R.M. Veerappan | Life and times of the Tamil film producer and veteran Dravidian politician

Veteran film producer and politician RM Veerappan's illustrious career in films and politics shaped Tamil Nadu's history.

Ninety-seven-year-old veteran film producer and politician R.M Veerappan, fondly known as RMV, passed away due to age-related ailments at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on April 9. RMV, who spearheaded the formation of late actor M.G. Ramachandran’s (MGR) party – the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), is survived by three daughters and three sons.

In an illustrious public career spanning over fifty years, RMV was pivotal in shaping MGR’s acting career as well his rise in Dravidian politics. After MGR’s demise in 1987, he was the driving force behind the 23-day chief-ministerial stint of MGR’s widow Janaki, before reconciling with AIADMK’s then-general secretary J Jayalalithaa to keep the party unified. He also served in her cabinet from 1991-95 before splitting away from AIADMK to form the MGR Kazhagam – which supported the DMK in the 2004 elections.

As a successful producer RMV is credited for some landmark films in the careers of Tamil cinema legends Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan and their mentor K. Balachander.

Here’s a timeline of his life, where films and politics were entwined:

Born in Vallathirakottai in Pudukkottai district on September 9, 1926, RMV was last of the six children of Ramasamy and Deivanai. Against his family’s plan to send him to Malaysia for small odd-jobs, RMV chose to join the Bala Shanmugananda Sabha — a drama troupe run by the TKS brothers — in Karaikudi.

Inspired the Dravidian wave across Tamil Nadu, he jumped into politics, quitting his drama troupe to join ‘Dravida Nadu’ – a journal named after movement to establish a separate sovereign state for Dravidians. Assisting the movement’s leader Periyar E.V. Ramasamy in his tour in Ramanathapuram, RMV along with Dravidian leader Rama Subbaiah joined Tamil weekly Kudiyarasu in Erode.

While being involved in Periyar’s self-respect movement, RMV dabbled in theatre again this time joining actor K.R. Ramasamy’s (KRR) drama troupe — Krishna Nadaga Sabha. Via KRR, several actors such as MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and RMV met C.N. Annadorai — founder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).