In 1895 cinema was introduced to the world. A new era of art along with technology started. It silently with all experiments and creating new grammar. cinema start to speak in 1927 through jazz singer. It was after one year from that in 1928 first Malayalm film was made.It was a silent film named Vigathakumaran By J.C Daniel Born in Agastheswaram, Kanyakumari district now situated in Tamil Nadu. J.C Daniel was not only the producer but also the director,cinematographer and scriptwriter of the movie.He also acted in the film.
J.C Daniel was so much interested in Kalaripayatu a martial arts of Kerala, He tried to spread the ideas of Kalaripayatu through his movie. He reached Madras and then Bombay in search of details about making such a movie. But he didn't get the anticipated result. It may be due to this he decided to make the movie by himself. He sold his properties over four lakhs and gone for technical studies in Bombay.He brought all the needed instruments by himself and returned to Thiruvananthapuram where he started the shooting of Vigathakumaran.
He built the first studio of kerala, Travancore national studio in pattom, now public service commission office is situated here, The studio doesn't have a roof, on day light and at night they processed the footage. Daniel's son sundar enrolled as the hero of the movie which have so many martial arts sequence. Daniel had to search for six months in order to get a heroine for his movie. A lady acting in movie was considered as very uncultured in that time.Finally an Anglo Indian girl Rosy acted in the film.
In 1928 November 7 Vigathakumaran was released in Capitol Theater in Thiruvananthapuram. The film was a hit.Even then there were problems about a lady acting in a film.Besides this problem the film become a success.But the future life of Daniel was not good.He sold his equipment to pay the debits.He continue his life in Madras and Thirunelveli and returned to Agastheeswaram. In 1975 the Father of Malayalam cinema passed away.
Four Years After VigathaKumaran,Second film of malayalam was made It was also a scielent film which was based on a famous novel Marthandavarma by C.V Raman pillai. It was considered as the starting of the continued relation of literature to malayalam cinema. The producer of Marthandavarma Sundar Raj was from Nagarcoil of Kanyakumari District. The movie was directed by V.V Rao similar to J.C Daniel Sundar Raj also brought every instrument and shoot his film inside a roofless building and processed it might.The production Company of Sundar Raj was called as Rajarajeswari films. The role of Marthandavarma was done by Aandy from Thalasseri.
Marthandavarma was released in 1932 at capitol theater after pooja at Padmanabha Swami temple and it was escorted with elephant. There were people from the Royal family to see the film. It went a huge hit king of Travancore awarded Aandy who played Marthandavarma with a sword. But the show was stoped by the court because of the case by Kamalalayam book depot about the copyright of the story. The case continued in the court but Sundar Raj failed. He sold his equipment to pay the debut and he went to silon.After 40 years national film archives retrieved the film box from the godown of Kamalalayam book depot.
Sundar Raj returned to Thiruvananthapuram and passed awy in 1965. These two malayalam film were worth for economical success but it had a cruel ending. The producers too had the same.But they can be proud,They made malayalam cinema possible.