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{{Short description|Memorial complex in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox building
|name = M.G.R. and Amma Memorial
|image = Entrance to MGR Samadhi (14554120869).jpg
|image_caption = Façade of the memorial complex at the [[Marina Beach]]
|alternate_names = M.G.R. and Amma Ninaividam<br/>M.G.R. and Amma Square
|building_type = Tomb and Museum
|architectural_style = Lotus-shaped (M.G.R.) and Phoenix-shaped (Amma)
|address = Kamarajar Promenade, [[Marina beach]]
|location_town = [[Chennai]]
|location_country = India
|coordinates = {{coord|13|3|52.38|N|80|17|3.3|E}}
|groundbreaking_date = 25 December 1987 and<br/>6 December 2016
|owner = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
}}
'''M.G.R. and Amma Memorial''', officially '''Bharat Ratna Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.R. and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Selvi J. Jayalalithaa Memorial''', is a [[Mausoleum|memorial complex]] dedicated to the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu|chief ministers of Tamil Nadu]] [[M. G. Ramachandran]] (M.G.R.) and [[J. Jayalalithaa]] (Amma), where a black marble platform was raised on the spot of M.G.R.'s cremation on 25 December 1987 and on the spot of Jayalalithaa's on 6 December 2016. An [[eternal flame]] illuminates both cemeteries, with a portrait of each individual placed at one end. A stone footpath leads to the lotus-shaped wall enclosure that houses the M.G.R. Memorial, with the sword pillar topped with a spherical-shaped dome light, and a stone footpath leads to the phoenix-shaped wall enclosure that houses the memorial of M.G.R.'s protégé and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-cm-jayalalithaa-dies-at-68-to-be-cremated-at-mentor-mgr-s-memorial/story-3Y7UWyIbxGrfLb9bdq9M7H.html|title=Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa dies at 68, to be buried at MGR's memorial site|date=6 December 2016|first1=Aditya|last1=Iyer|first2=KV|last2=Lakshmana|newspaper=Hindustan Times|accessdate=31 July 2018}}</ref> The memorial complex is located on Kamarajar Promenade, adjacent to the [[Anna Memorial]] on [[Marina Beach]] in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=MGR memorial in Marina gets makeover|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|location=Chennai|date=10 December 2012|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121210/news-current-affairs/article/mgr%E2%80%88memorial-marina-gets-makeover|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125000443/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121210/news-current-affairs/article/mgr%E2%80%88memorial-marina-gets-makeover|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|accessdate=11 December 2012}}</ref>

==History==
{{multiple image
|background color = #E5F4EA
|align = right
|caption_align = center
|direction = horizontal
|image1 = MG Ramachandran 2017 stamp of India.jpg
|caption1 = [[M. G. Ramachandran]]<br/>(1917–1987)
|width1 = 123
|image2 = J Jayalalithaa.jpg
|caption2 = [[J. Jayalalithaa]]<br/>(1948–2016)
|width2 = 132
}}

===M.G.R. Memorial===
The memorial was built in the memory of the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[M. G. Ramachandran]], the first actor to become the [[Chief minister (India)|chief minister]] in the [[Republic of India]], and that too by winning three consecutive [[Elections in Tamil Nadu#Legislative Assembly elections|legislative assembly elections]] and continuing to be in the position until his death. Considered one of the greatest political leaders and actors of the state, his followers idolise him as "Puratchi Thalaivar" ''(Revolutionary Leader)''. He was posthumously awarded the [[Bharat Ratna]], the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

On 24 December 1987, after his prolonged illness, he suffered cardiac arrest at 1:00 a.m. and was declared dead at 3:30 a.m. in his ''M.G.R. Thottam'' residence in [[Ramapuram, Chennai]]. He was 70 years old, just a month away from his 71st birthday on 17 January 1988. His death sparked a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state. Shops, cinemas, buses, and other public and private property became the targets of violence. The police had to resort to issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Schools and colleges immediately announced holidays until the situation was under control. Violence during the funeral alone left 129 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded. Young and married women allegedly shaved their heads bald and dressed like widows. Men whipped themselves until they bled to death. There were some extreme instances where people burnt themselves to death and burnt villages down.<ref>{{cite news|title=4 Die as Indians Bury Top Tamil Leader|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=26 December 1987|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-26-mn-7433-story.html|accessdate=30 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=POPULAR TAMIL LEADER DIES IN INDIA|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=24 December 1987|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/12/25/popular-tamil-leader-dies-in-india/a6ca6cb0-7bea-456e-92b9-0e6915d9973c/|accessdate=30 December 2025}}</ref>

His body was kept [[in state]] at [[Rajaji Hall]] for the public to pay their tribute for two days, from 8:40 a.m. on 24 December until 1:00 p.m. the next day. On 25 December 1987, the funeral procession began at 1:25 p.m., and his remains were buried at the northern end of [[Marina Beach]], proximate to his mentor and the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[C. N. Annadurai]]'s memorial, named the [[Anna Memorial]].

