Person Details

Birthday: 1910-03-01 20:25:24

Death: 1959-11-01 20:25:24

Aliases: M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , M. K. T. , M.K.T. , Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , மாயவரம் கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி தியாகராஜ பாகவதர்

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Mayiladuthurai, Tanjore district, Madras Presidency

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 18

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

Biography

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".

Most Famous Work

An American in Madras
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7

An American in Madras

(2013) Himself (Archive footage)
Haridas
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0

Haridas

(1944) Haridas
Puthu Vazhvu
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0

Puthu Vazhvu

(1957) Vaikuntam
Thiruneelakantar
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0

Thiruneelakantar

(1939) Thiruneelakanthar Nayanar
Naveena Sarangadhara
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Naveena Sarangadhara

(1936) Sarangadharan
Pavalakkodi
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Pavalakkodi

(1934) Arjuna
Sivakavi
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0

Sivakavi

(1943) Poyyamozhi Pulavar / Ambalaththarasar
Chintamani
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0

Chintamani

(1937) Bilwamangal

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2013 Himself (Archive footage)
1960 N/A
1957 Vaikuntam
1952 N/A
Amarakavi
1948 King Rajendra Varman
1944 Haridas
1943 Poyyamozhi Pulavar / Ambalaththarasar
1941 Gunalan
1939 Thiruneelakanthar Nayanar
1937 Ambikapathy
Bilwamangal
1936 Sarangadharan
Sathyaseelan
1934 Arjuna
Year Character Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1957 Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
1957 Producer
1948 Producer
1939 Producer
1936 Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

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