M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar Movies, TV Shows, and Filmography
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Acting
Biography
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".
Filmography Movies
Acting
Sivagami
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. Venu under the banner Muthiah Pictures. By the year 1959, M. K. T. Bhagavathar requested M. A. Venu to produce a film. M. A. Venu agreed and started producing this film. However, M. K. T. Bhagavathar died while the production was half way. So, the crew adapted the story and completed the film. Bhagavathar could not sing at this time. He told the producer that he has some songs recorded earlier for another film 'Rajayogi' that was never produced and told the producer to use those songs. So, the songs that took place in this film were recorded long before.
Pavalakkodi
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. The film's music was composed by Papanasam Sivan. Pavalakkodi tells the mythical love story of Arjuna (Thyagaraja Bhagavathar) and Pavalakkodi (S. D. Subbulakshmi), the princess of Coral Island.
Ambikapathy
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), the son of the Tamil poet Kambar (Serugulathur Sama) who is in love with the Chola princess and daughter of Kulothunga Chola, Amaravati (played by M. R. Santhanalakshmi). The king objects to their love and insists on testing Ambikapathy's literary mettle before judging his worth. The test given to Ambikapathi is that he should write and sing a hundred poems in the field of Puram (dealing with war and politics). The poems should not have any reference to the field of Aram (dealing of love and romance). Ambikapathi begins the test in the King's court with a Kadavul Vaazhthu (invocation to God). Amaravathi who is keeping the count, mistakes the invocation as a poem and counts it as poem number one.
Raja Mukthi
King Rajendra Varman and Queen Mrinalini are reigning the Vyjayanti empire. Mahendra Varman is the rival and the neighbouring king. Kannika is the minister’s daughter, who is in love with King Rajendra Varman and aims to attain him at any cost. This convoluted tale of palace intrigue, suspicion, unreciprocated love, seduction, villainy and piety was interspersed with excellent music.
Chintamani
Chintamani (Tamil: சிந்தாமணி) is a 1937 Tamil-language film directed by Y. V. Rao starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Serugulathur Sama and Aswathamma.[2] It was the first Tamil film to run for a year in a single theatre. Chintamani was based on the legendary story of a Sanskrit poet and devotee of Lord Krishna named Bilwamangal (M. K. Thyragaraja Bhagavathar). Bilwamangal, a resident of Varanasi, was a Sanskrit scholar, who gets infatuated towards a courtesan called Chintamani (Aswathamma), a woman of ill-fame. As a result, he deserts his wife. However, Chintamani is an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna (Serugalathur Sama) and spends most of her time singing bhajans in praise of Lord Krishna. His attraction towards Chintamani eventually draws Bilwamangal closer towards Lord Krishna and transforms his life forever. Bilwangal, himself, becomes a devotee of Lord Krishna and pens a monumental Sanskrit work Sri Krishna Karnamritam.
Shyamala
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 were the only tamilians in this film. Rest of them were all from Andhra. Popular among them were Relangi and S.Varalakshmi. MKT for the first and last time in his life acted with a moustache and resembled very much the famous telugu screen hero, A.Nageswara rao! Shyamala is a 1952 Indian, Tamil-language film directed by B. A. Subba Rao.[2] The film featured M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and S. Varalakshmi in the lead roles.
Puthu Vazhvu
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 he ties Vaikundam to a tree. Vaikundam was rescued by a rich woman who was passing that way. She takes Vaikundam to her city. When she came to know that Vaikundam is talented in singing, she promotes him as a singer. She renames him as Geethamani. He becomes famous and also rich. He neglects his parents and ill treats them. His lover Nagammal tries to commit suicide because of his behaviour. How Geethamani realises his delusion and reconciles with his parents and Nagammal forms the rest of the story.
Amarakavi
Amarakavi (English: Immortal Poet) is a 1952 Indian Tamil language film produced and directed by F. Nagoor. The film featured M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and T. R. Rajakumari in the lead roles.
Ashok Kumar
Based on age-old Buddhist folklore connected with Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's son Kunal.
Sivakavi
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 Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, Serukulathur Sama, Thripuramba, T. R. Rajakumari, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Madhuram. The film's screenplay was written by Thiru Muruga Kirubanandha Variyar. The film was shot at Central Studios and released by Pakshiraja Films in Coimbatore.
Production
Puthu Vazhvu
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 he ties Vaikundam to a tree. Vaikundam was rescued by a rich woman who was passing that way. She takes Vaikundam to her city. When she came to know that Vaikundam is talented in singing, she promotes him as a singer. She renames him as Geethamani. He becomes famous and also rich. He neglects his parents and ill treats them. His lover Nagammal tries to commit suicide because of his behaviour. How Geethamani realises his delusion and reconciles with his parents and Nagammal forms the rest of the story.
Sathyaseelan
Bagavathar's next film was his first own production film under the banner Trichy Thyagaraja Films, "Sathyaseelan" (1936). The film had the novel.
Puthu Vazhvu
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 he ties Vaikundam to a tree. Vaikundam was rescued by a rich woman who was passing that way. She takes Vaikundam to her city. When she came to know that Vaikundam is talented in singing, she promotes him as a singer. She renames him as Geethamani. He becomes famous and also rich. He neglects his parents and ill treats them. His lover Nagammal tries to commit suicide because of his behaviour. How Geethamani realises his delusion and reconciles with his parents and Nagammal forms the rest of the story.
Raja Mukthi
King Rajendra Varman and Queen Mrinalini are reigning the Vyjayanti empire. Mahendra Varman is the rival and the neighbouring king. Kannika is the minister’s daughter, who is in love with King Rajendra Varman and aims to attain him at any cost. This convoluted tale of palace intrigue, suspicion, unreciprocated love, seduction, villainy and piety was interspersed with excellent music.
Thiruneelakantar
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 for M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's acting apart from his songs. Famous nadaswaram artist T. N. Rajarathinam Pillai makes a guest appearanace in the movie.The film was based on the life history of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
Haridas
A wealthy and careless man takes his family for granted and loses his fortune to a courtesan, leading him to realise the true values of life.
Gallery