===Amma Memorial===
The memorial was built in the memory of the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[J. Jayalalithaa]], the second actress to become the [[Chief minister (India)|chief minister]] in the [[Republic of India]] after [[M.G.R.]]'s wife, [[V. N. Janaki Ramachandran]]. Jayalalithaa served as the [[General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|general secretary]] of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] from 1988 to 2016 and has the second-longest tenure of chief ministership in [[Tamil Nadu]], having served multiple terms and continuing to hold the position until her death. Considered one of the greatest political leaders and actresses of the state, her followers idolise her as "Puratchi Thalaivi" (Revolutionary Leader). She was the first and only woman to serve as the [[Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]].

On 22 September 2016, Jayalalithaa was admitted to [[Apollo Hospitals]] in [[Chennai]] as she was suffering from an infection and acute [[dehydration]]. On 12 October 2016, she was also said to be suffering from a severe pulmonary infection and [[septicaemia]], which were cured. On 4 December 2016, she was re-admitted to the [[intensive care unit]] after suffering a [[cardiac arrest]] around 4:45 p.m. The hospital released a press statement stating that her condition was "very critical" and that she was on life support. On 5 December 2016, the hospital announced her death around 11:30 p.m., and she became the first [[List of female chief ministers in India|female chief minister]] to die in office in the Republic of India. She was 68 years old, just two months away from her 69th birthday on 24 February 2017.

Her body was kept [[in state]] at her residence, ''Veda Nilayam'' in [[Teynampet|Poes Garden, Chennai]], until the wee hours of 6 December 2016 and later at [[Rajaji Hall]] for the public to pay their tribute. Her [[last rites]] were performed on the evening of 6 December 2016, and her remains were [[Burial|buried]] at the northern end of [[Marina Beach]] in a [[Coffin|sandalwood casket]] engraved with "Puratchi Thalaivi Selvi J Jayalalithaa", adjacent to the grave of her mentor and the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[M. G. Ramachandran]]'s memorial, named the M.G.R. Memorial.

==Construction and Renovation==
The memorial complex spreads over 8.25 acres and has the highest number of visitors along the seafront. The M.G.R. memorial started its construction work in 1988 and was inaugurated by [[M. G. Ramachandran]]'s wife and the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[V. N. Janaki Ramachandran]] in May 1990.<ref>{{cite web|title=M.G.R. Memorial|publisher=Chennai.com|url=http://www.chennai.com/MGR_memorial.html|accessdate=11 December 2012}}</ref> In 1992, the memorial complex was remodelled and laid with marble by the [[government of Tamil Nadu]] led by chief minister [[J. Jayalalithaa]]. Between 1996 and 1998, the mausoleum was again renovated at a cost of about {{INR}}2.75 crore. When the [[2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami|Indian Ocean tsunami]] struck the seafront in December 2004, the memorial was damaged. Repair works cost approximately {{INR}}1.33 crore.<ref name="Hindu_8_90CroreForRenovation">{{cite news|title=Rs. 8.90 crore for renovation of Anna, MGR memorials|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Chennai|date=30 January 2012|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2843039.ece|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref>

In 2012, the memorial was again renovated at a cost of {{INR}}4.3 crore, including {{INR}}3.4 crore for remodelling the facade and the surrounding wall.<ref name="Hindu_TwoLeavesAdornsFacade">{{Cite news|title='Two leaves' adorns facade of renovated MGR memorial|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Chennai|date=10 December 2012|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/two-leaves-adorns-facade-of-renovated-mgr-memorial/article4181848.ece?homepage=true|accessdate=11 December 2012}}</ref> This renovation included a new entrance with the Two Leaves, the electoral symbol of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], and [[Pegasus]], the horse from [[Greek mythology]]; landscaping of the open area around the memorial using Korean grass; and the planting of exotic, decorative plants such as palmyra alpha, [[date palm]], [[spider lily]], and [[adenium]]. Also included were a granite pathway shaped like a guitar, stainless steel handles around the memorial, a fountain in the middle, a waterfall at the rear, decorative lamps, and an overhead tower with lights both at the entrance and on the arch.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jaya throws open renovated MGR Memorial for public on Marina|newspaper=Web India 123|location=Chennai|publisher=WebIndia123.com|date=9 December 2012|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20121209/2116329.html|accessdate = 11 December 2012}}</ref> Two 18-metre-wide pergolas were also constructed, in addition to ramps for the physically challenged.

The erection of the two leaves insignia at the façade of the entrance as an arch was opposed by the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=DMK opposes 'two leaves' symbol on MGR memorial|location=Chennai|date=3 December 2012|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-03/chennai/35570019_1_mgr-death-anniversary-r-s-bharathi-c-n-annadurai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729101057/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-03/chennai/35570019_1_mgr-death-anniversary-r-s-bharathi-c-n-annadurai|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref> A public interest petition was filed in the [[Madras High Court]] in October 2012 against the erection of that insignia,<ref>{{Cite news|title=PIL questions renovation at MGR memorial|location=Chennai|date=13 October 2012|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/chennai/34430278_1_mgr-renovation-pil|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126050355/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/chennai/34430278_1_mgr-renovation-pil|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref> but it was dismissed by the court.<ref>{{Cite news|title=PIL challenging new arch at MGR Memorial dismissed|newspaper=The New Indian Express|location=Chennai|publisher=Express Publications|date=16 October 2012|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1301567.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022092051/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article1301567.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 October 2012|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=HC dismisses plea against MGR memorial rejig|location=Chennai|date=16 October 2012|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-16/chennai/34497532_1_mgr-pil-political-affiliations|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126044951/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-16/chennai/34497532_1_mgr-pil-political-affiliations|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref>

