Malayalam Cinema- History, Growth and Development
This resources is about the history of Malayalam Cinema and its developments from the beginning. This resources help the people to know about Malayalam Cinema history and its developments. The list of films and its directors were mentioned in the resources. First Malayalam film, First 3D Cinema in India and First 70mm Film in Malayalam were also have it.
The history of Malayalam cinema started with the silent Vigatha Kumaran made in 1928 by J. C. Daniel, who wrote the story, produced, directed and acted the main role. The film flopped and that marked the end of Daniel' s film Career. Marthanda Varma based on a novel of the same title by C. V. Raman Pillai was the second film, also silent. This was completed in 1931 by Nagercoil-born Sunder Raj.Early Malayalam Film- A Close Look
Early Malayalam films were produced and directed by non-malayalis. The first Malayalam talkie Balan (1938) was also made by an outsider, studio-owner and businessman. T. R. Sundaram of Modern Theatres, Salem. S.Notani was the director of the film. The film had 23 songs and featured artists like K. K. Aroor, Alleppey Vincent, K. Gopinath, C.O. N. Nambiar, A. B. Pius, M. K. Kamalam and K. N. Lakshmi. Balan was followed by Gnanambika in 1940 which was also directed by S. Notani. Then came Prahlada directed by K. Subramoniam of Madras and it featured Guru Gopinath and Thankamani Gopinath. Artists P. J. Cherian was the first Malayali producer to venture into the field . He Produced Nirmala in 1949. Vellinakshatram was the first film to be made in Kerala and it took shape at the Udaya studio at Alleppey, Kerala's first film studio, set up by K. V. Koshy and M. Kunchacko. Udaya became a household name with the release of box office hits jeevithanauka (1951) and Nallathanka (1952).
The emergence of the better equipped Merryland studios at Trivandrum built by P.Subramaniam in 1951 was a significant land mark. The Proprietors of Udaya and Merryland utilized their resources primarily for their own productions. Popular productions Nazvalokam(1951), Adarshakala Mandir's News Paper Boy(1955), Chandrathra's Neelajytuk (1954), Associated Productions Sneka Seema(1954), Chandrathara's Rarichan Enna Pauran(1956), Neelas' Randidangazhi and Padatha Painkilli (1957) were a few of the notable Malayalam films which hit the screen during the fifties.
Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, Sathyan, Prem Nazir, S.P.Pillai, Kottarakara Sreedharan Nair , Miss Kumari , B.S.Saroja, Kumari Thankam , Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai, T.S.Muthaiah , Padmini and Prema were the prominent artists of the decade.Malayalam Film Development between 1960-1980
During the sixties Malayalam Cinema derived much of its strength from literature. Films were made based on stories written by Thakazhi, Kesavadev, Parappurath, Basheer, M.T.Vasudeven Nair, Thoppil Bhasi and such others. Malayalam Cinema hit the headlines for the first time when Ramu Kariat's Chemmeen(1965) won the President's Gold Medal. P. Bhaskaran's Iruttinte Athamavu (1967) and a Vincent's Thulabharan (1968) have also won national awards. Mudiyanaya Puthran (1961) Ninamaninja Kalpadukal(1963), Bhargavi Nilayam (1964), Murappennu, Kayamela(1965),Odayil Ninnu(1965), Anweshi chu Kandethiyilla (196), Adhyapika (1968) and Kavalam Chudan(1967) were some of the popular films of the decade. Actor Madhu entered the film filed during this decade.
The seventies saw the release of the some of the best films in Malayalam. P.N.Menon's Olavum Theravum(1970) was a memorable piece of cinematic work. Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Swayamvaram(1972) and M.T.Vasudevan Nair's Nirmalayam(1973) stood out brilliantly as fine examples of a new Cinema, lifting the viewers into enjoyable heights of aesthetic experience. Malayalam Cinema made its distinct mark on the National Films scene with Swayamvaram and Nirmalayam which bagged the Presidents Gold Medals in quick succession.
