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M. K. Muthu

Indian actor, playback singer and politician (1948–2025)

Field	Value
name	M. K. Muthu
native_name	மு. க. முத்து
native_name_lang	ta
imagesize	200px
birth_name	Muthuvel Karunanidhi Muthu
birth_date
birth_place	Thirukuvalai, Madras Province, India (now in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India)
death_date
death_place	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
spouse	Sivakamasundari
children	2
occupation
parents	M. Karunanidhi and Padmavathi
relatives	Karunanidhi family

Muthuvel Karunanidhi Muthu (14 January 1948 – 19 July 2025) was an Indian actor, playback singer and politician.

Life and career

Muthu was born on 14 January 1948, as the eldest son of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi and his first wife, Padmavathi, sister of actor-singer Chidambaram S. Jayaraman. According to the internal evidence provided by Karunanidhi, in the first volume of his autobiography, Muthu's mother died at the age of 20, soon after giving birth to him, as a result of accelerated tuberculosis.

Muthu started acting in 1970 and appeared in films such as Pillaiyo Pillai, Samayalkaran, Anayavilaku, Ingeyum Manidhargal and Pookkari. He also sang a few songs in these films. In 2008, he sang a song for the film Mattuthavani under music director Deva.

Karunanidhi initially wanted Muthu to be his political heir in the early 1970s, but later launched him into films as a counter to M. G. Ramachandran, founder of the AIADMK. However, Muthu's career in film never really took off.

Muthu later had a difference of opinion with Karunanidhi, and he went on to join his father's rival party AIADMK. However both father and son patched up their differences in 2009, after Muthu fell ill. Muthu died on 18 July 2025, at the age of 77.

Death

M. K. Muthu had been unwell for the past two decades and was rarely seen in public. He died on 19 July 2025 at his residence on East Coast Road in Chennai, at the age of 77. He is survived by his daughter, Thenmozhi.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Note
1972	Pillaiyo Pillai	Kumar / Kannan	Debut
1973	Pookkari	Kanthan
1974	Samayalkkaran
1975	Anaiya Vilakku
Nambikai Natchathiram
Ingeyum Manithargal
1977	Ellam Avale
Niyaya Tharasu

Sources

Hardgrave, Robert L. "Politics and the Film in Tamilnadu: The Stars and the DMK." Asian Survey, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Mar., 1973), pp. 288–305
*Divided dynasties * The Telegraph, Sunday, 20 May 2007
M.K Muthu returns to tinselville

References

(7 August 2018). "Karunanidhi's Eldest Son Muthu a Problem Child?".
Sri Kantha, Sachi. (14 May 2024). "MGR Remembered – Part 76 {{!}} On M.K. Muthu; from a Fan to promoted Cinema Rival and Fall".
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080328055908/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/37448.html M.K. Muthu croons after 20 years], IndiaGlitz.com. Published 25 March 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
(8 August 2018). "An indulgent father, Karunanidhi a glue that kept family together".
(3 February 2022). "Father, Sons And The DMK".
(19 July 2025). "M K Muthu, Karunanidhi’s son and actor, passes away at 77". [[Deccan Herald]].
(19 July 2025). "DMK legacy loss: Karunanidhi's son and actor passes away at 77". Deccan Herald.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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