MGR One in One Thousand

Padmini Pictures Ayirathil Oruvan was released in 1965. Jayalalitha as MGR’s heroine. Due to the huge response by the crowd this pair continued to act together for nearly 27 films.

Ayirathil Oruvan was a 100 days film depicting the life of Slaves and atrocities of the Dictator. And how MGR acted as a Doctor liberates his motherland.

This movie was released again two months back in Chennai City. Though the print was not good the cinema halls were crowded.

Pictures below represents the participation of MGR Fans in several Theatres in Chennai city.

The film distributors had erected captivating cut outs and digital banners and spent lavishly in film advertisement, daily big sized ad was placed in Daily Thanthi which I had uploaded in my previous blog.

Images represents the participation of MGR fans in several theatres in Chennai City. Captivating cut outs and Banners are kept by the film distributors.

Not only MGR fans kept various Banners and garlanded them, Actor Sathayaraj has kept a banner to MGR in Kamala Theatre.

Some of the celebrations of Fans when MGR appears in the Song “Yen endra Kelvi”

Note the Fans hands.

Fans rushing to the screen to touch MGR image.

Images courtesy by Ponmanachemmal Sri MGR Bakthargal Trust, Chennai – Yukesh Babu and Sathya.

Two Devotees and a Fan

I contacted a MGR devotee Yukesh Babu and asked him to pass some details of MGR to me. And he obliged to send it through internet. I asked to hand over the details to me personally so that I can see him. Yesterday he came sharply by 4.30 pm. accompanied with him another MGR devotee M.Sathyamoorthy alias Sathya. Yukesh as well as Sathya belonged to “PONMANACHEMMAL SRI MGR BAKTHARKAL KUZHU” this network has reached up to Madurai which is headed by S.Kumar. Who updates them with info of collection in Box office done by MGR movies.

Yukesh Babu is of my age, and he had a Ring engraved the three letters Tamil people wont forget “MGR”. Sathya was very young he was not even 26 years old who is residing in Narayana Maistry Street, Otteri, Chennai. To me Sathya was more than a Devotee, he adheres to MGR’s principle, he did not even drink Coffee or Tea because they have caffine – which MGR has said not to drink to his fans. (MGR drinks only Milk) He only watches MGR movies in theatres not another film. He was a very strict MGR Devotee. I felt proud of him. They are eager to make a Web site for MGR.

They also told me that they are against of using MGR film name nowadays and the using MGR as a comedien in some shows which are telecasted in Sun and Vijay TV. I asked them what is wrong of using MGR film name, already some films Nadodi Mannan, Ragasiya Police have released but they failed in the Box Office. Now there is a news of using MGR film name Nam Nadu by Sarathkumar who is also a MGR fan. But they said, we are not against title Nam Nadu we did not like the name Ayirathil Oruvan used again. Because it is a synonym of MGR. I felt right, is there any suggestion MGR Fans? what do you feel?

Yukesh Babu said one thing which gave a tinge of melancholy in the spirited conversation is the death of MGR, he said if MGR death took place now I might not live, I cant think the death of Thalaivar. I also told them whenever I watch in a Cinema Hall the first scene of MGR my eyes becomes watery and ecstatic, I feel relived after seeing MGR.

After 15 minutes of preamble they started to reveal the tip of the Ice Berg giving out the details of MGR related stuff. Which is exhaustive to me. After they left my Office I thought about myself, really I am capable of doing this work. How did they believe I am the right person of doing this task. I don’t know. But I will try do my best, and the spirit of MGR will guide me.

Rajni as MGR

This was shot in a Mobile cam uploaded by sarav20 in http://www.youtube.com.

This is a clip from the film Sivaji acted by Superstar Rajnikanth, hear the fans joy when they see their Hero Rajnikanth in the costume used by MGR in Rickshawkaran. Rajni fans turns ecstatic on seeing Rajni as MGR. What this means?

They are seeing MGR in him because they are once fan of MGR.

Thanks for Sarav for his consent on adding this clip in my Blog.

To be or not to be God Part II

After getting a Second Hand Camera Mobile I stopped to take some pictures of the Cycle shop that I have mentioned in the earlier blog titled “To be or not to be God”.

Please click the link below to read the entire article. And why MGR turned down the offer.

http://mgrroop.blogspot.com/2006/12/to-be-or-not-to-be-god.html

I took some pictures of the shop with the Nokia 6670 mobile. MGR posing as Jesus Christ and a lamp lighted to honour him as their God. Near MGR is the Owner of the shop and on the another side Anna Durai (The founder of D.M.K. Party) The shop is founded by Late Kali and now the shop is looked after by his son… his name you wont believe Karunanidhi.

