See pics: M Karunanidhi and the first family of Tamil film industry
Karunanidhi was writing movies as late as 2011, but that isn't the only connection this veteran writer, poet had with Tamil film industry
A writer par excellence, M Karunanidhi began penning scripts as a 20-year old for plays which became a vehicle for propagating principles of the Dravidian movement.
A voracious reader and prolific author, he went on to write screenplays and dialogues for over 50 movies, prominent among them being Parasakthi starring Sivaji Ganesan in 1952, and scripted the story for several of them. He was responsible for establishing MGR with 1947 movie Rajakumari.
But writing powerful scripts wasn't the only connection he had with Tamil film industry. He worked with legends like CN Anndurai, J Jayalalithaa who later in life became political enemies. Karunanidhi's family members too have been part of entertainment industry down south with Maran family's Sun Network being one of the most prominent connection.
Here's a look at entertainment industry folks who were associated with M Karunanidhi.
Written by M Karunanidhi, Rajakumari was the movie that established MGR as the lead hero. But creating All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) out of DMK was probably the worst blow MGR delivered. (YouTube)
Annadurai wrote stories and dialogues for 10 Tamil movies including co-writing Rangoon Radha with Karunanidhi. Annadurai was the crucial factor in rallying all MGR fans for AIADMK when the movie star left DMK. (Wikimedia Commons)
After the bitter a fallout and when MGR became a political figure, Karunanidhi started promoting his eldest son MK Muthu as a younger option to the then Tamil superstar. Karunanidhi wrote movies for his son but his career didn't take off as expected.
Epics can be written about the political tussle between Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa.
Dayanidhi Maran and Kalanithi Maran are sons of Murasoli Maran who was the son of Karunanidhi's sister. The Marans own one the most popular TV network -- Sun Network -- in south India.
Son of MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin is an actor and producer. He had a production company called Red Giant Movies.