Death of MK Muthu: A very sad news came in Chennai this morning – MK Muthu, the eldest son of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and senior DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, passed away at the age of 77. He was ill for quite some time and today at 8 am he breathed his last in his home. After his death, DMK cancelled all its official programs, and his body has been kept in his family’s Gopalapuram home for public viewing.
MK Muthu: A Versatile Personality
MK Muthu was born on 14 January 1948 to Karunanidhi and his first wife Padmavathi. Padmavathi died early in his life when Muthu was young, a great sorrow in his life. His maternal grandfather, Chidambaram Padagasundaram Pillai, was a well-known musician and composer, and his maternal uncle, CS Jayaraman, was a great playback singer in Tamil cinema. Thus, Muthu found a connection with arts and culture in his family.
Muthu established his foothold in Tamil cinema in the 1970s and won people’s hearts with his unique style of acting, dialogue delivery, and body language. His first film was Pillaiyo Pillai (1972) in which he played a dual role. Apart from this, he also worked in films like Pookkari, Anayaa Vilakku and Ellam Avale. One of his songs, Uyarndha Idathila Pirandhavan Naan from Anayaa Vilakku, is still a cult classic among Tamil film music fans. This song was shot at Anna Nagar Clock Tower and people remember it even today.
Not only acting, Muthu was also a playback singer and he also sang a few songs in his own films. In 2008, he sang a song for the film Maatu Thavani which was composed by music director Deva. His versatility and his passion for Dravidian movement gave him a distinct identity.
Political Journey and Challenges
Initially, Karunanidhi tried to make Muthu his political heir in the 1970s. But, when MG Ramachandran (MGR), a big actor and founder of AIADMK, was gaining popularity, Karunanidhi launched Muthu in cinema so that he could compete with MGR. It was a strategic move, but Muthu’s film career was not as successful as expected.
Muthu also faced many challenges in his personal life. His alcoholism led to differences between him and Karunanidhi, and there came a time when Muthu joined his father’s rival party, AIADMK. This was a big blow to his family. But, in 2009, when Muthu’s health deteriorated, there was a reconciliation between father and son, and it was an emotional moment.
MK Stalin’s Emotional Tribute
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Muthu’s younger brother, MK Stalin, expressed deep grief over the demise of his elder brother. He shared an emotional post on X, in which he wrote, “The news of the death of my dear elder brother, MK Muthu, struck me like a bolt of lightning. His love was like that of a mother and father to me, and the pain of his death is tormenting me.” Stalin also said that Muthu was named after his grandfather, Muthuvelar, and he too, like his father Kalaignar, had worked for the Dravidian movement through theatre. Stalin visited his brother’s house and paid floral tribute to his mortal remains and said Muthu’s art and songs will always remain alive in people’s hearts. Along with DMK, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai, PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss, and BJP’s Nainar Nagenthran also condoled Muthu’s demise.
A Legacy That Will Live On
MK Muthu’s life was like a rollercoaster – on one hand he made his mark in Tamil cinema, and on the other hand he faced political and personal challenges. His story is of a man who followed the great dreams of his family but created his own niche with his unique style and commitment to the Dravidian ideology.
His son, Arulnithi, who is still active in Tamil cinema, and daughter Thenmozhi, who is married to CavinKare MD CK Ranganathan, are part of his family. MK Muthu’s name and work, be it his films or songs, will always be associated with Tamil culture and the Dravidian movement.
Today, when Tamil Nadu is mourning his demise, we all remember his contributions and pray for the peace of his soul. Om Shanti.