As I am late to Office I planned to meet the Owner and have some conversations and want to know about his likings on MGR, which I want to post it in my blog as soon as possible.

Ulagam Sutrum Valiban Info

The footage used by MGR in foreign locations came to 80,000 feet. Out of these 10,000 feet were used for back ground scenes. MGR further deleted some 20,000 feet of the footage. But the duration of the film was over 4 ½ hours. He asked Sankar Director as well as Good Editor to trim the movie. After Sankar’s work the Foreign footage came to 40,000 feet. that is what we see today in the Ulagam Sutrum Valiban.

And what happened to deleted footage? And what the story will be? And were is the remaining negative. Many film that are released DVD nowadays have included deleted scenes. Some movies are again released as Special Edition have not before seen footages, Alternate ending and deleted scenes. Can MGR fans have a chance to peek the remaining portion? God Only Knows.

MGR has habit of spending lavishly for his own productions. Not to say Ulagam Sutrum Valiban his own production! He spent nearly 4 lakhs for the Water ballad for shooting (only shooting the real water ballad and not the matching shots that he took in Satya Studios with a large Glass Tank)

Catering is another Budget for his movies, his crew has spent Rs.80,000/- in Hilton Hotel, Japan in a day for Ice Creams, remember it was in 1970-71. What could be cost now?

On completion of this movie MGR’s home and all his properties were under Mortgage. The success gave the difference. The Budget got high because the negative were sabotaged and to make it up he has to recreate most of the scenes that are shot in Singapore, including the Tiger Balm Gardens, Beach Outdoor etc.

To be continued

Dubbed Movies of MGR

This is a comment from a Journalist, as a Fan of MGR I have to give the details of MGR dubbed movies in Telugu.

iam a telugu person. i don’t know much about thiru MGR. just i watch only 3 r 4 MGR’s movieswhich is dubbed in telugu. i remember 1)kondaveeti donga r kondaveeti simham (exactname i didn’t remember

The Movie list is below:

MGR’s Tamil movies were dubbed into Telugu and were released sometimes subsequently and aggregates to 60 moives.

Within brackets is Tamil movie name.

01. Alibaba (Alibabavum Narpathu thirudarkalum) 1956
02. Sagasa Veerudu (Mathurai Veeran) 1956
03. Rajaputhiri Ragasiyamu (Chakravarthi Thirumagal) 1957
04. Mahadevi (Mahadevi) 1958
05. Veerakatkam (Puthumaipithan) 1958
06. Anaka Anaka Oka Raju (Nadodi Mannan) 1959
07. Baghdad Kaja Thonga (Baghdad Thirudan) 1960
08. Desinghu raju katha (Raja Desingh) 1961
09. Sakthi patinarathu (Arasilangkumari) 1961
10. Jebu Thonga (Thirudathe) 1961
11. Yenaka Veerudu (Mannathi Mannan) 1962
12. Veera puthrudu (Thaiya katha thanaiyan) 1962
13. Baghya vantharalu (Nallavan Vazhuvan) 1962
14. Itharu Kodukalu (Thai sollay thatatha) 1962
15. Rajathi Raju katha (Rajarajan) 1963
16. Athirstavathi (Koduthuvaithaval) 1963
17. Thiyaga murithulu (Madapura) 1963
18. Ananda Jothi (Ananda Jothi) 1964
19. Hantharu Devaru (Dharmam Thalaikakum) 1964
20. Thongalu patina thora (Nithikupin pasam) 1964
21. Thonga Notalu (Panathottam) 1964
22. Indi thonga (Vettaikaran) 1964
23. Mukaramaiulu Muduaithulu (Parisu) 1964
24. Veeramarthanda (Vikaramadityan) 1965
25. Karanahanthakudu (En Kadamai) 1965
26. Katha nayakudu katha (Aiyarathil Oruvan) 1965
27. Kalam mariyenthi (Padagoti) 1966
28. Eavara Sri (Kalangari Vilakam) 1966
29. Thanmay pirpanjaleela (Thaiku thalaimagan) 1967
30. Kalachakaram (Panam Padaithavan) 1967
31. Anthulayani hanthudu (Thaiyin madiyil) 1967
32. Pellandapayam (Chandrodayam) 1967
33. Namatyenday (Nan Aanaittal) 1967
34. Kondibilla (Parakum Pavai) 1967
35. Sabash Ranga (Thanipiravi) 1967
36. Thopidi Thongalu (Mugarasi) 1968
37. Visithira Sogathargalu (Kudieruntha Kovil) 1968
38. Mangalya Vijayam (Thali Baghyam) 1968
39. Srimanthalu (Panakara Kudumbam) 1968
40. Thepagu theppa (Asai Mugam) 1968
41. Driver Mohan (Kavalkaran) 1969
42. Kondaindi Simmam (Adimai Pen) 1969
43. Perma manasulu (Anbae Vaa) 1969
44. Everipappai (Petralthan pillaya) 1970
45. Visithira Vivagam (Kannan en kadalan) 1970
46. Kadachari 115 (Ragasiya Police 115) 1971
47. Secundarabad C.I.D. (Thalaivan) 1971
48. Bandhipotu Bayangar (Puthiya Boomi) 1972
49. Pirana Senkithalu (Nalla Neram) 1972
50. Rikshaw Ramudu (Rikshawkaran) 1972
51. Logam Sutina Veerudu (Ulagam Sutrum Valiban) 1973
52. Kaithi pentini (Kanavan) 1975
53. Manjikosam (Annamitakai) 1975
54. Rangkali Rani (Kumarikottam) 1975
55. Kashmir Pulludu (Idhayaveenai) 1976
56. Perma Dharma (Idhyakani) 1976
57. Vanjraya thonga (Ninaithathai Mudipavan) 1976
58. Ethirleni kathanaykudu (Endru pol endrum vazhga) 1978
59. Dharmathmudu (Nedru Endru Nalai) 1978
60. Andamola sabatham (Neerum Nerupum) 1978

