The Man from Marathur and Malai Nadu

M.G.Ramachandran - MGR

17 January 1917 - 24 December1987

Part-I

Ninety two years ago, a baby boy was born to a migrant couple, Gopala Menon and Sathyabama, in a ‘line-room’ of a tea estate in Kandy. Later, this baby boy would grow into a leader with the name Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (popularly adored by Tamils all over the world with the acronym MGR).

Maruthur was the ancestral village in the Kerala state from where his parents hailed from. Many have ridiculed the uncertainty of his birth date, though MGR had used 17 January 1917 in his personal documents. One should sympathise with MGR on this matter because he was born to an Indian immigrant family in a tea plantation in Ceylon, which was then under British colonial rule. Way back in 1917, the health care facilities available for the plantation workers were atrocious, leave alone the requirements related to birth registration. That he survived into adulthood itself was an achievement.

Though as a two-year old he was taken to Kumbakonam by his mother (who had been widowed after the birth of MGR), the destiny would make it that in his last five years of life, MGR would again have close links with the Tamils in the land of his birth.

After landing in Tamil Nadu, MGR would rise in his professional ranks with perseverance, hard work and the smile of Lady Luck. He reached the ‘top’, step by step; 10 years as a vaudeville child actor, 10 years as an apprentice actor with secondary roles in movies, 30 years as an ‘uncrowned king’ in the Tamil movie land and finally 10 years as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Having experienced poverty personally during his young days and forfeiting the opportunity to have a formal education, MGR would see to it that at least one song in his movie had some educational value to the average man.

He would take a keen interest in the theme of the song, its musical composition and its exact appearance in the movie. Not surprisingly, it would turn out to be a hit song.

1. Acheham enpathu madamaiyadah - Anjaamai Dravidar udamaiyadah (on Dravidian glory and heroism) அச்சம் என்பது .. மடமையடா.. அஞ்சாமை திராவிடர் .. உடமையடா
2. Thoongathe Thambi Thoongathe - Nee somberi enra peyar vaankaathe (on the consequences of idling and procrastination) தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே - நீயும் சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே!
3. Chinna payale Chinna payale Chethi keladah (on character-building and self confidence) சின்னப் பயலே, சின்னப் பயலே சேதி கேளடா
4. Thirudathe - Paapaa Thirudathe (on prevention of bad habits, especially stealing, while young) திருடாதே, பாப்பா திருடாதே, வறுமை நிலைக்கு பயந்து விடாதே
5. Moonrezhuthil En Moochchirukkum - Athu mudinthapin thaane Pechehirukkum (on the dignity of duty) மூன்றெழுத்தில் என் மூச்சிருக்கும்.... அது முடிஞ்ச பின்னாலும் என் பேச்சிருக்கும்...
6. Onru Engal Jathiye - Ouru Engal Neethiye (on the unity of human race)
7. Unnai Arinthaal Nee Unnai Arinthaal Ulagthil Pooradalaam (on developing self confidence) உன்னை அறிந்தால்...நீ உன்னை அறிந்தால், உலகத்தில் போராடலாம்
8. Buddhan Jesu Gandhi pirandathu Bhoomiyil etharkaaka (on the dignity of labour)
9. Atho Antha paravai pola vazhayendum (on freedom and liberty) அதோ அந்த பறவை போல வாழ வேண்டும்
10 Thaayillamal Naanillai Thaane evarum piranthathillai (on mother love) தாய் இல்லாமல் நான் இல்லை...
11. Chirithu vazhavendum - Nee chirikka vazhnthidathe (on dignity of the labour)
12. Poomazhai thoovi vasanthangal vaaztha oorvalam nadakkirathu.(on sibling love)

MGR would also make sure that he will teach good manners and discipline to the masses through the movies. Therefore, in the characters he played in 120-odd movies, he would never smoke or take alcoholic drinks. On top of that, he would never physically or mentally abuse women. This self-imposed rigidity restricted the character roles he would play and movie critics ridiculed him for this 'un-natural style' of his characters. But MGR would have the last word. Ultimately, he claimed the respected honorific ‘vaathiyar’ (teacher) in its proper sense of the word.

Home Interior Design-Series-011

Magazine Cabinet End Table with Pull-out Shelf

Do you often find that magazines and newspapers begin to take over your living room space? If you like to daily peruse the latest interior design styles, fashion trends, vintage cars or football news, the magazines and publications can begin to build up. What’s needed is a special storage area which can be located in the living room or bedroom but which looks good and blends in with the rest of the room. I believe this magazine cabinet end table in sage green is just the answer.