It was followed by G.Aravindan's Uttarayanam(1974), K.G.George's Swapnadanam(1975), P.A.Backer's Chuvana Vithukal(1976), C.Radhakrishnan's Agni(1978) Adoor's Kodiyettom(1977) Aravindan's Kachana Sita(1977) and Thamp(1978) K.R.Mohanan's Aswathama(1978) G.s.Panicker's Ekakine(1978) P.Pathmarajan's Peruvazhi ambalam(1979) and Oridathoru Phayalvan and Bharathan's Prayanam.
During the seventies the leading artistes of the Malayalam screen were veteran Prem Nazir, the evergreen hero, Madhu, the actor producer and director, Adoor Bhasi, K.P.Ummer, Bahadur, Jose Prakash, Jayan, soman, Sankaradi, Sukumaran, Sarada, Sheela, Jaya Bharathi, vijaya shree and Rani Chandra. The late Prem Nazir has played lead roles in more than 500 Malayalam Films, which is an incredible achievement for a film artiste. He received the title of Padma Bhushan. Malayalam Film in 80's
Some good films which hit the screen during the first half of the eighties were Aravindan's Chidambaram and Esthappan. Sethumadhavan's Oppol, Adoor's Elippathayam and Mukhamukham, K.G.George'sYavanika, Bharathan'sChamaram and marmaram, Mohan'sVida Parayum Munpe, Fazil's Majil Virinja Pookal, Sreekumaran Thampi'sGaanam, Padmarajan'sKoodevide and Balu Mahendra's Yathra. Elippathayam by Adoor Gopalakrishnan won the Prestigious British Film Institute Award. Aravindan's Chidambaram won the National award for best feature film in 1985. Another remarkable film maker of the era is the late John Abraham. His films such as Cheriyachhante Kroora Krithyangal(1983) and Amma Ariyan(1986) have unmistakable overtones of Marxist ideology. But they are also full references to other facets of Kerala mother worship, folk theatre, temple festivals, ritualism, astrology, classical music and of course universal humaneness and tolerance.
There were notable contributions from the popular film makers of the mainstream cinema also during this decade. Their films combine entertainment with serious reflections on social, political and cultural issues. Foremost among these directors were I.V.Sai (Ee Naadu, Ahimsa, Aalkkoottathil Thaniye, 1921), Joshy(New Delhi, Nirakkootu), Balachandra Menon(April 18, Karyam Nizaram), Sathyan Anthikad(T.P.Balagopalan. M.A , Nadodikkatu, Kudumbapuranam), Padmarajan(Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Thoovan Thumpikal, Aparan), Siby Malayil(Doore Doore Oru Koodu Kootam, Thaniavarthanam), Bharathan(Kattathe Kilikkoodu, Ithirippoove Chuvanna Poove, Kaathodu Kaathoram, Oru Minaminunginete Nurugu Vettom, Vaisali), Kamal(Kakothi Kavile Appooppan Thadikal, Unnikale Oru Katha Parayam, Peruvannapurathu vishehangal), K.Madhu(Oru C.B.I.Diary Kurippu),Dennis Josep(Manu Uncle, Atharvam), Priyadarshan(Thalavattam, Cithram), Venu Nagavalli(SZukhamo Devi), Fazil(Ente Mammatti Kuttiammaku, Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu, Manivathoorile Ayiram Sivarathirkal, poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal), Hariharan(Panchagni, Amrutham Gamaya, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Nakhashtagal), Lenin Rajendran(Swathi Thirunal, Meena Masathhile Sooryan), and T.K.Rajiv Kumar(Chanakyan).
The year 1988 saw the emergence of a powerful director Shaji N.Karun whose first film Piravi has bagged, several national and international awards. Technological development in Malayalam Cinema
Malayalam Cinema's biggest technological achievements during the eighties were the productions and release of Padayottam, the first 70mm Malayalam film and My Dear Kuttichathan, the first 3D film of the country. Both these films were made by veteran film maker M.C.Punnoose(Appachan) of Navodaya Group. Among the artistes, new heroes like Mammootty and Mohanlal reached great heights during the late eighties. By the beginning of the nineties a second set of heroes also have emerged. Suresh Gopi, Jayaram, and such others. Shobhana, Urvasi, Karthika, Menaka, Jalaja, Geetha, Lalitha, Sree Vidya, Madhavi, SanthiKrishna, Philomina, Sukumari and Kaviyoor Ponnamma were the popular female artistes of Malayalam cinema during the period. The Malayalam Cinema scene is fortunate to have other talented actors like Thilakan, Bharat Gopi, Nedumudi Venu, Narendra Prasad, Jagathi Sreekumar Innocent, Murali, Sreenivasan, Balachandra Menon, Jagadeesh, Siddique, Mukesh, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Rajan. P. Dev and Mamukoya.
