Varadarajan Mudaliar
Encyclopedia
Varadarajan Muniswami Mudaliar, also known as Vardhabhai (1926–1988) was a Tamil
from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu
, who rose to be a mafia don
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
.
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 killing
s, smuggling
and dock thefts. He ruled the underworld well in to the 1980s. In the 1980s, he almost ran a parallel judiciary
system, dispensing justice within his community. Varadarajan Mudaliar came into light after the reign of Karim Lala
. At that time, Karim Lala, Varadarajan and Haji Mastan
were the trio that ruled the Mumbai underworld.
Varadarajan was very active in the Matunga
and Dharavi
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.
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 Nayakan, loosely based on Varadarajan's life. Actor Kamal Hassan played the lead role.
The Hindi movie Dayavan, produced and directed by Feroz Khan (released : 21 October 1988) was based loosely on the life of Vardarajan.
Vardhabhai sought assistance from Tilak Nagar-based gangster Rajan Nair alias Bada Rajan to protect his territories and neutralise threats from rivals like Lala and Mastan. While the Pathan gang was beefed up with the entry of Samad Khan, Reshim soon made it as a leader in the docks.
It is said that these three had good standings with their communities and looked after their interests.
made his film Nayagan
(meaning Leader), loosely based on Varadarajan's life. Actor Kamal Hassan played the lead role.
The Hindi movie Dayavan
, starring Vinod Khanna
(1988) 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.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, who rose to be a mafia don
Indian mafia
The term Indian mafia refers to certain criminal organizations found in some of India's major cities. The "Indian Mafia" also refer to powerful families that have criminal aspects to it.- Mumbai underworld :...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Most active in the 1970s, he was the link in the underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
history between old time mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
men such as Haji Mastan
Haji Mastan
Haji Mastan Mirza, popularly known as Haji Mastan or Bawa, was a Bombay gangster and smuggler in the 1960s and 1970s. Mastan became the first celebrity gangster of the city, expanding his clout in the film industry. As Mastan's influence in Bollywood grew, he began to produce films...
.
Varadarajan started as a porter in Mumbai's Victoria Terminus Station in the 1960s. His emergence in the underworld was largely through bootlegging
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
and matka
Matka gambling
Matka is a type of gambling that originated in Mumbai, India. The word Matka is often used as a synonym for "gambling" in India. Matka is known to be started and made a big money proposition in India by Ratan Khatri....
operations. Later, he diversified into contract killing
Contract killing
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary, or otherwise. The hiring party may...
s, smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
and dock thefts. He ruled the underworld well in to the 1980s. In the 1980s, he almost ran a parallel judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
system, dispensing justice within his community. Varadarajan Mudaliar came into light after the reign of Karim Lala
Karim Lala
Karim Lala , born as Abdul Karim Sher Khan in Kunar province of Afghanistan, was popularly known as the 'don of Mumbai' in India. He is widely recognized as the founder and pioneer of the Indian mafia in the Mumbai area...
. At that time, Karim Lala, Varadarajan and Haji Mastan
Haji Mastan
Haji Mastan Mirza, popularly known as Haji Mastan or Bawa, was a Bombay gangster and smuggler in the 1960s and 1970s. Mastan became the first celebrity gangster of the city, expanding his clout in the film industry. As Mastan's influence in Bollywood grew, he began to produce films...
were the trio that ruled the Mumbai underworld.
Varadarajan was very active in the Matunga
Matunga
Matunga is a district located in the central part of Mumbai. It is a railway station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. This station is called Matunga on the Central railway line, Matunga Road on the Western line and King's Circle, on the Harbour Line...
and Dharavi
Dharavi
Dharavi is a slum and administrative ward, over parts of Sion, Bandra, Kurla and Kalina suburbs of Mumbai, India. It is sandwiched between Mahim in the west and Sion in the east, and spread over an area of 175 hectares, or...
areas of Mumbai. He organized the annual Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
festival in Matunga
Matunga
Matunga is a district located in the central part of Mumbai. It is a railway station on the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. This station is called Matunga on the Central railway line, Matunga Road on the Western line and King's Circle, on the Harbour Line...
. However, after the collapse of the cotton mills in Mumbai in the mid 1980s, their relevance ended.
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
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. Varadarajan died in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in 1988, aged 62. In 1987, the Tamil film maker Mani Ratnam made his film Nayakan, loosely based on Varadarajan's life. Actor Kamal Hassan played the lead role.
The Hindi movie Dayavan, produced and directed by Feroz Khan (released : 21 October 1988) was based loosely on the life of Vardarajan.
Vardhabhai sought assistance from Tilak Nagar-based gangster Rajan Nair alias Bada Rajan to protect his territories and neutralise threats from rivals like Lala and Mastan. While the Pathan gang was beefed up with the entry of Samad Khan, Reshim soon made it as a leader in the docks.
It is said that these three had good standings with their communities and looked after their interests.
In popular culture
In 1987, the Tamil film maker Mani RatnamMani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...
made his film Nayagan
Nayagan
Nayagan is a Indian film, written, directed, and co-produced by Mani Ratnam which released on 21 October 1987 coinciding with Diwali. Upon release, the film got rave reviews across India. Kamal Hassan's performance as Velu Naiker earned him a National Film Award for Best Actor. The film also...
(meaning Leader), loosely based on Varadarajan's life. Actor Kamal Hassan played the lead role.
The Hindi movie Dayavan
Dayavan
Dayavan is a September 1988 Hindi remake of the very famous Tamil movie called Nayagan, which starred Kamal Hasan. The movie starred Vinod Khanna, Feroz Khan and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles and was directed by Feroz Khan...
, starring Vinod Khanna
Vinod Khanna
-Early life:Khanna was born to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman of Hindu Punjabi Khatri origin, on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India . He has three sisters and one brother...
(1988) was a Hindi adaptation of Nayagan
Nayagan
Nayagan is a Indian film, written, directed, and co-produced by Mani Ratnam which released on 21 October 1987 coinciding with Diwali. Upon release, the film got rave reviews across India. Kamal Hassan's performance as Velu Naiker earned him a National Film Award for Best Actor. The film also...
In a television interview, Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
is reported to have modeled his dialogues in the movie Agneepath
Agneepath
Agneepath is a 1990 Bollywood film directed by Mukul Anand. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty, Madhavi, and Rohini Hattangadi, with Danny Dengzongpa as the villain. It was produced by Yash Johar...
, based on Vardarajan Mudaliar.