In 2016, when [[M.G.R.]]'s protégé and the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[J. Jayalalithaa]], died, she was buried behind her mentor in the memorial complex. A new memorial was built for her at a cost of {{INR}}50 crore.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Jayalalithaa memorial, to be built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, to resemble phoenix|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/05/07/jayalalithaa-memorial-to-be-built-at-a-cost-of-rs-50-crore-to-resemble-phoenix.html|access-date=7 May 2018|work=The Week|date=7 May 2018}}</ref> The memorial is planned to be built in the shape of a [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]], covering the cemetery of Jayalalithaa. On 7 May 2018, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the memorial by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]], in the presence of prominent members of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]. The memorial is named ''Amma Memorial'', as Jayalalithaa is fondly called Amma by her followers and party cadres.

On 27 January 2021, the memorial and the museum of [[J. Jayalalithaa]], named Amma Memorial and Amma Museum, respectively, were inaugurated by the [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]], in the memorial complex.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tamil Nadu govt inaugurates sprawling 'phoenix' themed memorial of Jayalalithaa|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jayalalithaa-memorial-chennai-marina-beach-poes-garden-inaugurated-pictures-pics-1763385-2021-01-28|access-date=28 January 2021|work=indiatoday|date=28 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Jayalalithaa memorial inauguration on Jan 27|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/jan/20/jaya-memorial-inauguration-on-jan-27-2252404.html|access-date=20 January 2021|work=The New Indian Express|date=20 January 2021}}</ref>

==Entrance==
The facade of the memorial complex was a tall entry arch with a concrete replica of the Two Leaves, the electoral symbol of the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], founded by the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[M. G. Ramachandran]]. The facade was also given a Grecian touch with the erection of a 12-foot-high bronze sculpture of [[Pegasus]], the winged horse of [[Greek mythology]]. The 3.75-[[tonne]] sculpture, by architect R. Ravindran, a sthapathi from [[Mamallapuram]], is set on a 4.5-meter-high pedestal.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mariappan|first=Julie|title=Pegasus to adorn MGR memorial|location=Chennai|date=2 December 2012|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-02/chennai/35547913_1_pegasus-panchaloha-idols-valour-and-energy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527130040/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-02/chennai/35547913_1_pegasus-panchaloha-idols-valour-and-energy|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref>

Two 15.9-metre-high columns serving as the entrance were built with reinforced concrete. The elevated structure of the two leaves is supported by a 6-metre-high beam serving as the stem. The leaf structure, with a span of 10.2 metres for each leaf, is a metre higher than the towering columns. The leaves have a slight resemblance to a honeycomb and are visible from both the front and the rear.<ref name="TOI_NewLookWithAddedWings">{{Cite news|last=Mariappan|first=Julie|title=MGR Memorial to wear a new look with added wings|location=Chennai|date=12 September 2012|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/MGR-Memorial-to-wear-a-new-look-with-added-wings/articleshow/16360978.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529083858/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-12/chennai/33788221_1_structure-pegasus-wings|url-status=live|archive-date=29 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery caption="M.G.R. and Amma Memorial Complex" mode="packed">
File:MGRMemorial Pegasus Closeup.jpg|Bronze Pegasus at the entrance to the memorial
File:MGRMemorialCorridor.jpg|Main corridor of the memorial
File:MGR Memorial 9 December 2007.jpg|Lotus-shaped wall houses the M.G.R. Memorial
File:A panoramic view, MGR Memorial.jpg|A panoramic view of the M.G.R. Memorial
File:The ever-burning lamp at the MGR Memorial.jpg|An eternal flame near the cemetery of M.G.R.
File:MGRMemorial Museum.jpg|Dr. M.G.R. Museum inside the memorial complex
File:Image Gallery at MGR museum, Marina Beach, Chennai.jpg|Photo gallery inside the Dr. M.G.R. Museum
File:Amma memorial.jpg|Amma Memorial on the next day of cremation
File:MGR Memorial, Chennai aerial view.png|An aerial view of the M.G.R. and Amma Memorial Complex
File:Jayalalitha Memorial.jpg|Phoenix-shaped wall houses the Amma Memorial
File:MGR Memorial 2.jpg|Amma Museum inside the memorial complex
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|India}}
*[[Anna Memorial]]
*[[Marina Beach]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Chennai Topics}}

[[Category:1988 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:2021 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1988]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2021]]
[[Category:Memorials to M G Ramachandran]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Chennai]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Chennai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Chennai]]

M.G.R. and Amma Memorial - Revision history

KandacePolding at 19:58, 29 December 2025