In the music scene of Malayalam cinema, Padmabhushan Dr. K.J.Yesudas stands supreme a notch above all others. He has won the largest number of awards at the national and State levels for playback singing. Other popular playback singers P.Jayachandran, M.G.Sreekumar, G.Venugopal, Unnimenon, K.s.Chitra, Sujatha Mohan and so on.
During the nineties the following remarkable and popular films were produced in Malayalam. Some of them have won awards both in the state and national level. A few others have been successful as commercial hits.
Vasthuhara(Aravindan), Mathilukal, Vidheyan and kathapurushan(Adoor Gopalakrishan), Kadavu(M.T), Innale, Njan Gandharvan(padmarajan), Thazhvaram, Amaram and Ven Kalam(Bharathan), Devasuram, Varnapakittu(I.V.Sasi), Swaham, Varnaprastham (Shaji N.Karun), Perunthachan (Ajyan), Manichitrathazhu, Aniyathiprave (Fazil), Adwaitham, Kilukkam,Thenmavin Kombath, Kalapani(Priyadarsan ),Sargam, Parinayam, Ennu Swanthom Janik Kutty(Hhariharn), Panthanmade, Mankamma(T.V.Chandran), Kireedam, Bhharatham, Aakasasdoothu, Kana Kinavu, Summer in Bethleham(siby Malayil), Spadikam, Iyer the Great(Bhadran), Mazhayethum Munpe, Uttadakkam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Niram (Kamal) Ramji Rao Speaking, God Father(Siddque-Lal), Sukrutham(Harikumar), Abhayam(Sivan) Guru(Rajiv Anchal),Kazhakam(M.P.Sukumaran Nair), Samantharangal(Balachandra Menon), Valsalyam,(Cochin Haneefa), Boothakkannadi, Ormachheppu, Kanmodam(Late Shri Lohita Das), Sopanam, Paithrukam, Desadanam, Kaliyattam and Karunam (Jayaraj), Deivathinte Vikruthikal, Kulam(Len in Rajendran), Magrib, Gershome (P.T.Kunju Muhammed), Chinthavishtayaya Syamala(Sreenivasan), Illayum Mullum(K.P.Sasi), Galileo(James Joseph), Pavithram, Kannezhuthi Pottumthottu, Jalamarmaram(Rajiv Kumar), Sammohanam (Padmakumar), Sasneham, Thalayina Manthram, Thooval Kottaram, Veendu Cila Veetu Karyangal(Sathyan Anthikad), Sallapam (Sunder Das), Agnisakshi (R.Syam Prasad), Janani (Rajiv Nath), Commissioner, Ekalavyan, Aaram Thampuram(Shaji Kylas).
During twenties a bunch of super hit and commercial films were produced in Malayalam. The artistes include Dileep, Kunchacko Boban, Prithiviraj, Manoj .K.Jayan, Jayasuriya, Salim Kumar,Lal, Biju Menon, Kalabhawan Mani, Asifali , Manju Warrier, Kavya Madhavan, Meera Jasmine, Navya Nair, Nayanthara, Bhawana, Samvrutha Sunil, Jyothirmayee, Suja Karthika, Padmapriya, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Samyukhta Verma and so on. Actresses from other languages are also appearing occasionally in Malayalam cinema. Latest Malayalam Film
During the last year the promising artistes and directors were emerged lots of Malayalam film. One of which Adaminte Makan Abu is written and directed by Salim Ahmed, starring Salim Kumar and Zarina Wahab in the lead role. At the 58th National Film Award, it earned four major national awards, for Best Film, Best Actor(Salim Kumar) Best Cinema autography and best background score. It performed similarly at the Kerala State Film Awards, where it won the awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Background Music.
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