M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
(7 March 1910 – 1 November 1959)
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. Critics and film historians acknowledge Bhagavathar as the "first superstar of Tamil cinema".
Bhagavathar was acclaimed for his powerful, melodious voice and the ease with which he could sing high pitch notes. Bhagavathar was a philanthropist and contributed for important social and religious causes.
Bhagavathar was born in the town of Mayiladuthurai in then Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency, British India. Right from his boyhood, he desired to become a singer. He began his career first as a classical singer and then 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. His movie "Chintamani" was a record-breaker and became the first Tamil film to run continuously for a year. Bhagavathar's songs in the movie were especially popular. From 1934 to 1959, Bhagavathar acted in 14 films of whom 6 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. Most of his films were record-breakers. Thiruneelakandar, Ambikapathi,Chintamani were among the first highly successful Tamil films.
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.