M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (1 March 1910 – 1 November 1959), also called M.K.T., was an Indian actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful actors in Tamil cinema ever and the first super star of Tamil cinema.
Bhagavathar was born in the town of Mayiladuthurai in then Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency, British India. He started his career as a classical singer and stage artist in the late 1920s. In 1934, he made his début in films with the movie Pavalakkodi which turned out to be a hit. From 1934 to 1959, Bhagavathar acted in 14 films of whom 7 were box-office hits. Bhagavathar's 1944 film Haridas ran for three consecutive years at Broadway Theatre, Madras and created the record for the longest continuous run at a single theatre. Bhagavathar was arrested in 1944 as one of the main suspects in the Lakshmikanthan Murder Case and spent three years in prison before being released in 1947after a privy council verdict came in his favour. Bhagavathar's career declined after his arrest and though he did continue to act in Tamil films after his release from prison, none of them did well. Bhagavathar died of diabetes at the age of 49 on 1 November 1959.
Bhagavathar was acclaimed for his powerful, melodious voice and the ease with which he could sing high pitch notes. Critics and film historians acknowledge Bhagavathar as the "first superstar of Tamil cinema".
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 3.093 |
Birthday | 1910-03-01 |
Place of Birth | Mayiladuthurai, Tanjore district, Madras Presidency |
Also Known As | M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M. K. T., M.K.T., Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, மாயவரம் கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி தியாகராஜ பாகவதர், |
1960
Sivagami
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Sivagami is a Tamil language film released in 1960. It is the last film in which M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar acted. The film was produced by M. A. V...
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Sivagami
1957
Puthu Vazhvu
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Vaikuntam is a lad who lives in a village. He is a good singer and in love with a lass Nagammal. But Nagammal's brother is against their love. One day...
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Puthu Vazhvu
1952
Shyamala
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Some producers from Andhra wanted to produce a tamil film featuring MKT. They produced Syamala in 1953 with MKT in the lead role. MKT and S.S.Koko wer...
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Shyamala
1952
Amarakavi
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Amarakavi (English: Immortal Poet) is a 1952 Indian Tamil language film produced and directed by F. Nagoor. The film featured M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagava...
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Amarakavi
1948
Raja Mukthi
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King Rajendra Varman and Queen Mrinalini are reigning the Vyjayanti empire. Mahendra Varman is the rival and the neighbouring king. Kannika is the min...
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Raja Mukthi
1944
Haridas
6/1
Haridas (Thyagaraja Bhagavathar) is a vain individual who spends his life in luxury and lust ignoring his wife (Vasanthakokilam). But when his wealth...
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Haridas
1943
Sivakavi
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Sivakavi was a 1943 Indian Tamil-language film directed, initially, by P. K. Raja Sandow and later, S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja...
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Sivakavi
1941
Ashok Kumar
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Based on age-old Buddhist folklore connected with Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's son Kunal.
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Ashok Kumar
1934
Pavalakkodi
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Pavalakkodi is a 1934 Tamil language film starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and directed by K. Subramanyam. It was the first film for both of them...
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Pavalakkodi
1936
Naveena Sarangadhara
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Naveena Sarangadhara is a 1936 Tamil film directed by K. Subramaniam under Murugan Talkies. Naveena in Tamil means modern. The movie was titled thus i...
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Naveena Sarangadhara
1937
Chintamani
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Chintamani (Tamil: சிந்தாமணி) is a 1937 Tamil-language film directed by Y. V. Rao starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Serugulathur Sama and Aswatha...
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Chintamani
1936
Sathyaseelan
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Bagavathar's next film was his first own production film under the banner Trichy Thyagaraja Films, "Sathyaseelan" (1936). The film had the novel.
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Sathyaseelan
1937
Ambikapathy
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The film is based on a story set in the Chola Empire in year 1083 AD. The titular character in the story is Ambikapathy (M K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar),...
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Ambikapathy
1939
Thiruneelakantar
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Thiruneelakantar is a 1939 Tamil-language film directed by Raja Sandow and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The film was a big hit and was known...
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Thiruneelakantar
2013
An American in Madras
6.8/6
Director Karan Bali's insight into a largely unknown slice of Tamil film history. American citizen Ellis R Dungan travelled to India in the 1930s. He...
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