TAMIL CINEMA.....KOLLYWOOD......ROCKING

Written by:IRSHATH Tamil cinema started talking with 'Kalidas' (1931) and is now 75 years old. This unending journey covers thousands of silver screen creations that flow like a perennial river of visuals. How many stalwarts, musicians and hugely talented personalities have found refuge on its banks! Like one of the tracks in Tamil culture, Tamil cinema is like a reflection of Tamil culture. TP Rajalakshmi is the senior of today's Asin and Trisha. She was the heroine of 'Kalidas.' Since she directed 'Miss Kamala' in 1936, she also happens to be the first woman director. The first Tamil to start a studio was Narayanan, whose Srinivasa Cinetones Studio was established in 1934. Narayanan's wife sound technologist Meenakshi shared the work and family with her husband and was like a family socialist. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar who lured fans to him through his music had more female fans than male fans. People who were fascinated by his music were equally fascinated by his long hair cascading down his shoulders. 'Haridas' was his crowning glory. The superstar culture in Tamil cinema started with him. Implicated in the murder of journalist Lakshmikanthan, he was imprisoned and lost his fame and name and became an unlucky king. People forgot Bhagavathar but did not forget his immortal song "manmadha leelayai venraar undo..." While talking about Bhagavathar, can one overlook mentioning PU Chinnappa who first used a Bharathi song in film? While most people in films were famous for their looks, KB Sundarambal was celebrated for her voice. 'Nandanar' made her the first lakhpati in films. In an industry which saw scores of songs in a film and mythological themes, the turning points in Tamil cinema were Annadurai's 'Velaikaari' and Karunanidhi's 'Parasakthi' that were dialogue oriented and based on social themes. This showed the power of their pens. Another boon from 'Parasakthi' was Sivaji Ganesan. Tamil people worship the six faced god but this Tamil actor was a man of a hundred faces. If NS Krishnan was a milestone in characters combining humour and intelligence, Chandrababu was like a diamond stone. Nagesh has his own niche and is there anyone like Baliah?! Beginning from Madurakavi Bhaskardas, Udumalai Narayanakavi, Papanasam Sivan, "koppayile kudi..." Kannadasan and Kalyanasundaram, there has been a flood of poetic talent in Tamil cinema. Every hero needed Nambiar as a villain. The exception was 'Ratha Kaneer' MR Radha who assumed bad guy roles and became a popular hero with inspired thinking. Sando Chinappa Devar was famous for making animals act like humans. With his 'Jagan Mohini,' Vittalacharya made more graphics in his landmark film in those days than even today's prominent graphic designers. We also had our very own south Indian James Bond in the form of 'Vallavan Oruvan' Jaishanker. At a time when Hindi songs were more popular, the music of 'Annakili' started a new chapter in Tamil film music. Ilayaraja's supremacy reigns even today. Breaking out of the studio walls, the person who took Tamil cinema to the villages with his '16 Vayadhinile' and created unforgettable characters like Mayilu, Chappani and Parattai, was "iniya Thamizh makkal' Bharathiraja. K Balachander's 'Arangetram,' Bhim Singh's 'Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal,' John Abraham's 'Agrahaarathil Kazhudhai,' Rudrayya's 'Aval Appadithaan,' ace cameraman Balu Mahendra's 'Azhiyaadha Kolangal' are some of Tamil film's unforgettable poems on celluloid. These are the pearls created in the European waves. When cinema was following the artistic path, AVM has the pride (?) of bringing cinema to a commercial footing. Their 'Murattu Kaalai' and 'Sakalakala Vallavan' are dead ends in Tamil cinema. In sidestepping Dravidian ideology and bringing nationalism into films, credit goes in a large part to Mani Ratnam's 'Roja' and 'Bombay.' They also expanded the commercial aspect of films. There's a lot of good effort happening, but is there anything of world class level? No film has gone to Cannes festival or won an Oscar and no film like 'Lagaan' or 'Chak De India' has been attempted. At least in the coming years, will Tamil cinema correct its drawbacks and shine forth?