Two silent malayalam films.

     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.

Before the curtain raise

     In 1895, first film show in the world was conducted by Lumiere Brothers. Six months later the same group organized a flim show in india. Indians warmly welcomed the new art- THE CINEMA. Perhaps the most accepted and the most criticised art form of the human history. After the foreign film group left, the people of india took the job into their own hands. Among them the first south Indian was Paul Vincent from Thiruchirapalli. Paul was a railway employee,he brought a cinematograph from a french man. He named his projector as ”Edison bio-scope”  and he started his shows.He traveled from place to place, usually concentrating in south India. In 1906 he reached Calicut(Kozhikode) in Kerala. In the history first time in kerala a film show was conducted there.  It showed ‘ a flowering plant’ ,’horse races’ and ‘the life of Jesus Christ.

     Later Paul reached Thrissur,the land of festivals but there the show was not a success may be of this Paul sold his bioscope to Varunni Joseph from Kattor and returned back to his place. In 1907 first cinema hall was opened by Joseph in trissur. It was a temporary shed among the shops that queued in the great “Thrissur pooram”(Festival) . He named it as ‘Jose Bioscope’.Joseph start to narrate the story While the show was running. The sound mixed with the visuals even before the cinema started to speak. After his success in the shows in kerala,he travelled across south india with his bioscope. Again he met with success in several places.But during his travel at Mangalapuram(Mangalore) his bioscope and other accessories drowned in the sea. This incident did not discourage him. He started a new company along with his friends name “The Royal Exhibitors”, Joseph passed away even before the first malayalm film released.

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Malayalam film history articles

• Malayalam film history-overview

• Before the curtain raise

• Two silent films

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Malayalam Film History

     To the land of God, peoples own cinema was first shown in 1906. As a part of a south Indian tour.Paul Vincent from Thiruchirapally(thrichy) reached Kozhikode with his biascope. The first film show in Kerala was held there .In 1907 Paul Vincent sold his bioscope to Varunni Joseph from Kattoor.Joseph built a cinema hall in Thrissur perhaps the first cinema hall in Kerala which was a temporary shed.But during a travel joseph lost his bioscope but he established another company named Royal exhibitors.Before the first film in Malayalam was released Joseph becomes a memory.

     1928, J.C Daniel made the first ever film in Malayalam. It was a silent cinema. Daniel was not only the producer but also director and story writer of the film. It was released in Capitol theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. The second film Marthanda Varma was also a silent film, was based on a novel by C.V Raman Pillai.It was produced by Sundar Raj and directed by V.V Rao. But it continued in theatre for only four days and it was stopped by the court due to some copywrite problems with the story.

     The Malayalam cinema start speaking in 1938 by the release of the film Balan. There were no other films after Marthanda Varma until Balan was released. The film was directed by Nottani and produced in Madras(chennai) which was the capital of South Indian cinema.Malayalam film remained in chennai until a major film studio,Udaya,was established in 1947 by Kunchakko in Aalappuzha.By then more keralites start involved in cinema.

     Another milestone in Malayalam cinema came in 1951. Which was the release of Jeevitha Nauka. It was the first super hit . The film genered drama and spoke the issues in joined family. This movie starred Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair accellerated Malayalam film industry but most film mimiced Jeevitha Nauka. Soon in 1954 first trend setter Neelakkuyil was released which won silver medal from president and become nationally acclaimed. Another notable film of the Decade was news paper boy which was the product of a group of amature college film makers.

     First color film kandam bach coat was released in 1961.The decade then faced some of the poineered works.Generally followed from the literrary works in Malayalam.Even the second Malayalam film Marthanda Varma was also based on the literrary work . such films involve Odayil ninnu, bhargavi nilayam, chemmeen,Murappennu,Iruttinte Aathmavu etc .

     The release of Swayamvaram(1972)starred Madhu,Sharatha and Thikkurushi sukumaran nair directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan uplifted Malayalam movie to an international standard.The film nirmalyam by M.T Vasudevan Nair was awarded was the best feature film in National film awards.70’s Also witnessed some of the comercial success which was often starred by M.G soman, Sukumaran  and action hero Jayan. These movies Usually told the stories of workingclass.Jayan was considered as the genuine superstar of Malayalam cinema.

     A major achievement of Malayalam cinema was Elippathayam by Adoor Gopalakrishnan which won British film Institute award and widely acclaimed.The period also give way for Pathmarajan,Bharathan and John Abraham who by there extraordinary way of film making filled Malayalam cinema with essence of excelence.John Abraham’s Amma ariyan,Vidyarthikale ithile ithile,Cheriyachante krurakrithyangal were some great works that could be remembered.Among them Amma Ariyan was one of the best .John Abraham was considered as living legend of Malayalam cinema not only for his work but also for his living.

     These periods were considered as the golden age of Malayalam cinema. It exceed in both comercial and artistic film with anumber of film of both kind. The internationally acclaimed piravi in 1989 by Shaji. N. Karun to which the film was honoured in canes film festival as camera de’or .This period give way to directors like Priyadarshan, Sibimalayil,Fazil,Sathyan Anthikkad,Sidhique,Lal,Kamal,T.V Chandran etc.The Guru directed by Rajiv anchal was choosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars .It was nominated for the best forign film.

     In 90’swith directors like Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikkad,Sidhique,Lal realistic comedy were the major theme , Malayalam industry was abondoned with such parallel films . The industry also give birth to classics such as Vanaprastham released in 1998 which was a great work by shaji.N.Karun. Also works like Jayaraj’s Desadanam.The great films, among most memorable films like manichithrathazhu by Fazil,Devasuram by I.V Sasi,Kamaladalam,Bharatham by sibimalayil, Vidheyan,Mathilukal by Adoor Gopalakrishnan,ulladakkam by Kamal,kilukkam by Priyadarshan was also released in 90’s.

     2000 and the preseading year was a blame for previous history of Malayalam cinema. Cartoonic comedy were dominent and good movie become rare. The problems among film association also accelerated the fall of Malayalam cinema. More action genered films showed up and end up in good for nothing. Some films didn’t showed even an average standard.In a situation Malayalam cinema started loosing its audience.

     But a came back was shown with new directors Lal Jose,Roshan Andrews,Blessy,Anwar Rasheed etc. Even though when comparing with its old status Malayalam cinemas is still at a weak point.

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