Friday Fundas

We know Raja Harishchandra was the first ever Indian movie… Do you know which was the first ever South Indian movie and who made it?

The first ever South Indian movie “Keechaka Vadham” (the slaying of Keechaka) was made in 1917 by Nataraja Mudaliar. Nataraja Mudaliar, an automobile dealer then had taken a Willamson 35mm Camera from a wealthy landlord in Tanjavur to make the first movie. The movie featured the episode from Mahabharata when the Pandavas were in exile. Keechaka, the queen’s brother tried to misbehave with Draupadi and since they were in incognito Bhima goes in disguise and kills Keechaka. The movie was made with a production cost of Rs. 35,000 and it made a collection of Rs. 50,000 which was quite good at that time. A milestone event that gave birth to Tamil Cinema occurred. Nataraja Mudaliar considered as Father of Tamil Cinema was the inspiration for many other film makers to come including JC Daniel (Father of Malayalam Cinema). A malayalam movie Celluloid had been released which is a biopic of JC Daniel.