# M. G. Ramachandran

_Film actor, chief minister of Tamil Nadu (1917 – 1987)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/m-g-ramachandran
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran, popularly known by his initials M. G. R., was an Indian politician, actor, film director, film producer 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.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 17 January 1917 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kandy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P19))
- **Died:** 24 December 1987 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P570))
- **Place of death:** Chennai ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P20))
- **Citizenship:** India; British Raj ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P27))
- **Occupation:** actor; film actor; politician; film director; screenwriter; film producer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P106))
- **Political party:** All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P102))
- **Education:** University of Madras ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P69))
- **Spouse:** V. N. Janaki ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P26))
- **Positions held:** Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (9 June 1980 – 24 December 1987); Member of the 4th Madras Legislative Assembly; Member of the 5th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; Member of the 6th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; Member of the 7th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; Member of the 8th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P39))
- **Awards:** Filmfare Special Award – South; Bharat Ratna; National Film Award for Best Actor ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868#P166))

## Questions

**When was M. G. Ramachandran born?**  
M. G. Ramachandran was born on 17 January 1917 in Kandy.

**What positions has M. G. Ramachandran held?**  
Positions held by M. G. Ramachandran include: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1980–1987); Member of the 4th Madras Legislative Assembly; Member of the 5th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; Member of the 6th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; Member of the 7th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

**Where did M. G. Ramachandran study?**  
M. G. Ramachandran was educated at University of Madras.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): M. G. Ramachandran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._G._Ramachandran) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): मारुथुर गोपालन रामचन्द्रन](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%A8_%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A8) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q127868](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127868) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: MGR portrait, from 2017 Stamp.jpg by India Post, Government of India (GODL-India)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MGR_portrait,_from_2017_Stamp.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article M. G. Ramachandran, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: MGR portrait, from 2017 Stamp.jpg — India Post, Government of India, GODL-India.

## Cite this page

"M. G. Ramachandran". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/m-g-ramachandran. Retrieved 6 November 2026.