Vikiknl at 11:12, 15 January 2026

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>Kailash29792: Reference edited with ProveIt

2020-11-29T16:26:31Z

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{{short description|Indian actor}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = M. G. Chakrapani
| image = M. G. Chakrapani.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Maruthur Gopala Menon Chakrapani
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1911|1|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Vadavannur]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]], [[British Raj]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|8|17|1911|1|13|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| years_active = 1936–1986
| spouse = Meenakshi Chakrapani
| other names = Yettan
| relatives = [[M. G. Ramachandran]] (brother)
| occupation = [[Actor]], [[film producer|producer]]
| children = 10
}}

'''Maruthur Gopala Menon Chakrapani''' (13 January 1911 – 17 August 1986), commonly known as '''Ettan''' ("elder brother" in [[Malayalam]]), was an Indian actor and producer based in the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]]. He was the elder brother of actor-politician [[M. G. Ramachandran]].<ref name="HINDU">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=16 February 2012 |title=Fame eluded this sibling of an icon |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/fame-eluded-this-sibling-of-an-icon/article2899646.ece |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Chakrapani was born in [[Vadavannur]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]] (now [[Kerala]]), on 13 January 1911. His parents, Gopala Menon and Sathyabhama, named him Neelakantan, but this was soon changed to Chakrapani because of his father's religious beliefs. Soon after his birth, the family migrated to Ceylon (now [[Sri Lanka]]) where Chakrapani's two younger siblings (brother [[M. G. Ramachandran]] and a sister) were born. Gopala Menon worked as a magistrate in [[Kandy]], until he suffered an early death. Chakrapani's sister also died while they were in Ceylon.<ref name="HINDU" />

Sathyabhama took her sons to [[Kumbakonam]] to be close to her brother. Chakrapani studied at Yanaiadi School, but left after the seventh grade. His mother then enrolled him and Ramachandran in the Madurai Original Boys Company (MOBC), a professional Tamil theatre company, where Ramachandran found success, but Chakrapani did not.<ref name="HINDU" />

== Career ==
Chakrapani made his Tamil cinema debut in ''[[Iru Sahodarargal]]'' in 1936. ''[[Maya Machhindra]]'' and ''[[Tamizhariyum Perumal]]'' came next, where he began to be known as a character actor. His breakout role came in 1944 with ''[[Mahamaya (film)|Mahamaya]]''. His character, Neelan, is believed to have been modelled after the Indian philosopher [[Chanakya|Kautilya]].<ref name="HINDU" />

Though ''Mahamaya'' was a box office failure, Chakrapani's lines continue to be spoken. His next big success came some 15 years later with ''[[Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali]]'', where he again played a villain.<ref name="HINDU" />

Later in his career, Chakrapani transitioned from actor to director and producer and managing his brother's career. Chakrapani worked with his brother on several projects which failed to see the light of day. One such film, ''Bhavani'' had Ramachandran in the lead role. It was written by A. K. Velan, directed by Masthan, with Chakrapani producing. Years later, Chakrapani tried again, this time taking the director's seat in the renamed ''[[Arasa Kattalai]]''. It was a success.<ref name="HINDU" />

== Death ==
Chakrapani died on 17 August 1986 at the age of 75. At the time of his death, he was survived by his second wife, Meenakshi Chakrapani, and their ten children: seven sons and three daughters.<ref name="HINDU" />

