Janaki Ramachandran
Janaki Ramachandran
Janaki Ramachandran (November 30, 1923 to 19th May 1996) was a dancer, film artiste and politician in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. She was a well known person who was also the wife of Dr.M.G.Ramachandran.
She was born to Late Mr. P.R.Rajagopal Iyer and Mrs. Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom, Kottayam in Kerala State. She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist. Her father's younger brother was Papanasam Sivan. Janaki was a successful actress in late 1940s and starred in more than 25 movies including Mohini, Raja Mukthi, Velaikaari, Aiyiram Thalaivangiya Aboorva Chintamani, Devaki and Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi.
In 1987, when her husband M. G. Ramachandran died, Janaki was asked by party members to take his place. She took his place as the Leader of the AIADMK party and became the first woman Chief minister of Tamil Nadu for a short period.
She died of a cardiac arrest on 19 May 1996 and was buried in state at her residence in Ramavaram MGR Gardens. Janaki Ramachandran gifted her property in Avvai Shanmugham Salai (Lloyds Road) to her husband in which the the AIADMK party headquarters is situated. She was the founder chairman of The Satya Educational & Charitable Society managing many free educational institutions in Chennai. She gave property worth many million dollars for the establishment of educational and charitable institutions in Tamil Nadu. She was a promoter of Emgeeyar Pictures Private Limited which produced many films.