The magazine cabinet table is convenient, compact and charming. All of these are important for any storage furniture piece that you want located in one of the main rooms of the home. This cabinet table comes with a two-tier magazine rack on one side which can hold a great many newspapers, magazines and related paper-based publications.

What’s ingenious about this construction is the fact that there are two doors, one at the back and one at the front. This means the magazine cabinet end table can be placed at either end of a sofa or armchair by simply being turned in the direction you want the side tiers to face.

Of course, magazine and newspaper reading go hand in hand with tea or coffee drinking. The designers didn’t forget that aspect and so incorporated a pull-out shelf on which cups, mugs and plates can be placed. In this regards, the magazine cabinet end table can be used for more than just a storage cabinet but also as a regular side table. Its sage green color is particularly attractive.

Home Interior Design-Series-010

Attic Remodeling Ideas and Considerations



The attic is one of the most under-designed and unused spaces in the entire home. Most people use the attic space as a storage area where long forgotten antiques, clothes, photo albums and assorted junk gather dust and cobwebs. However, this needn’t be the case, for the attic can quite easily be transformed and remodeled into a usable space such as a spare bedroom, playroom or home study. The following are some considerations you need to take into account before you plan your next move in regards to refurbishment of this area.



The most important rule to abide by is the local building code applicable in your area. These are usually pretty much the same nationwide but there can be variations. Most building codes in the United States require the height of any room to be 7 1/2 feet over 50% of the living area. This means if the highest point in your attic space is 6 feet, then you might face difficulties in developing it much further.



Lighting will be one of the most important interior design considerations for a remodeled attic. If you can get planning permission and have the means and structural ability to install a window or skylight, then this will be perfect. Otherwise a lot of artificial lighting will be needed and whilst this will be more than adequate for a bedroom, it will mean the attic won’t be such an attractive interior to be used for long periods of time during the day. Natural light really is better if you’re going to convert the attic into a playroom or study area and is indeed, much more healthier for your emotional well-being.



Heating in the attic will be required for the colder months of the year. As mentioned in an earlier post (winterizing your home), it will be wise to install a thermostat which will keep the interior at a temperature above freezing so as to avoid damage to pipes, furniture and precious items. Think about running new ducts and check the state of the existing insulation. Replace if necessary.



Another heat-related aspect to take into account is the temperature the attic could reach during the summer months when the sun is blazing down upon the roof. Correct ventilation, fans and protective layers can all help keep the temperature down in this situation.



The floor material might need to be changed or strengthened depending on the type of room that will be created. For example, if the attic is to be changed into a bedroom, then heavy furniture pieces such as beds, chests and wardrobes will need to be carried by a strong and sturdy floor, as well as the extra human traffic.


One of the most difficult and possibly most expensive alterations to the attic will be the creation of an access route. In many cases, the attic is reached via a ladder, which won’t be suitable unless you’re a tree-house crazed child. If there is an existing stairway then you’re in luck but if not, then one will need to be created. This could be a problem depending on the interior architecture of your home.


When all the above considerations have been taken into account and the attic has been transformed into a study, playroom, bedroom or even a meditation room, then the only thing left to do is decorate. This is the fun part and one you can find inspiration for by reading through the posts on this blog.

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-009

Chelsea Nook 3 Piece Dining Set For a Corner of the Kitchen

Depending on the number of rooms in your home and also the size, it can be more suitable for a family to eat in the main kitchen area rather than a dining room. Whether this is the case for you or if you purely seek some extra seating space in the kitchen, then this Chelsea Nook 3 Piece Dining Set made from pine wood might well be just what you’re looking for.

It’s important to make the kitchen an inviting and attractive area of your home. The act of food preparation and consumption should take place in an environment that appeals to the whole family as well as visiting friends and relatives. Too often in our home kitchen, we find there is an absence of seating and table space, perhaps because we have placed the main dining table in another room. It can be quite easy to have concentrated on fitted cupboards and electrical fittings such as fridges and washing machines whilst having forgotten the all important family focal point, the breakfast table.

