Mu Ka Muthu, Actor And Eldest Son Of M Karunanidhi, Passes Away At 77
Mu Ka Muthu, the eldest son of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and half-brother of the present Chief Minister MK Stalin, passed away in Chennai on Saturday following a prolonged illness. He was 77. His remains are currently place at his residence in Injambakkam, Chennai for public to pay homage.
Born around January 14, 1948, to Karunanidhi’s first wife Padmavathi, Muthu was part of a culturally rich lineage. His maternal grandfather, Chidambaram Padagasundaram Pillai, was a respected musician and composer, and his uncle, CS Jayaraman, made a mark as a celebrated playback singer in early Tamil cinema, particularly in films starring Sivaji Ganesan.
Mu Ka Muthu's Early Life & Career
Muthu was initially groomed for a political future by Karunanidhi in the early 1970s. However, his path veered toward cinema when he was launched as an actor—widely seen as a strategic move by Karunanidhi to counter the soaring popularity of MG Ramachandran (MGR), the charismatic actor who would later found the AIADMK and become a dominant political force.
Despite a highly publicised debut, Muthu’s film career failed to gain lasting momentum. In a turn of events that made headlines at the time, he eventually joined the AIADMK, the very party led by his father's chief political rival. The decision strained familial ties and led to a prolonged period of estrangement.
It was only in 2009, amidst growing health concerns, that Muthu reconciled with his father—a reunion that drew emotional responses from the DMK ranks and Tamil Nadu’s political observers.
Muthu is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced shortly.
Stalin Pays Homage
Earlier, MK Stalin paid tribute to MK Muthu at the latter's residence.
india