MGR songs trigger lively debate

Chennai: Politics and cinema have always walked along with each other in Tamil Nadu. Many film personalities have jumped into politics and some of the politicians have made a mark in the tinsel town. Movie dialogue and songs often reverberate in the Assembly and it happened on Monday.

The House was swayed  by film songs of AIADMK founder MGR sparking a lively debate between the ruling AIADMK and DMK. When AIADMK member Rathinasabapathy was speaking during the discussion on demands for grants to fisheries and dairy development, he began quoting the verses of MGR.

He started with a song from the matinee idol’s hundredth film Oli Vilakku, released four decades ago. The song eulogises the then regime and says “No one will have to beg as several measures of rice is easily available and no one will have to live along street sides when huts are becoming houses”.

The MLA said the verses sung by MGR were prophetic and aptly describes the present AIADMK regime. When he went on to quote the next lines which says “We will not give birth to irresponsible sons who cause unnecessary quarrels”, DMK members rose in protest, strongly objecting to the MLA’s remarks.

Co-operative minister Sellur K. Raju, who intervened, said the songs of MGR were not intended against anyone in personal and they only convey a message, Stalin countered it saying that MGR was moving the lips for songs written by somebody. This was disputed by the minister who asserted that MGR used to dictate to lyricists what he wanted in a film song. He said Stalin should know it before making his comments.

Stalin finally fell in line and said he had travelled three or four times on a bicycle for about five km  to watch the movie. Fisheries minister D. Jayakumar, who joined the debate, said the song was delivered by MGR when he was the DMK treasurer and asked if the DMK members did not accept it.

Jayakumar for his part recalled another song Chinnapayaley, Chinnapayaley sethi keladaa from the film Arasiliankumari for which the script writer was DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. The minister also quoted another line Aalum valaranum, arivum valaranum adhudhanda valarchi (One should grow in physique as well as knowledge). At this juncture, Stalin said “such songs are found in many films of those times and we can also quote many of them. If you want a debate, we are ready for it”.