Murasoli Selvam

Shanmugasundaram Pannirselvam (24 April 1940 – 10 October 2024), popularly known as Murasoli Selvam, was a political journalist and film producer from Tamil Nadu, India. For over three decades, he served as the chief editor of Murasoli, the mouthpiece of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Through his maternal side, he was related to the Karunanidhi family.

Early life He was born on 24 April 1940 in Thiruvarur, a town in present-day Tamil Nadu. His mother was Shanmuga Sundarathammal, whose younger brother M. Karunanidhi, (the patriarch of the Karunanidhi family Selvam would later marry Karunanidhi's daughter Selvi.

Selvam's elder brother Murasoli Maran served as a Union Minister (during 1989–2002) under four Indian Prime Ministers - V. P. Singh, H. D. Deve Gowda, I. K. Gujral, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Selvam was associated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) early on, and made his mark as a student leader during the 1965-67 Anti-Hindi agitations.

1991-92 Breach of Privilege controversy On 9 September 1991, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, then the only DMK MLA in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, delivered a speech regarding the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. A part of his speech was expunged from the House notes that afternoon by the Speaker Sedapatti R. Muthiah. While the deletion was reflected in the Chennai edition of Murasoli, the daily's outstation editions contained the expunged text, as they have been printed by 2 pm.

Legacy Selvam published a memoir titled Murasoli Sila Ninaivalaigal (A Few Memories regarding Murasoli), where he articulated the plethora of first hand experiences with the newspaper, highlighting its crucial aspect and role in analysing the political challenges and roadblocks.

According to his acquaintances, he was known for his quiet nature, never seeking political positions despite his closeness to the DMK leadership. The next day (10 October), Selvam suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 84.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, as president of the DMK, mourned that he lost "the last shoulder and ideological pillar to lean on". The party announced that the party's flag would be hoisted in half-mast for three days in recognition of Selvam's contribution to the party's growth. Tributes poured in from key DMK leaders and legislators (including Udhayanidhi Stalin) and film personalities (including Sathyaraj). Leaders of parties and organizations including INC (Tamil Nadu unit), MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MNM, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) also expressed their condolence.

Selvam's funeral was held on 11 October at the crematorium in Besant Nagar, Chennai.

His portrait was opened at the DMK headquarters on 21 October. At the event, Stalin announced that a trust would be established in Selvam's name to annually confer awards to works and creators from the Dravidian movement.

On 24 April 2025, Selvam's bust was opened at the Murasoli office by Stalin. Among those present at the event were the DMK's general secretary Durai Murugan, treasurer T. R. Baalu DK president K. Veeramani, and Kalaignar TV's director Amirtham (son of Periyanayagi Ammal, another of Karunanidhi's sisters). A new collection of Selvam's essays, titled Silandhi Katturaigal was released by Durai Murugan at the event, with Veeramani receiving the first copy.