Memories of Matinee Idol Mgr and two lions and a bear cub

Death is undoubtedly: Animal specimen raja preserved in the MGR Memorial in T. Nagar in Chennai. MGR Pictures bought Raja and a female pup in Kolkata for Rs 15,000 and trained them in certain scenes in the movie. |Picture source: R. Ragu

In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visual effects were fed a lion at the inauguration of “Vantara”, an animal rescue center, cave, conservation and rehabilitation center, established by Reliance Industries and the Reliance Foundation and announced on social media. It brings back memories of pet animals, including two lions and a bear cub, preserved by former Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramachandran, commonly known as MGR.

Among the property of the cast-turned politician on display in his memorial in T. Nagar, Chennai, is a skinned lion. Death and the passage of time do not seem to deprive the majestic appearance of the lion of Raja. It was purchased by MGR Pictures in Kolkata with some of the scenes Nadodi Mannan. According to the December 1957 Movie Magazine Nadigan KuralMGR Pictures bought two lion cubs – Raja and Rani in Kolkata for Rs 15,000. They were half-height and in a cage on Lloyds Road in Royapettah. “With the accidental death of Raja, women were donated to Chennai Company Zoo near the Central Railway Station, following the accidental death of Raja. [where the zoo was located then]The magazine said. Adimai PennMGR himself said in an interview that he bought a lion bear as a scene Nadodi Mannan. In any case, the interview was conducted in 1957, and the fact that the lion could not have been adimai Penn, It was released only in 1969.

Buffalo attacked

MGR’s older brother MG Chakrapani’s son MCC Chandran recalled how lioness escaped and attacked the buffalo on Lloyds Road. “Luckily, nothing has happened since the lion’s nails were cut. He also made it clear that the lion was used in certain scenarios Nadodi Mannan.

Kumar Rajendran, an advocate for MGR’s wife Janaki Ramachandran, said both animals were siblings and the men were scheming after death. First, it was preserved on Lloyds Road, then taken to the Ramapuram Gardens where MGR lives, and then transferred to T. Nagar.

MGR said in an interview that he made a movie (Nadodi Mannan) carries many socially relevant ideas and information. “I wanted to fight with the lion in the movie, and for that, I bought a male and a female cub and raised them,” MGR said. He is inspired by scenes in an English-language film where the heroes will fight three lions. However, because the man died of kidney failure, he was unable to successfully complete his plan. “I donated the women to the company zoo. Then, I changed the climax scene. Nadodi Mannan This is a huge success. Despite the death of the lion, it ensured the film’s sensation. ” Adimai Penn.

“Animal welfare activists started to learn about my planned fight scene, and they sent out a notice saying that I should have sent the animal to the zoo. Fortunately, the animal survived. We spent a lot of pain on shooting the scene. In short, I risked my life to shoot the shots,” MGR said.

Bear cub at home

IAS official T. Pichandi explained MGR’s love for animals, and he served as secretary. “He put a bear and dog in his residence. He even appointed a veterinarian and caregiver,” Picandy wrote in his recent book. Yenakkul manakkum mgr ninaivugal (My inner memory). Mr Pichandi also revealed that Van Darul’s own current Arignar Anna Zoological Park is the result of animal welfare that MGR is concerned about the company’s zoo contaminated. “He had a discussion with forest department officials who suggested that the forest area of ​​Vandalur was ideal. He accepted the proposal and issued an order in 1978. Vandalur gradually began development in 1979. The animals at the zoo changed. Rare animals and animals from other zoological parks were transferred from other zoological parks.” In July 1985, the inauguration of Vandalur Zoo was the first official function of the Chief Minister.