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size:90%;" background:#B0C4DE;
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
!{{tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
||1936 || ''[[Iru Sahodarargal]]'' || Police inspector || Billed as G. Chakrapani
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 August 2009 |title=Iru Sahodarargal 1936 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/iru-sahodarargal-1936/article3021811.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1939 || ''[[Maya Machhindra]]'' ||
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=25 January 2014 |title=Maya Machhindra (1939) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/maya-machhindra-1939/article5617395.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1939 || ''[[Jothi (1939 film)|Jothi]]'' ||
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=4 October 2014 |title=Jothi 1939 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/blast-from-the-past-jothi-1939/article6471409.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1942 || ''[[Tamizhariyum Perumal]]'' ||
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=7 May 2011 |title=Thamizh Ariyum Perumal 1942 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/thamizh-ariyum-perumal-1942/article1998955.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1944 || ''[[Mahamaya (film)|Mahamaya]]'' || Neelan
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=4 September 2010 |title=Mahamaya 1944 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Mahamaya-1944/article12572634.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1946 || ''[[Sri Murugan]]'' ||
|
|
|-
||1947 || ''[[1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani]]'' ||
|
|
|-
||1948 || ''[[Abhimanyu (1948 film)|Abhimanyu]]'' || [[Balarama]]n
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=2 October 2009 |title=Abhimanyu 1948 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/abhimanyu-1948/article3021993.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1948 || ''[[Raja Mukthi]]'' || Minister
|
|
|-
||1950 || ''[[Ponmudi (film)|Ponmudi]]''|| Tribal Chief
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=3 October 2008 |title=Ponmudi 1950 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ponmudi-1950/article3023405.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1950 || ''[[Thigambara Samiar]]'' || Magistrate Pattabhirama Pillai
|
|
|-
||1950 || ''[[Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi]]'' || Minister
|
|
|-
||1950 || ''[[Ithaya Geetham]]'' ||Minister
|
|<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7JevgDCLbuNTnR6N2ZrTWVfUVE/view |title=Ithaya Geetham |publisher=Citadel Film Corporation |year=1950 |language=ta |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>
|-
||1951 || ''[[Vanasundari]]'' ||
|
|
|-
||1952 || ''[[Amarakavi]]'' ||
|
|
|-
||1952 || ''[[En Thangai (1952 film)|En Thangai]]'' || Rajendran's uncle
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=28 November 2008 |title=En Thangai 1952 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/en-thangai-1952/article3023607.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1952 || ''[[Kalyani (1952 film)|Kalyani]]'' ||Doctor
|
|<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7JevgDCLbuNVnh2SW5xSlpoaEk/view |title=கல்யாணி |publisher=[[Modern Theatres]] |year=1952 |language=ta |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>
|-
||1953 || ''[[Naam (1953 film)|Naam]]'' ||Sanjeevi
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=29 December 2012 |title=Naam (1953) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/naam-1953/article4252688.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1954 || ''[[Malaikkallan]]'' || Sub Inspector
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 July 1954 |title=Malaikkallan |page=3 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19540724&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}}</ref>
|-
||1954 || ''[[En Magal]]'' ||[[wiktionary:mirasdar|Mirasdar]]
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=15 June 2013 |title=En Magal (1955) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/en-magal-1955/article4817408.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1956 || ''[[Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956 film)|Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum]]'' || [[Cassim|Amir Kasim Khan]]
|
|<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://ia601608.us.archive.org/28/items/Alibabavum40Thirudargalum1956Songbook/Alibabavum%2040%20Thirudargalum.pdf |title=அலிபாபாவும் 40 திருடர்களும் |publisher=[[Modern Theatres]] |year=c. 1956 |language=Tamil |trans-title=Alibaba and the Forty Thieves |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>
|-
||1957 || ''[[Raja Rajan (film)|Raja Rajan]]'' || Uthselan Kavirayar
|
|
|-
||1958 || ''[[Nadodi Mannan]]''||Karmegam
|
|<ref>{{Cite book |last=Film News Anandan |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/nadodi_mannan16.asp |title=சாதனைகள் படைத்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்பட வரலாறு – நாடோடி மன்னன் பற்றி எம்.ஜி.ஆர். – வீரப்பாவை சிரிக்கச் சொல்லவில்லை! |date=23 October 2004 |publisher=Sivakami Publishers |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=History of Landmark Tamil Films – I never asked Veerappa to laugh! |access-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20170614092145/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/nadodi_mannan16.asp |archive-date=14 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
||1959 || ''[[Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali]]'' || Sundara Mudaliar
|
|<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7JevgDCLbuNT1A4aXFLZ1JEMlU/view |title=தாய் மகளுக்கு கட்டிய தாலி |publisher=Kalpana Kala Mandir |year=1959 |language=ta |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>
|-
||1959 || ''[[Nalla Theerpu]]'' ||
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=17 August 2013 |title=Nalla Theerpu (1959) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/nalla-theerpu-1959/article5032262.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1960 || ''[[Raja Desingu]]'' || Sultan of Delhi
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=15 August 2015 |title=Raja Desingu (1960) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tamil-film-raja-desinghu-1960-featuring-mgr/article7544279.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1960 || ''[[Mannathi Mannan]]''|| [[Karikala|King Karikala Chozhan]]
|
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=28 April 2012 |title=Blast from the past: Mannaathi Mannan (1960) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-mannaathi-mannan-1960/article3363973.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1967 || ''[[Arasa Kattalai]]'' ||
|Also director
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=23 April 2016 |title=Arasa Kattalai (1967) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mgr-and-saroja-devi-in-arasa-kattalai-1967/article8513630.ece |access-date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
||1969 || ''[[Nam Naadu (1969 film)|Nam Naadu]]'' || Producer
|
|
|-
||1972 || ''[[Idhaya Veenai]]'' || MGR's father
|
|
|-
||1974 || ''[[Netru Indru Naalai (1974 film)|Netru Indru Naalai]]'' ||
|
|
|-
||1975 || ''[[Naalai Namadhe]]'' ||
|
|
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|0149833}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakrapani, M. G.}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]

M. G. Chakrapani - Revision history

Vikiknl at 11:12, 15 January 2026

>Kailash29792: Reference edited with ProveIt