a toddler when MGR died, says he was influenced by his father, who was a MGR veriyan. He now goes every week to the MGR memorial, and cleans the place and distribute sweets to the people there. He does this week after week without fail, to show the respect he has towards the leader.
MGR in one of his films...
MGR’s idol in the temple
Kumar
Saidai Duraisamy
MGR IS GOD FOR US AND WORSHIPPING HIM HAS GIVEN US HEALTH AND WEALTH... PEOPLE OBSERVE A ONE-MONTH FAST, FROM MGR’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY IN DECEMBER TO HIS BIRTHDAY IN JANUARY, AND COME BY FOOT TO THE TEMPLE
— Sangeetha
THE ROMANCE SCENES BETWEEN MGR AND HIS ACTRESSES IN HIS FILMS ARE FRAMED ACCORDING TO THE GRAMMAR OF ROMANCE MENTIONED IN TAMIL SANGAM
– Rajeshwari
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