Be it in power or out of it, the 91-year-old DMK president has immensely influenced the political narrative of Tamil Nadu for long.
Karunanidhi made his mark in the socio-political landscape for the first time when he led the famous “Kallakudi agitation”, lying over the railway tracks in 1953 seeking renaming of Dalmiapuram station.
Born in Thirukkuvalai on June 3, 1924, a small agrarian village in the then composite Thanjavur District (now Nagapattinam), he was hooked to the Dravidian movement led by reformist leader Periyar EVR when he was still a teen. Karunanidhi became an ardent follower of Dravidian ideologue CN Annadurai and joined the DMK when the latter founded it in 1949.
Endowed with brilliant screen-writing skills, he used it to further the ideology of DMK on-screen, primarily rationalism like his mentor Annadurai. As its proponent, he too began rising as a star in films and politics and came to be hailed as “Kalaignar” (artist) in subsequent years by his supporters.
His sharp screen play in “Parasakthi,” (1952) a trendsetter Tamil movie, would illustrate how films were used by DMK to propagate its ideals and ensconce itself deep in public consciousness which eventually aided it in capturing power from Congress in 1967.
Karunanidhi was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister five times between 1969-71, 71-76, 89-91, 96-01 and 2006-11. Despite many ups and downs, he has not lost a single election himself. He debuted in Kulithalai in 1957 and went on to win in all the subsequent eleven elections he contested. He did not contest the 1984 assembly election since he was a member of the Legislative Council then.
With his screen-writing skills aiding him financially, Karunanidhi’s wonderful organising skills and oratory shone light on his prospects inside the party in the initial years.