One of my favorite areas of my own home is the kitchen. I tend to eat breakfast in there, especially as it faces in the direction of the rising sun. If you are in a similar position, then this very attractive wooden 3 piece dining set will provide a delightful furniture piece for this all important morning meal. As is often the case, the kitchen looks back onto the rear yard and in Summer, fresh air can be let in to the kitchen as well as birdsong, whilst ones eats breakfast. The almost rustic appeal of this Chelsea nook set, takes one back to the traditional country cottage interior scenes from centuries gone by. Before I descend into whimsical and romantic verse about such corner nook sets and related interiors, I will tell you where you can purchase the one you see in the image above. From here: Chelsea Nook 3 Piece Dining Set For a Corner of the Kitchen.

As you can see, the set is designed to fit into the corner of your kitchen and provides a focal seating area for the whole family. You can even place it in another room such as the living room, master bedroom or even the hallway if it’s large and open enough. I must say, I like the style of this piece very much. It’s a great place to read the morning newspapers.

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-008

Funky Jazz Metal Wall Art Sculpture

If you’re a huge jazz fan like myself, then this funky jazz metal wall art sculpture will make a great addition to your home. It can be difficult deciding how best to display our love of jazz and we usually often dabble between purchasing posters or paintings. However, metal wall art is a great alternative and one that will indeed last a lot longer than other mediums.

One of my favorite types of Jazz is improvised jazz and is the style that comes to mind when looking at this metal wall art sculpture. It’s expressive, dynamic, energizing and emotionally stimulating whilst at the same time entrenched in a certain order that keeps it from spiralling out of control. A common misconception about improvised jazz is that it is plucked from the air, when it fact it is set to regular rhythm and harmony but with a flexible structure.

In many ways, this description matches the sculpture itself. It’s made from rigid 1/8? mild steel which has been cut by an expert craftsman in South Carolina. We normally expect cut metal to be straight and uniform but this wall sculpture is the opposite and seemingly alive. However, it still holds to the rules of metalwork and is cut from natural, unrefined, unpainted and unburnished steel. This gives it a delightfully individual quality much like the subject it portrays.
This jazz metal wall sculpture will make a great accent for a variety of home interiors. If you have a father or son who are into Jazz music, then this will make an excellent gift. Hung up on a bedroom or living room wall, the jazz band will lend an expressive and artistic display that will enliven the ambiance of a room.

I love listening to Jazz and one of my favorite Jazz musicians is Maceo Parker.

Home Interiror Design Themes-Seies-007

Burnt Out Market to Stylish Library Interior in Bangkok

Inspiration for home interior design can be found anywhere and everywhere. With the advent of the internet, this has made viewing different styles and cultural decorations even more easier. The pictures below will hopefully provide you with both visual enjoyment and a jumping board for ideas when it comes to a room or two in your own home. More often th an not, just a little detail in a larger interior scheme can ignite a decor concept for a domestic living room or bedroom.

There are many reasons to re-decorate a home, one of these being reconstruction after a fire. Thankfully this is a very rare reason. However, this was the case with an old market building in the Min Buri district of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. The local area deteriorated after the major fire which occurred in the late 1990’s. Slums began to develop and business people moved out.

Then came along the Norwegian non-profit organisation, Tyin Tegnestue. This group consisted of five architectural students from Norway who sought to pursue humanitarian ends through architecture. Over a few years, Tyin Tegnestue managed to garner the support and funding from over 60 companies and private payers to help improve the lives of communities affected by poverty across Thailand.

Last year, the project pictured in this post, was completed. Out of the burnt out ruins of the old market came a modern library and a meeting point for the local community. Locals and tourists alike congregate to socialise, read books and generally relax in a warm and attractive interior environment.

The designers tried as best they could to keep their designs in line with the fundamental identity of the area. Materials for construction were gathered from the local region, which would appeal to the locals and also keep costs down. A nearby carpentry carried out most of the woodworking. Since it has opened, the library has been a spring board for regeneration of the surrounding area. Businesses have returned and new people have set up home nearby.

Tyin Tegnestue hope that their refurbishment of the old market will spur on the locals to do the same elsewhere. By using materials that are abundant and cheap, the Norwegians are hopeful that the people of Min Buri will act on their own initiative from within the resources available to them.

Like with these Thai townsfolk, images in magazines, on the net and on television can act as a catalyst for your own interior design endeavours. It’s always fun to take inspiration from bits and pieces we see around us and try and fit them in to our own décor schemes at home. Hopefully these wonderful pictures above will give you something to chew on.

The Man from Marathur and Malai Nadu

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