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The history of cinema began in Tamil Nadu when M. Edwards screened the first
ever movie show in South India at Victoria Memorial Hall, Madras in 1897. In
1900, Electric Theatre-the first ever cinema house in South India was built by
Major Warwick on Mount Road, Madras (now Anna Salai, Chennai). Lyric, the second
cinema house in Madras, was started by Cohen at Anna Salai in 1902. In 1905,
Swamikannu Vincent formed Edison's Cinematography, the first touring cinema in
South India. He travelled around showing short films like Life Of Jesus
Christ. In 1911, The Coronation of King George V was shot by
Marudappa Moopanar which was later screened in Madras. In 1914 R.Venkiah built
Gaiety, the first Indian owned cinema-house in South India. In 1916,
S.M.Dharmalingam Mudaliyar and Nataraja Mudaliyar started the first film
producing concern in South India at Madras. Nataraja Mudaliyar made
Keechavathanam (1917) the first feature film to be made in South India.
Mudaliyar went on to make many successful films like Draupadhi
Vastrapaharanam (1918), Lava Kusa (1919), Rukmini Satyabhama
(1922) and Mahi Ravana (1923).
R.Prakash (1901-1956) was the first South Indian to receive training abroad at
Barker's Motion Picture Studio, London. Prakash's famed films include Bhisma
Pratigna (1922), Bhakta Nandan (1923), Leile: Star of
Mingrelia (1931), Lanka Dahanam (1935) and Anaadhai Penn
(1938). Kalidas, the first Tami talkie was
screened in 1931. It was directed by H.M.Reddy, with T.P.Rajalakshmi playing the
lead role. In 1934 A.Narayanan started Srinivasa Cinetone, which was the first
sound studio in South India. A. Narayanan's Srinivasa Kalyanam (1934),
became the first Tamil talkie to be produced in a Madras studio. Naryanan's
other films include Rajambal (1935), Meerabai (1936) and
Tenali Raman (1938). Kausalya (1935), made by South India Film
Corporation, was the first Tamil movie on a contemporary theme. T.P.Rajalakshmi
became the first female producer and director of Tamil films with the release of
Miss Kamala in 1936.
Raja Sandow (1894-1944) an acclaimed silent film star, filmmaker and producer,
who directed several Tamil and Telugu films in Bombay and Madras. His films
include Anaadhai Penn (1929), Parijatha
Pushpaharanam (1932), Menaka (1935), Chandrakantha
(1936), Minor Rajamani (1937),
Thiruneelakantar (1939), Choodamani
(1941) and Sivakavi (1943).
K.Subrahmaniam (1904-1971) was the pioneer of South Indian Cinema who used
cinema as a tool of social protest and change. He attacked the evils in society
during 1930-1940's in his films. Some of his great films include Balayogini
(1936), Bhakta Chetha, Sevadasan (1938), Thyaga Bhoomi
(1939) and Kacha Devayani (1939). The last two films advocated women's
rights and self-dependence. Sevadasan also introduced to the world through the
silver screen, the great singer M.S. Subbalakshmi, who came to be immortalised
for her role in and as the poet-saint Meera both in Hindi and Tamil.
Chinthamani (1937) became the first Tamil film to run for more than a
year in a single cinema house. D.K.Pattamal sang the first play back song for
the long documentary Mahatma Gandhi (1940) by A.K.Chettiar.
The film Thukkaram (1938) with Musiri Subramani Iyer in the lead set
the popular trend in Tamil cinema. The multi-story movie pattern registered a
new landmark in 1939 with the release of Sirikkadhe. The film had five
different stories and themes. The same year also saw the release of an
extraordinary movie called Thyagabhoomi, based on Kalki’s masterpiece
novel. Tamil cinema got its first foreign film-maker when Ellis R.Duncan
released his film Sakunthala with two great Carnatic music maestros
G.N.Balasubramaniam and M.S.Subbalakshmi as the lead pair. The famous comedies
of the period were Sabapathy and Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum.
