Post independent India saw a significant growth in cinema,as a medium of art and creativity. Tamil Nadu became an active participant in this process.Madras {Chennai now} had its Gemini, AVM and Vijaya Vauhini studios actively making a lot of films and enriching the archives of Tamil cinema.
But there were other studios also operating from other parts of Tamil Nadu.The most popular Modern Theatres studio was operating from Salem.Besides this,there were two other famous studios located in Coimbatore.One was the busiest Jupiter Pictures,producing films from the Central Studio and the other was Sri Ramulu Naiidu's Pakshiraja's film production house.As Modern Theatres already finds a place in this blog,this post is dedicated to the Jupiter Pictures and the Pakshiraja Studios.
It was Jupiter Somu {Given name M.Soma sundaram}and S.K.Mohideen who launched the Jupiter Studios in 1934.Initially, they began their film making from Central Studios.When that studio was closed,they moved to Chennai and purchased the Neptune studio located in Adayar.It is another fact that this Neptune studio later became Sathya Studios and there is an article in this blog about Sathya Movies too.
Jupiter pictures was a brand name in Tamil Nadu from the Nineteen forties to Sixties and was rated high by all.Chandrakantha was the first film produced under the banner of Jupiter Studios{1938}.
Jupiter Pictures made a lot of block buster films like Kannagi,Gubera Kuchela, Sri Murugan, Rajakumari,Marmayogi,Manohara, Thanga Padhumai and Karpukarasi.
The other popular films were Abhimanyu, Mohini,Arignar Anna's first film Velaikari, Amudhavalli,Sorga Vasal,Ellorum Innaattu Mannar and Arasilankumari.Most of the films of Jupiter Pictures were directed by A.S.A Samy. While Manohara was made by L.V.Prasad Marmayogi&Kanniyin Kadhali were directed by K.Ramnoth.Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi wrote the dialogues for Manohara and Arasilankumari. P.U.Chinnappa,M.G.Ramachandran,Sivaji Ganesan,Gemini Ganesan,T.R.Mahalingam and K.R.Ramasamy played hero roles in the Jupiter Pictures' films.
Pakshiraja Studios was founded in 1945 in Coimbatore by S.M Sriramulu Naidu as a movie studio for making motion pictures. Initially, Naidu was the director of the Central Studios and later bought the Premiere Cinetone studios and rebuilt it as a full fledged studio for making many Tamil,Malayalam Telugu and Hindi movies besides a Kannada film.Two of the timeless films under the Pakshiraja Studios banner were,the Hindi film Azad of Dilip Kumar&Meena Kumari and Malaikallan of MGR& P.Bhanumathi.
The two films of Sivaji Ganesan released under Pakshiraja Studios were Maragatham and Kalyaniyin Kanavan. Ezhai Padum Paadu,the V.Naghaia starring film, was yet another popular film produced by Sriramulu Naidu.While a majority of the films were directed by him,Ponni was directed by A.S.A Samy&C.S,Rao and Ezhai Padum Paadu,by K.Ramnoth.It was Naidu's brother S.M.Subbiah Naidu who composed music for many of the Pakshiraja films. The two mega hit films Azad and Malaikallan will retain the glory of Pakshiraja Studios.
Today film making depends more on the super effects of ever growing electronic technology. Digital cinema has done away with film rolls and projectors.With DTS effects,the audience at the theatres are kept mesmerized.Most scenic events of many films go for out door shooting either in India or abroad.
There are recording studios operating under optimum requirements. Outstanding names like Gemini,AVM.Jupiter, Pakshiraja,Citadel, Venus, Padmini, Modern, Sathya,Devar, Kalakendra, Kavidhalaya, Sujatha Cine Arts and so on,could be recalled as flashes of the magnificent past.Many new movie making production houses are leading the film industry now.
The screen magic continues. But the magic of the famous studios that largely relied upon physical strength of the field staff and creative grandeur of the highly imaginative film makers, will continue to haunt the memories of those who enjoyed film watching at non AC theatres, and in many asbestos roofed or thatched touring talkies,undergoing their awe inspiring experiences,unmindful of the hot weather of matinee shows.Films like Chandralekha and Vanjikottai Valiban of the Gemini Studios will continue to speak of the glorious era of Tamil Cinema.With these memories will travel,those of the Jupiter Pictures and Pakshiraja Studios.
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பல அரிய தகவல்கள் அறியத் தந்த ஆசிரியப் பெருந்தகைக்கு🙏🙏🏻
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