Date of Birth

24-02-1948

Place

Mysore

Education

Matriculation

Awards and Special Degrees

Honoured with the Award "Kalaimamani" by  the Tamil Nadu Government in 1972. The University of Madras on 19th December 1991 has honoured her by conferring the Degree of Doctor of Literature(D.Litt)

Marital Status

Unmarried

Occupation

Agriculture

Political Career

Under the guidance of her mentor Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G Ramachandran, she entered politics and became a  member in AIADMK in 1982. In January 1983, she was appointed as the Propaganda Secretary of AIADMK. In 1983, she was chosen by Dr MGR to conduct her maiden election campaign for the AIADMK candidate in the bye-election to Tiruchendur Assembly constituency. Her election campaign was a trail blazer securing an astounding  victory for the party candidate against all odds.

In 1984, she was elected a Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha  and retained the seat until she was  elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1989. When Dr MGR fell ill and was under medical treatment in the USA, the AIADMK had to fight the general elections to the Lok Sabha and to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in December 1984. In the absence of Dr. MGR, she took his place and spear-headed the alliance of  the AIADMK and  Congress(I), securing a massive victory for the alliance.

After the demise of Dr. MGR in 1987, the AIADMK party split vertically into two. As the General Secretary of the party she contested the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in January 1989 and was elected from Bodinayakkanur.
 
She became the first Woman Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. In February 1989, the two factions of the AIADMK reunited under her singular leadership and she was unanimously elected to the post of General Secretary of the unified AIADMK.

In 1989, she restored the 'Two Leaves' election symbol to the AIADMK party. In the 1989 General Elections to the Lok Sabha, she steered the AIADMK-Congress alliance to a historic victory in the State of Tamil Nadu and the  Pondicherry Union Territory.

Thereafter she secured victories for AIADMK in all the subsequent bye-elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Marungapuri, Madurai East and Pernamallur Assembly constituencies.

Won a magnificent victory by contesting in both Bargur and Kangeyam constituencies during the General Elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly held in 1991. Moreover, she single handedly ensured a massive victory for her party and the alliance by winning 225 constituencies  out of 234. Subsequently, she resigned the Kangeyam Assembly seat she had won and made her party candidate contest in that constituency and made him secure an astounding victory.

Further she was instrumental for the historic 100 percent victory of the AIADMK  and its alliance in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry held simultaneously in 1991 General Elections to 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, in which the alliance led by her swept to a historic victory by winning all the 40 Lok Sabha seats (39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Pondicherry). She was elected from Andipatti Assembly constituency in February 2002.

Chief Minister from 24-06-1991 to 12-05-1996, from 14-05-2001 to 21-09-2001and from 02-03-2002

Foreign Travels

USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Nepal

Hobby

Reading, Music, Agriculture

Publications

Written Several articles in English and Tamil which have been published in various periodicals. Written four full length novels and several short stories in Tamil

Sports

Cricket, Tennis, Swimming, Horse Riding, Basket Ball, Chess, Athletics

Other information, if any

She was educated at the Bishop Cotton Girls High School in Bangalore and later at the Presentation Convent Church Park in Chennai. On completion of Matriculation in 1964, she won a scholarship from Government of India for higher studies but did not accept it as she took up a career in films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, English and Malayalam. She was trained in classical dance (Bharata Natyam) and Carnatic Music from the age of 4 onwards. She is proficient in other dance-forms such as Mohini Attam, Kathak, Manipuri. She has given hundreds of performances in Bharatha Natyam all over India and has sung several songs herself in her films. She is proficient in English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and can understand Malayalam also.

Present Address

"Veda Nilayam",  81/36 Poes Garden, Chennai - 600 086.

Permanent Address

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Telephone Numbers

E-Mail

044-24670215 (R), 044-25672345 (O)
044-25671441 (Fax)
cmcell@tn.gov.in