This actress became chief minister of Tamil Nadu for 23 days, not Jayalalithaa, her name was….

She was a well-known actress and the wife of legendary actor-turned-politician M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), who was a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics.

In India’s political history, only two actresses have held the position of Chief Minister in the state of Tamil Nadu. One of them is the iconic J. Jayalalithaa, who served as the state’s CM for an impressive 14 years and 124 days — the second-longest tenure for a female CM in India, after Sheila Dikshit. However, before Jayalalithaa’s remarkable political journey, another actress briefly held the prestigious role. Her name was V.N. Janaki Ramachandran.

V.N. Janaki was a well-known actress and the wife of legendary actor-turned-politician M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), who was a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics.

V.N. Janaki Ramachandran’s early life

Vaikom Narayani Janaki was born on September 23, 1924, in Kerala. Growing up in a family with a strong artistic background, Janaki was deeply influenced by music and dance. Her uncle, Papanasam Sivan, was a renowned Carnatic musician.

In 1936, Janaki’s father, Rajagopal Iyer, who was also a musician, got an opportunity to write lyrics for the film Madras Mail. This led the family to relocate to Madras (now Chennai).

Janaki was trained in both classical music and dance, and she eventually stepped into the world of cinema. Over the years, she appeared in several films, often starring alongside Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (MGR), who went on to become one of Tamil Nadu’s most influential political leaders.

V.N. Janaki Ramachandran’s historic tenure

Following MGR’s death in 1987, Janaki found herself at the center of a political battle with J. Jayalalithaa, MGR’s close associate and political successor. Despite the intense power struggle, Janaki briefly became Tamil Nadu’s first female Chief Minister.

Her tenure, however, lasted for just 23 days — from January 7, 1988, to January 30, 1988. Despite its brevity, her appointment was significant as she became the first actress in Indian history to become a Chief Minister.

Political legacy

Both V.N. Janaki and Jayalalithaa were prominent members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party, a key political force in Tamil Nadu. While Janaki’s stint as CM was short-lived, her role remains a unique chapter in Indian political history.