M. G. Ramachandran

Born

January 17, 1917

Died

December 24, 1987 (aged 70)

Known as

actor, film actor, politician, film director, screenwriter, film producer

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran, popularly known by his initials M. G. R., was an Indian politician, actor, environmentalist and philanthropist who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987. He was the founder and first general secretary of the political party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). He is regarded as one of the most influential politicians of post-independent India, and was known by the epithets Makkal Thilagam and Puratchi Thalaivar. In March 1988, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

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