Muthuvel Karunanidhi, a towering figure in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, left an enduring legacy extending beyond politics to the realm of Tamil cinema. His contributions to both fields are celebrated even today.

Biography/Wiki

Born on June 3, 1924, in Thirukuvalai, Madras Presidency, British India, Karunanidhi displayed an early passion for art, drama, poetry, and literature. Inspired by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, he joined the Anti-Hindi Agitation at 14 (1937), marking his entry into the political arena. By 20, he was a scriptwriter for Jupiter Pictures, forging a friendship with C.N. Annadurai, the founder of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).

His screenwriting career faced censorship challenges; two of his plays were banned in the 1950s. His socially and historically conscious scripts, reflecting socialistic and rationalistic Dravidian ideals, propelled his rise in politics. He founded the Tamil Nadu Tamil Manavar Mandram, the Dravidian Movement’s first student wing, and launched the school newspaper ‘Murasoli,’ which evolved into the DMK’s official newspaper. His intellect and oratory skills rapidly elevated him to prominence within Tamil politics.

Family

Karunanidhi was the only son of Muthuvelu and Anju, with two sisters, Shanmugasundarath Ammal and Periyanayagam. He had three wives. His first wife, Padmavathi Ammal (married early 1940s), bore him a son, M. K. Muthu.

His second wife, Dayalu Ammal (married 1948), gave birth to sons M. K. Alagiri (politician), M.K Stalin (politician), M. K. Tamilarasu (producer), and a daughter, Selvi Geetha Kovilam.

His third wife, Rajathi Ammal (married late 1960s), had a daughter, Kanimozhi (politician).

Career

Karunanidhi began his career as a screenwriter in 1947 with Rajakumaari, achieving a breakthrough with Parasakthi in 1952. At 33, he entered Tamil Nadu’s assembly, winning the Kulithalai seat in the 1957 election. He became the Leader of the Opposition in 1962 and served as the Minister for Public Works after the DMK’s 1967 victory. Following C. N. Annadurai’s death in 1969, he became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time.

Elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly 13 times (1957-2016) and once to the Legislative Council, he served as Chief Minister five times and led his party for approximately 50 years. Jayalalithaa was his main political rival, defeating him in several elections.

Remarkably, even as Chief Minister, he continued screenwriting, with Ponnar Shankar (2011) being his final script.

Controversies

Karunanidhi faced accusations, including involvement in corruption related to the Veeranam project (Sarkaria Commission), leading to his government’s dismissal by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He and former Chief Secretary K.A. Nambiar were arrested in 2001 on corruption charges related to Chennai flyover construction, though lacking conclusive evidence.

Controversial remarks on Lord Rama and Ram Sethu sparked widespread outrage. Accusations of links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and nepotism within the party also surfaced.

Net Worth/Assets/House

In 2014, his reported movable assets totaled ?5 crore, with an estimated net worth exceeding ?45 crore.

Favourite Things

Karunanidhi’s interests included sports and films. His favorite cricketers were Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, and M.S. Dhoni; his favorite actor was M. G. Ramachandran.

Death

Karunanidhi passed away on August 7, 2018, at age 94, due to a chronic illness (urinary tract infection) at Kauvery Hospital, Chennai. He was buried on August 8, 2018, at Marina Beach, Chennai.

Awards/Achievements

His accolades include honorary doctorates from Annamalai University (1971) and Madurai Kamaraj University, the Raja Rajan Award from Tamil University, and the title of “Friend of the Muslim Community” from the Tamil Nadu Muslim Makkal Katchi (June 2007).

Facts

Here are some key facts about Karunanidhi’s life:

• Born into poverty, his family relied on temple income.
• Developed a passion for drama, literature, and poetry in school.
• Inspired by Alagiriswamy at age 14 to pursue politics.
• Failed 10th standard and worked in Coimbatore writing scripts.
• Became a screenwriter at age 20.
• Served as editor for Dravidar Kazhagam party magazine.
• Suffered an eye injury in the late 1960s.
• Succeeded Annadurai as Chief Minister in 1969 with MGR’s support.
• Met Muhammad Ali in 1980.
• Built a 133-foot Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari.
• Wrote for American director Ellis Roderick Dungan.
• Became Tamil Nadu’s oldest-serving Chief Minister in 2006.
• Nicknamed “Kalaignar” for his artistic and literary inclinations.
• Never lost an election in his 61-year political career.
• Was a dog lover, owning a Lhasa Apso named Khanna.
• Wrote the theme song for the 2010 World Classical Tamil Conference.
• His death caused a large gathering, resulting in a stampede.
• A stadium stand was named after him in 2023.

Notable Films’ Screenplays by M. Karunanidhi