Karunanidhi’s Eldest Son Muthu A Problem Child?

K Jayadev

The icon of Dravidian politics and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M Karunanidhi has been battling for life for a long time now. The entire state of Tamil Nadu has been reeling in grief as confusion rises over the health of their beloved leader. Meanwhile, all the family members are by the side of the ailing veteran politican except one--M Karunanidhi's eldest son MK Muthu.

MK Muthu is the son born to his first wife Padmavati. Karunannidhi's desire to promote his sons in politics began with Muthu. Eventually, even the other sons staked claim to be his successor. When MGR and Karunanidhi were part of the undivided DMK, the latter used to promote MK Muthu. Muthu’s relationship with his father Karunanidhi has seen its ups and downs.

Muthu, who would dress up like MGR at party meetings, was promoted by Karunanidhi into filmdom in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Karunanidhi would prop up Muthu as a film star to counter the popularity of MGR. Muthu’s good looks had MGR’s appeal. But he failed as an actor.

The popular script writer that Karunanidhi was, even scripted some of Muthu's films like Pillai O’ Pillai (Son O’ Son!). But Muthu failed as an actor, fell out with his father, turned alcoholic, and even crossed over to the AIADMK since he was an ardent fan of MGR.

Muthu's life has been very erratic and there was news that he had filed complaint against his own son for harassing him. Muthu and his wife J Sivagamisundari said that their son, MKM Arivunidhi and family members had been threatening them.

In the late eighties, Muthu Karunanidhi's political arch rival J Jayalalithaa and joined the AIADMK after fallout with his father. Jayalalithaa had then given him a one-time financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs. Until a decade, it was common to see Muthu spew venom against Karunanidhi sitting outside the AIADMK headquarters.

However, in 2009, he patched up with his father after the latter called on him at a hospital where he was being treated. Karunanidhi had again declared Muthu as his asset but the son never really lived up to his expectations.

Recently, Muthu was in the news for a very different reason. M Karunanidhi’s great grandson Manuranjith and actor Vikram’s daughter Akshita got married. Manuranjith, son of CavinKare founder C K Ranganathan, is the grandson of Karunanidhi’s first son Muthu.

Muthu has been not keeping well for more than four years now and is out of public life. Though Karunanidhi tried to set the path for his eldest son in several ways, he remained unaffected. Muthu continued to be the problem child of the DMK supremo!