A.V.Meiyappan (1907-1979) created history in South Indian cinema when he
introduced playback singing in his film Nandakumar (1938). In 1943, he produced
the first 'dubbed' film Harishchandra (Tamil), which was dubbed from
Kannada. Meiyappan also launched the AVM-banner of movies. He produced several
hit films like Bhookailas (1939), Sabapathi (1941), Sri
Valli (1945), Nam Iruvar (1947),
Vazhkai (1949), Andha Naal (1954) and
several others. Vazkhai introduced Vyjayanthimala to movies. Andha Naal
was the first South Indian film without any songs and dances.
The beginning of 1940s also saw the emergence of Gemini studios which gave great
hits like Madhana Kamarajan, Nandhanaar and Chandralekha.
C.N.Annadurai (who later went on to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)
wrote the script for Velaikkari (1949), which set a new trend in Tamil
films. M.Karunanidhi followed the footsteps of C.N.Annadurai, and started as a
script-writer, but later joined politics and is currently the Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu. Alibabhavum Narpathu Thirudargalum (1955), produced by
Modern Theatres, was the first full-length colour film in Tamil. The first
cinemascope film in Tamil Rajarajacholan was made in 1973. The first 3D
film in Tamil Annai Bhoomi was made in 1985. In 1986, the first 70mm Tamil film
Maveeran was released. The Tamil film producer Giridharilal Nagpal
created a record of sorts in 1998 when he completed his film Swayamvaram
within 24 hours.
The other early Tamil film-makers of high-repute were S.S.Vasan, M.K.Thyagarja
Bhavathar, T.R.Sundaram, S.M.Sriramulu Naidu and Jupiter Somu. M.K.Thyagarja
Bhavathar (MKT), who was also a popular singer-actor of the early forties, gave
big box-office hits like Mathru Bhoomi, Ambikapathi, Ashok Kumar, Sivakavi and
Haridas. K.Balachander, Shankar and Mani Ratnam are the other notable directors
of Tamil cinema. M.K.Thyagarja Bhavathar (MKT) is considered as the first super
star of the Tamil cinema. P.U.Chinnappa (Dhayalan (1941), Kannagi,
Mamonmani, Utthamaputhiran), Gemini Ganeshan, Sivakumar, Sivaji
Ganeshan (Thirumbi Paar, Andhra Naal, Rangoon Radha,
Kappalotiya Thamizhan), T.R.Mahalingam, Kamal Hasan (Arangetram
(1973), Padhinaaru Vayadhinile, Sigappu Rojakkal, Apoorva
Sagotharargal, Guna, Nayagan, Indian) and Rajnikant (Bhuvana oru
Kelvikkuri, Mannan, Muthu, Annamalai, Padiyappa) are the leading names
among the Tamil actors. M.G.Ramachandran, another former Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu, began his career as a film actor. His notable
films include Genova, Manthirikumari and Sarvaathigari.
T.P. Rajalakshmi was the first heroine of Tamil screen (Kalidas (1931),
Miss Kamala, Chandralekha). M.S.Subbalskhmi (Pavalakkodi, Meera,
Kanthabai, Lakshmibai), T.R. Rajakumari (Kacha Devayani (1941),
Chandralekha), P.Bhanumathi, Padmini (Sorgavaasal, Baagappirivinai,
Chithi, Thillana Mohanambal), Savithri (Devadas, Paarthal Pasi Theerum,
Pasamalar, Kaathiruntha Kangal, Padha Kaanikkai), Saroja Devi (Naadodi
Mannan, Parakkum Paavai), Vijayakumari, Devika, K.R.Vijaya (Karpagam,
Idhyakkamalam), Jayalalitha (Vennira Aadai, Kudiyirundha Koil,
Engiruntho Vandhaal, Savaale Samali), Sridevi (Padhinaru Vayathinile,
Moondru Mudichu) and Khusboo (Varusham 16) are popular names among
the Tamil heroines. Jayalalitha, who left films
to join politics, is the current
chief minister of Tamil Nadu. |
