A wave of shock swept across the thousands of DMK followers gathered outside the Kauvery hospital in Chennai this evening. DMK supporters across Tamil Nadu have gone into a state of mourning with the news of their leader, M Karunanidhi.
Muthuvel Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018) one of the most recognizable names and faces in South Indian politics, and a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu breathed his last at the age of 94. The people of the state have been closely following the developments of his critical health condition over the past two weeks, and the news of his death will definitely bring about changes in the politics of the state.
Despite allegations of nepotism and a staunch defiance of law when it comes to polygamy, M Karunanidhi commanded the kind of power that inspired lakhs to worship him. The following was such that multiple deaths of DMK followers were reported as news of the leader's declining health surfaced a few weeks ago.
The authority commanded by the DMK stalwart extended to his family - one that is as influential in the entertainment industry as it is in the political circles.
Here, we take a brief look at the family of M Karunanidhi.
Blurring the lines between family and politics
Karunanidhi's influence on the state administration was often equated to the Gandhi family's dynastic politics through Congress.
When the DMK is not in power, Karunanidhi's son and former deputy chief minister MK Stalin makes for a charismatic Leader of Opposition.
While on one hand, Karunanidhi had undoubtedly inspired an intense fan following in the state, the authority he exerted also resulted in his family dominating state administration during his five terms as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
What's noteworthy is that the Karunanidhi family found a way to influence the people of Tamil Nadu by making their presence felt in every single home - through the television screens.
While one son has held the post of a deputy chief minister and another served in the cabinet of the former UPA government, Karunanidhi's grandchildren own multiple production houses in the Tamil film industry while his influential nephews have monopolized power in the entertainment sector.
The late DMK chief's grandchildren and nephews have stakes in at least nine companies related to production, distribution and sales rights in the Tamil film industry.
It can be noted that the 94-year-old leader himself was an established scriptwriter, having written for almost 40 films in the last 60 years.
Anyone who is even remotely aware of the influence the Karunanidhi family enjoys would know that their power goes far beyond politics and extends deep into the Tamil entertainment industry. Though this comes as no surprise given the authority Karunanidhi commands coupled with the size of his family.
If there's one thing the DMK leader was infamous for, it was for how unabashedly he practiced polygamy.
After the demise of his first wife, Padmavathi, who died young, Karunanidhi had married not once, but twice - to Dayalu Ammal and Rajathi Ammal, both of whom are alive, though living in separate homes. And the DMK chief had managed to evade prosecution despite polygamy being made illegal in India 55 years ago.
The late Karunanidhi reportedly treated both his wives with respect and their children, as equals. The loophole that had kept Karunanidhi out of jail was the fact that a complaint against the polygamist can be filed only by the wife he married first.
But the two women themselves treat each other like sisters, notes a report by Outlook, and since Dayalu Ammal had no qualms with her husband marrying another woman, Karunanidhi was essentially a polygamist, even if the third marriage was not recognised in the court of law.
Power runs in the family
- MK Muthu was Karunanidhi's eldest son who, like his mother Padmavathi, died before his time. Apart from acting in a few Tamil movies, his influence was not as extensive as some of his siblings.
- Karunanidhi's second son, and the first with Dayalu Ammal, MK Azhagiri is a former member of DMK and ex-cabinet minister for Chemicals and Industries under the UPA government between 2009 and 2013. He has three children - two daughters and one son, Dayanidhi Azhagiri.
- A known favourite of the leader and the working president of DMK, MK Stalin was the third son of Karunanidhi and the second with his wife Dayalu Ammal. Though initially famous for being named after Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, MK grew into prominence within the DMK and went on to become the mayor state capital Chennai as well as the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Currently serving as the working president of DMK, he was chosen as the successor for the party by Karunanidhi.
- Karunanidhi's first daughter and third child with second wife Dayalu Ammal, Selvi is married to S. Selvam, the DMK leader's nephew who also heads Udaya TV, Sun Network's Kannada channel.
- Tamilarasu, the youngest son of Dayalu Ammal, runs a production company in Tamil cinema.
- Kanimozhi, the late DMK leader's youngest and the only daughter from his third wife, Rajathi Ammal, is a Rajya Sabha MP though more famous for the role she played in the massive 2G corruption case. Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP, was named in the CBI charge sheet in the 2G scam though she was later acquitted.
Karunanidhi bloodline's monopoly on Tamil entertainment
From owning the highest rated network television in India, Sun Network, to monopolizing production, distribution and sale rights of movies in the Tamil film industry, members of the Karunanidhi family made their presence felt in the entertainment industry.
- Dayanidhi Maran and Kalanidhi Maran, sons of Karunanidhi's nephew and former union minister, late Murasoli Maran, own Sun TV. The leading television network is the highest rated in the country and the oldest in South India.
- Sun Group is a conglomerate that has monolopolized not just television but also extended into print, with newspapers and magazines, film production and radio in South India. The company, though based in Chennai has influence over Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil-speaking audiences.
- Red Giant Movies is another Tamil production and distribution company headed by Udhayanidhi Stalin. A Tamil actor and a producer, Udhayanidhi is the son of MK Stalin.
- Cloud Nine Movies is owned by Dayanidhi Azhagiri, Karunanidhi's grandson through MK Azhagiri.
- Dayalu Ammal holds a 60% stake in Kalaignar TV while his youngest daughter Kanimozhi holds a 20% stake. Six other channels have been introduced by the Kalaignar Network for viewing in South Asia.
Their monopoly in the sector is such that the Tamil film industry celebrates in unison every time the DMK is knocked out of power by their main rivals in the state, AIADMK, which was formerly headed by the late Jayalalithaa.
Winning the approval of voters in an unconventional manner, the television screens in Tamil Nadu are often monopolized by the late DMK stalwart's bloodline, with their influence growing stronger as and when the party comes to power.
