M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar

Born: 1910-03-01

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".


Placeholder

Sivagami

as uncredited
Released: 1960-02-09

Sivagami is a Tamil language film released in 1960. It is the last film in which M. K....

Movie page

Amarakavi

as Amarakavi
Released: 1952-02-09

Amarakavi (English: Immortal Poet) is a 1952 Indian Tamil language film produced and directed by...

Movie page

Raja Mukthi

as King Rajendra Varman
Released: 1948-10-09

King Rajendra Varman and Queen Mrinalini are reigning the Vyjayanti empire. Mahendra Varman is...

Movie page

Pavalakkodi

as Arjuna
Released: 1934-01-01

Pavalakkodi is a 1934 Tamil language film starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and directed by...

Movie page

Shyamala

as uncredited
Released: 1952-11-29

Some producers from Andhra wanted to produce a tamil film featuring MKT. They produced Syamala...

Movie page

Ashok Kumar

as Gunalan
Released: 1941-07-10

Based on age-old Buddhist folklore connected with Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's son Kunal.

Movie page

Puthu Vazhvu

as Vaikuntam
Released: 1957-03-08

Vaikuntam is a lad who lives in a village. He is a good singer and in love with a lass Nagammal....

Movie page

Ambikapathy

as Ambikapathy
Released: 1937-12-11

The film is based on a story set in the Chola Empire in year 1083 AD. The titular character in...

Movie page

Sivakavi

as Poyyamozhi Pulavar / Ambalaththarasar
Released: 1943-04-10

Sivakavi was a 1943 Indian Tamil-language film directed, initially, by P. K. Raja Sandow and...

Movie page

Thiruneelakantar

as Thiruneelakanthar Nayanar
Released: 1939-04-01

Thiruneelakantar is a 1939 Tamil-language film directed by Raja Sandow and starring M. K....

Movie page

Naveena Sarangadhara

as Sarangadharan
Released: 1936-01-01

Naveena Sarangadhara is a 1936 Tamil film directed by K. Subramaniam under Murugan Talkies....

Movie page

Chintamani

as Bilwamangal
Released: 1937-03-12

Chintamani (Tamil: சிந்தாமணி) is a 1937 Tamil-language film directed by Y. V. Rao starring M. K....

Movie page

Sathyaseelan

as Sathyaseelan
Released: 1936-01-01

Bagavathar's next film was his first own production film under the banner Trichy Thyagaraja...

Movie page