M K Muthu, the eldest son of late DMK veteran and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, died on Saturday morning at the age of 77. He passed away at his house on East Coast Road in Chennai due to prolonged illness.
Born in 1948 in Thirukuvalai, Nagapattinam district, Muthu was the only child from Karunanidhi’s first marriage to Padmavathi, who died soon after his birth due to accelerated tuberculosis. Karunanidhi later married Dayalu Ammal, with whom he had four more children — M K Alagiri, M K Stalin, Selvi, and M K Tamilarasu.
From Political Heir to Failed Film Star
Muthu was first groomed to take the place of Karunanidhi in politics. But during the early 1970s, he was ushered into Tamil cinema, a master stroke by Karunanidhi to counter the emerging popularity of popular actor-turned-politician M G Ramachandran (MGR), who was quick to make progress at that time.
Muthu made his debut in the 1972 film Pillaiyo Pillai, which was released the same year that MGR established the AIADMK upon being expelled by the DMK. Although there was some hype initially, Muthu’s film career lasted for only a few movies before he retired from the limelight, failing to match MGR’s popularity.
A Tense Relationship and Political Blunders
Muthu’s personal life was characterised by controversies such as alcoholism, which made him fight a personal struggle with Karunanidhi, who eventually distanced himself from his son. The two only reconciled in 2009, when Muthu’s health seriously put a strain on their relationship.
His decision to join the AIADMK, the very party formed by Karunanidhi’s rival MGR, deeply embarrassed the DMK patriarch. However, Muthu’s political career never took off. He remained a largely marginal figure both in politics and public life over the last two decades.
Muthu is survived by his daughter, Thenmozhi, who is married to C K Ranganathan, the Managing Director of FMCG giant CavinKare.
Legacy of a Forgotten Heir
While once a likely heir apparent to one of Tamil Nadu’s most powerful political leaders, Muthu’s life followed a different track — one of personal turmoil, fleeting fame, and lost possibilities. His death puts an end to a chapter that initially promised dynastic succession in the DMK, but resulted in obscurity.
