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Home >> Cinema in India >>
Tamil Cinema
|| Introduction || Silent Movies || The Era of Talkies || The Early Films-I || || The Early Films-II ||
||Recent Films || Star Kids || || Melody & Music || ||Parallel or New Cinema || || Regional Cinema ||
||
Bengali Cinema|| || Kannada Cinema||
|| Malayalam Cinema||
||
Tamil Cinema || ||
Telugu Cinema||
||English Films || || Bollywood
in International Arena || ||Film Censorship ||Film
Journalism ||
||Film Awards || Famous Cine Personalities ||
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), Chandrkantha (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 1930-1940s 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 70 mm 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 was also
elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, after she left films and joined
politics.
|| Introduction || Silent Movies || The Era of Talkies || The Early Films-I || || The Early Films-II || Recent Films || Star Kids
||
|| Melody & Music || ||Parallel or New Cinema || || Regional Cinema || ||
Bengali Cinema||
||
Kannada Cinema|| ||
Malayalam Cinema||
||
Tamil Cinema || ||
Telugu Cinema||
||English Films ||
|| Bollywood
in nternational Arena || ||Film Censorship ||Film
Journalism || ||Film Awards || Famous Cine Personalities ||
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