The film Mr.Mani Bushan mentioned is Adimai Pen. Out of these one direct Telugu movie was also released the name is Sarvathikari subsequently with Tamil version.

I have so far viewed only the Sarvathikari Telugu version and one dubbed movie Perma Dharma i.e. Idhyakani.

Locale of Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

Duet Song: Hong Kong

Duet Song: Japan

Is that Mount Fujiyama? Somebody tell.

Dolphin Circus: Japan

Floating Market Scene: Thailand

Enterance of 4th Heroine Mehta

An Ad

This is an ad placed by MGR film distributor in Tamil Daily.

Fights in Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

The First fight scene in Ulagam Sutrum Valiban takes place in a Hotel. This fight is good example for continuity and editing. MGR used tight close up for Manohar whenever he gets hit by MGR. His face swollen looks funny.

Click to view the fight scene between MGR and R.S.Manohar:

The second fight is with Justin in time for saving damsel in distress. The action takes place in make up room. MGR uses wresting technique to out wit Justin.

The Third action scene comes very late nearly hour, not noticeable in the movie. Action scene appearing late in MGR movie is very rare. The fight according to story is between Scientists so less action more comical.

Photo showing MGR in air.

The Fourth action scene is the highlight of the film to me. This kind of fight scene is very rare in Tamil movies. Nambiyar character is not in the story at first later he was included in the script which gave a nice grip to the story. Even though Nambiyar scenes are just 10-15 minutes in the story, but he was to take revenge in the Second part of Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (Kizhaku Aprivakil Raju) His greedy eyes and ferocious gestures resembles a Lion, his prowess and his teeth are still in my memory. His action to get the brief case containing the formula is noteworthy.

A perfect kick: (The entire fight scenes of this movie was shot in 1972-73 at the age of 55 and MGR was ailing from Cataract problem)

In one of the kick shot performed by MGR, after several times of video pausing revealed the rising frame is MGR and kick in the mid air and landing is done by MGR’s stunt double. Who is it?

The climax fight of MGR roller skates shows not only MGR fighting talent but MGR’s Editing and camera technique. The stunt double of MGR is perfect fit. MGR used a transparent black cloth to cover his face which is very useful in close up shots that did not reveal the stunt double. The reality of this fight is that MGR did not skate for one time, YES not even one time – but looks like he did the skating, said by V.Gopalakrishnan who acted as the Doctor.

Updated News

MGR Tamil Blog updated click here: http://allaboutmgr.blogspot.com/2007/06/blog-post.html

MGR movieclips updated with a fight scene click here to view: http://mgrmovieclips.blogspot.com/2007/06/kick-of-mgr.html