M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar

Acting

M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar

Born March 1, 1910 · Mayiladuthurai, Tanjore district, Madras Presidency

Died November 1, 1959 · aged 49

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 s…

Known For

Ashok KumarAshok Kumar · 1941
Ashok Kumar
9.01941
MovieHistory
Based on age-old Buddhist folklore connected with Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's son Kunal.
Raja MukthiRaja Mukthi · 1948
Raja Mukthi
7.01948
MovieHistory
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.
AmbikapathyAmbikapathy · 1937
Ambikapathy
8.01937
MovieDramaMusic
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.
ShyamalaShyamala · 1952
Shyamala
1952
Movie
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.
ChintamaniChintamani · 1937
Chintamani
1937
Movie
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.
ThiruneelakantarThiruneelakantar · 1939
Thiruneelakantar
9.01939
Movie
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.
Puthu VazhvuPuthu Vazhvu · 1957
Puthu Vazhvu
1957
Movie
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.
SivakaviSivakavi · 1943
Sivakavi
1943
Movie
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.

Filmography

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AmbikapathyAmbikapathy · 1937
Ambikapathy
8.01937
MovieDramaMusic
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.

Ambikapathy

ChintamaniChintamani · 1937
Chintamani
1937
Movie
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.

Bilwamangal