Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan, also known as MR Radha was a famous Indian actor and politician who was actively involved in Tamil plays and films. He earned the title Nadigavel (King of Acting) from Periyar EV Ramasamy. MR Radha was versatile in his acting career, portraying both negative and comedic roles. During the 1960s, roles were written specifically for him, and he frequently appeared as the antagonist opposite actors such as MG Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan.
According to industry rumours, a small mishap happened between MR Radha and Shivaji Ganesan during the shooting of the film Bale Pandiya in 1962.
Once, Sivaji Ganesan parked his Plymouth car at the AVM Studio gate. MR Radha was standing nearby, leaning on the car. When Sivaji Ganesan came, he noticed MR Radha leaning on the car and jokingly remarked, “Are you going to rub off the colour on this car or what?”
Usually, MR Radha was quick with his witty comebacks, but he didn’t respond to Sivaji Ganesan’s comments. Instead, he turned pale and left without saying anything. The next morning, MR Radha arrived early at the shooting spot and placed a large straw bag and a small calf on top of the vehicle as a playful response.
Sivaji Ganesan was shocked to see the things placed on his car and questioned MR Radha about it. MR Radha cheekily responded, “It’s a car, just an object. Does it only have to carry humans? It can transport straw, a cow, or even unnecessary items”. MR Radha almost treated the car like a garbage bin. In the 1960s, a Plymouth car symbolised status and wealth. When MR Radha said that such an expensive car was unnecessary, Sivaji Ganesan understood the humour behind it and left the scene laughing, acknowledging that MR Radha’s timing was unmatched.
MR Radha emerged as a prominent theatre artist, boasting over 5,000 stage performances. Beginning his career at the age of 10, he initially took on minor roles, gradually ascending to a stature where scripts for dramas were tailored specifically for him. MR Radha attained widespread acclaim with the success of his stage play Ratha Kanneer. His portrayal in the 1954 film adaptation, directed by Krishnan–Panju, not only garnered immense praise but also catapulted him to stardom, earning him recognition across Tamil Nadu.
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