As we step out from our house this morning, an old MGR number drifts through the wind and gets to us. We wonder why the tea guy who has been playing all those only-god-knows-what songs every morning has chosen to play "Pudhiya vaanam pudhiya bhoomi…" Then the fact dawns that today is MGR's birth anniversary.

The world remembers him as an all-rounder hero, a shrewd politician and a noble human being. Just the three alphabets 'MGR' is enough even for a child to understand the greatness of this man!

It has been more than 30 years since M.G. Ramachandran's last movie “Maduraiyai Meeta Sundara Pandian" was released. His movies run packed houses even when released today. The young and the old remember this "Aayirathil Oruvan" fondly even today.

Not only MGR's films but even his songs are still very much in demand. The remix version of ‘Anru vanthathum Athe Nila’ (in Kannamoochi Yaenada) was a hit. His songs like 'Adho andha paravai polla...' and 'Poo mazhai thoovi...' are being remixed. The directors and the actors of today crave to name their movies with the titles of the hits of MGR.

Director Selvaraghavan is making a film starring "Paruthi Veeran" fame Karthi and Reema Sen which is titled "Aayirathil Oruvan". Not only has the director taken the name from the original but Selvaraghavan's new version will also feature a remix version of the old song "Aadho andha paravai polla vazha vendum". But let us point out that this latest film is not a remake of the older MGR starrer "Aayirathil Oruvan".

Every nook and corner of the streets and the TV channels have been playing MGR songs right from morning today, as a tribute to this real and reel life hero.

Listen to MGR Birthday Special on Raaga.com

Trisha in her latest release 'Bheemaa' says about Vikram "is he MGR to fight with a smile on his face?" This sums up the impact this legend has on the people of this state, and we at India glitz on this day wish that the principles and all that he taught us thorough out his films and life stay on and are remembered forever!