Varadarajan Mudaliar
Varadarajan Mudaliar | |
|---|---|
| File:Varatha Bhai.png Varada bhai | |
| Born | 09 October 1926 |
| Died | Chennai 1989 |
| Occupation | Underworld |
Varadarajan Muniswami Mudaliar, [Tamil: வரதராஜன் முனுசாமி முதலியார்] also known as Vardhabhai (1926–1988) was a Tamilian from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, who rose to become a mafia don[1] [2] [3] in Mumbai, India. Most active in the 1970s, he was the link in the underworld history between old time mafia men such as Haji Mastan. He is also known as One of Mumbai's dreaded Criminal underworld kingpin.[4]
Underworld leader
Varadarajan started as a porter in Mumbai's Victoria Terminus Station in the 1960s. His emergence in the underworld was largely through bootlegging and matka operations. Later, he diversified into contract killings, smuggling, narcotics trade, land encroachment and dock thefts. He ruled the underworld until the mid-80s when he almost ran a parallel judiciary system, dispensing justice within his community. Varadarajan Mudaliar rose to be the major force in Mumbai underworld after the split in Karim Lala gang between the Pathan and Dawood factions.[5] Through the seventies, Karim Lala reigned over South & Central Mumbai and Varadarajan reigned over North Central and East Mumbai while most smuggling and illegal construction financing was managed by Haji Mastan.
Varadarajan was very active in the Dharavi, Matunga, King Circle, Sion and Chunnabhatti areas of Mumbai. He organized the annual Ganesha festival in Matunga. However, after the collapse of the cotton mills in Mumbai in the mid-1980s, their relevance ended.[6]
In the mid-1980s, police officer Y. C. Pawar targeted Varadarajan. By the end of the 1980s, most of Varadarajan's gang members had been imprisoned or eliminated by Pawar, and Varadarajan himself had to flee to Chennai. Varadarajan died in Chennai in 1988, aged 62. In 1987, the Tamil film maker Mani Ratnam made his film Nayagan, loosely based on Varadarajan's life. Actor Kamal Hassan played the lead role. The Hindi movie Dayavan, produced and directed by Feroz Khan was a remake of Nayagan.
Personal Life
Mudaliar died in Chennai in 1988 due to a heart attack. Life came to a standstill in Dharavi, Matunga and Sion Koliwada when his body was flown into the city.. Haji Mastan chartered an Indian Airlines plane and brought his friend's body to Mumbai for last rites as per Varda's wishes.[7]
Mudaliar's children live a quiet life in Mumbai and Chennai. One of his daughters(Mahalakshmi) and sons-in-law(Hemachander Selvaraj) were killed in a fire accident on 6th October 2010 while his grand children are settled in the USA. One of his sons(Janakiraman Mudaliar) died of natural causes on 4th September 2012.[8]
In popular culture
In 1987, Mani Ratnam made his film Nayagan (meaning Hero), loosely based on Varadarajan's life.[4] Actor Kamal Hassan played the lead role. Varadharajan Mudaliar narrated climax when he was alive.[9]
The 1988 Hindi movie Dayavan, starring Vinod Khanna was a Hindi adaptation of Nayagan.
In a television interview, Amitabh Bachchan is reported to have modeled his dialogues in the movie Agneepath, based on Vardarajan Mudaliar.[10] The veteran actor had once happened to observe the don and his mannerisms from close quarters, and used the same in 'Agneepath'.[10]
References
- ^ Varadarajan Muniswami Mudaliar aka Vardhabhai, Feature Photo, Varadarajan Muniswami Mudaliar
- ^ Fear was his best tool
- ^ Mumbai’s own godfather - Deccan Herald - Internet Edition
- ^ a b Mani Ratnam's inspiration for Nayagan - Times Of India
- ^ Times news network (20 February 2002). "Karim Lala's death marks end of old-guard mafia". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Picasa Web Albums - mahendarts123456". Picasaweb.google.com. 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
- ^ "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai - Bombay Cinephile". Bombaycinephile.blogspot.in. 2010-08-05. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
- ^ Oct 7, 2010, 12.24am IST. "Don's daughter, son in-law killed in fire - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/of-course-velu-nayakan-doesnt-dance/article4008896.ece
- ^ a b "Times of India article - Amitabh Bachchan recalls the old dons of Mumbai of yore". The Times Of India. 3 July 2011.
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