Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ releases: Looking back at MGR’s ‘Meenava Nanban’ in 1977 | Thalapathy

Even as fans celebrate Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’, we take a trip back to the year 1977. Barely months after he took over as Chief Minister, MGR had a film release: Meenava Nanban. Leading newspapers of the time captured the pre-release buzz of this film, with film posters with only carrying the title ‘Makkal Thilagam’ and not ‘Chief Minister’. We catch up with T Rajappa Venkatachari – or ‘MGR Swami’, as he is known – who recalls watching the first day first show of the film in 1977 at Tirunelveli’s Central Theatre.

Published - July 22, 2026 06:42 pm IST