Memorial for MKT Bhagavathar in Tiruchy a dream come true for fans

The State government’s announcement on Saturday of the construction of a memorial for the late Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, regarded South India’s first superstar, in Tiruchy where the veteran actor and singer has been laid to rest, is a dream come true for his fans who have long been waiting for such an announcement to come.While in those days, thousands of fans waited patiently through the day for MKT, as Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was fondly called, to make an appearance at the balcony of his house, the resting place of Tamil cinema’s first superstar now seems to be neglected as it is counted as just one among the many graves at the burial ground at Sangilyandapuram in the district.

The multi-faceted artist passed away aged 49 years on November 1, 1959. Save for ardent fans of Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, it cuts a sorry figure when even most locals in and around Palakkarai and Sangilyandapuram are not aware of MKT’s resting place being in the locality.

The State government’s recent announcement of allocating Rs 50 lakh for a manimandapam (memorial) for the late actor could likely change the situation around.

The multifaceted star and his record run: Though Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was in the public ‘limelight’ for his acting skills and the wealth he accumulated through his profession, the actor is known to have moved freely with his fans. He is also said to have obliged to his female fans who longed to see him off-screen. MKT’s popularity comes as no surprise, what with films usually running for months together, among which Haridas (1944) even set a record of sorts by running uninterrupted for 114 weeks at Broadway Cinema in erstwhile Madras. It saw a run through the Deepavali of 1944, 1945 and 1946.

Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was not only known to be a great actor but was also acclaimed for his singing, with his rich and melodious voice. Some of his other unforgettable films include Chintamani (1937), Ambikapathi (1937), Thiruneelakantar (1939), Ashok Kumar (1941), Sivakav (1943). MKT lent his voice to several of the songs, most of which have stood the test of time.

In the singing front, most of Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s contribution were in devotional songs with a a South Indian classical base. Along with lyricist Papanasam Sivan, MKT composed many songs, including ‘Unai Alaal’, ‘Neelakanta’, ‘Amba Manam Kanindhu’, ‘Soppana Vazhvil Makizhndu’, ‘Maraivaai Maraitha Odu’, ‘Gyaana Kann’, ‘Sathva Guna Bodhan’, ‘Rajan Maharajan’, ‘Krishna Mukunda Murari’, ‘Naatiya Kalaiye’, ‘Radhe Unaku Kobam Aagadadi’, ‘Vasantha Ruthu’, and many others.

MKT-The synonym for luxury: During his heydays in the film industry, Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was adorned like a demi-god by his fans, with some even going to the extent of comparing him to celestial beings as if he were born a mortal due to a curse or the like. There is a many a firsthand account to testify that MKT’s complexion glittered like polished gold which finely matched the silk clothes he used to adorn himself in at that time. Bhagavathar’s wavy shoulder-length hair and large diamond ear studs and rings became the most in-thing among men in those days. Many held that they had never seen so charming a man as MKT nor heard a voice like his. MKT is also known to have ate from gold plates, rode a motorbike and owned cars of the latest model.

MKT’s fans have remarked that he was almost like the uncrowned prince of Tiruchy. In what may prove the point, the actor owned a horse too, a pure white breed, which has appeared in the opening song of the hit film ‘Haridas’. MKT also built a majestic bungalow in Tiruchy, recall his fans.

A rags to riches early life: Although Thyagaraja Bhagavathar led a lavish lifestyle, like many prominent yesteryear film personalities, his early days was a journey through a modest background overcoming several hurdles. Despite his family reeling under poverty, he was sent to school, but the boy showed little interest in studies. He instead showed more involvement in music, especially singing, in which he showed astonishing talent. Krishnamurthy, however, pulled his son out of school and made him to work in his workshop. Once, the father was surprised to see crowds flocking to the workshop and soon discovered that they had gathered to listen to a young Thyagaraja sing. MKT’s father then decided to make him a stage actor and took him to the noted talent-scout and theatre personality in Tiruchy, F G Natesa Iyer, a senior railway official who led his own amateur troupe.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s fame soon grew that during the Second World War, at the request of the then Governor of Madras, Arthur Oswald James Hope, Bhagavathar was found to have organised concerts and plays to raise money for the British to fight the war. The Governor, recognising his contributions, offered him the title of ‘Diwan Bahadur’, but Bhagavathar declined.

Fans welcome government decision: M Kumarappan (67) from Palakkarai in the district, one of Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s ardent fans recalled how the actor, though riding high on popularity and wealth, moved freely with his fans and engaged in humanitarian services. According to Pandidurai, the state president of Viswakarma association-which has been involved in keeping MKT’s legacy alive through ‘annadhanam’ every year and also has made attempts for setting up a manimandapam for the yesteryear actor-expressed happiness over the State government’s recent announcement of the MKT memorial in Tiruchy, a dream finally come true for his ilk.