The huge success of Dadasaheb Phalke‘s film Raja Harishchandra (1913) created ripples around India, and regional language creative people began learning the art of filmmaking, thus starting the birth of regional cinema in India. Indian Film History (IFH) hereunder enlighten readers about birth of cinema in South Indian languages
Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar—‘Father Of Tamil Cinema’
The first filmmaker to start silent films in Tamil Nadu (South India) was Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar. The first silent Tamil film he made was Keechaka Vadham (1918). People regard Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar as the ‘Father of Tamil Cinema. He started “Indian Film Company Limited” in Madras in 1917. He made many films like Draupadhi Vastrapaharanam (1918), Lava Kusa (1919), Rukmini Satyabhama, and Mayil Ravana. Mudaliar retired from films in 1923, shattered by the death of his son in a fire accident.
Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar died in 1972
Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu—‘Father of Telugu cinema’
People call Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu the ‘Father of Telugu Cinema’ for making the first Telugu silent film, Bhishma Pratigna (1921). In 1919, he started a production company called Star of East Films and a film studio called Glass Studio. Later he made many films like Anusha Adusumalli (1921). Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu and his son R. S. directed both films, who had learned the art of cinematography from England. The father-son made films like Meenakshi Kalyanam, Gajendra Moksham, Mathsyavatharam, Nandanaar, etc.
The Andhra Pradesh government introduced the Raghupati Venkaiah Award, considered the highest honor in Telugu cinema, to recognize individuals for their lifetime contributions to the regional film industry.
Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu died on 15th March 1941
J. C. Daniel Nadar—‘Father of Malayalam Cinema ’
Joseph Chellayya Daniel Nadar, popularly known as J. C. People call Daniel Nadar the ‘Father of Malayalam Cinema. He made the first Malayalam silent feature film called Vigathakumaran (1930). Like Dadasaheb Phalke, filmmaker J. C. Daniel was the producer, director, editor, cinematographer, and writer and even acted as the hero in the film. He started his film company, Travancore National Pictures. He also established the first film studio in Kerala
J. C. Daniel Nadar was born on 26 February 1900. He broke the trend of making mythological films and started the trend of making films on social subjects that could bring change in society. The government of Kerala saluted J.C. Daniel by announcing an annual award in his honour in 1992.
Mohan Dayaram Bhavnani—‘Father of Kannada Cinema’
Film historians claim Mricchakatika (Vasantsena) in 1931, starring Kamaladevi, as the first silent film of the Kannada film industry. People know little about the film, except that pioneering Kannada filmmaker Mohan Dayaram Bhavnani directed it.
Mohan Dayaram Bhavnani was born in Hyderabad, Sind. He graduated from the College of Technology in Manchester in 1921 and studied filmmaking in Germany at UFA in 1924. He was the first filmmaker to collaborate with Premchand on Mazdoor and directed the first full-length colour film shot on 16mm Kodachrome, later enlarged to 35mm. From 1948 to 1955, he was the first Chief Producer at the Films Division. He passed away on December 30, 1962, in Mumbai.
He produced and directed the first full-length color film shot on 16mm Kodachrome, which was later enlarged to 35mm. From 1948 to 1955, he served as the first Chief Producer at the Films Division. He passed away on December 30, 1962, in Mumbai..
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