M. G. Chakrapani

M. G. Chakrapani Biography

M. G. Chakrapani was a Tamil film actor of Malayali origin. He was the elder brother of legendary Tamil actor and politician – M. G. Ramachandran. He along with his younger brother MGR has acted together in many movies throughout 1930-1950s. Yet he couldn’t achieve the stardom his younger brother got. He died one year prior to the death of MGR. Chakrapani died on 17 August 1986 at the age of 75. He was survived by his second wife and 10 children. He was fondly called ‘Ettan’ by his fans and close ones.  

He was born into a Malayali Nair family, as a son of Melakkath Gopala Menon. Menon worked as a judicial officer in Thrissur when he was excommunicated in 1903 (Smartha vicharam) alongside 14 others for having an illicit relationship with a widowed Namboothiri woman from Poonkunnam. Later Menon left his family, married a woman from a lower caste - Maruthur Satyabhama and settled in Vadavannur village of present day Palakkad district of Kerala. Chakrapani was born to them before he moved to Kandy, Sri Lanka. Chakrapany had two siblings - one sister who died in Sri Lanka, and MGR, who later became a famous film actor. Satyabhama returned to India and settled in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu after Gopala Menon’s death.

The siblings joined Madurai Original Boys Company – a drama troupe before they reached cinema. Iru Sahodarargal in 1936 marked his film debut. Later he portrayed several character roles on screen. After struggling for almost 8 years, he got a big break through Mahamaya (1944), where he portrayed the character role of Neelan. Though the movie was a flop, this role helped him to get more film offers. He played the villain in Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali – one of his memorable roles. After his unsuccessful career as an actor, he turned a producer, director and also managed his younger brother’s career, who was the shining star of Tamil cinema then.

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Updated: June 19, 2016