Typically, Independence day is an excuse to crank up the sepia, feel the sweet pain of nostalgia and binge watch olden goldies. But occasionally, nostalgia is replaced by awe. Here are those few instances in Tamil cinema that, while historically important, also transcend time in their relevance, message and spectacle.
Thyagabhoomi (1939): The British Raj Does a Nihlani
Directed by K Subrahmanyam, this was the first movie banned by the British, for its overt support of Mahatma Gandhi and anti-British stance. Papanasan Sivam, one of the most influential composers in Tamil and Kannada cinema, plays Sambu Sastri, the Brahmin protagonist, who gladly offers his home to Dalits and is promptly ostracised.
By the time the ban could take effect, the movie was already a hit. Here’s a song from the movie, sung by MS Subbulakshmi’s contemporary and a bundle of low key Carnatic awesomeness, DK Pattammal.
Sevasadhanam (1938): Tamil Cinema Gets Current
Another K Subrahmanyam movie, Sevasadanam is the first Tamil movie in a contemporary setting. No kings or queens or palaces. This movie is about a Brahmin woman who decides to leave a loveless, abusive marriage and becomes a courtesan. She then decides to become a manager at the ‘Sevasadanam’, a home that cares for the children of courtesans.
Based on Munshi Premchand’s novel, Bazaar-E-Husn, it is the first Tamil movie to deal with domestic abuse, prostitution and women’s liberation.
Oh! And it marked MS Subbulakshmi’s acting debut. How do you like ‘dem seethaphals?
Haridas (1944): Superhit, Superstar
MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar as Haridas, the cassanova turned saint was... sorry, Is, a landmark film in Tamil cinema. The movie ran for three consecutive years, FULL HOUSE. It had some 40-odd songs, all of which are sheer carnatic awesomeness.
In a sense, this is one of the movies that brought carnatic music to the masses. From Rikshawallas to diamond-nose-stud maamis, Haridas was on everyone’s lips.
‘Is victory ever possible in cupid’s game...’ goes one song. Check it out!
Parasakthi (1952): Tamil Cinema Wakes up to Sivaji Ganesan
Before Sivaji Ganesan, a Tamil movie would run or flop on the basis of songs. That was all. Great songs, hit movie.
And then came Sivaji Ganesan who not only showed what acting really was, but did it with such ease that he became a legend even before his films started doing well.
Parasakthi was the movie that began the successful jigalbandhi of Sivaji and the then script writer M Karunanidhi, who later turned into something else.
Because it’s Sivaji, you don’t need to know the language. Just watch.
That’s all for now. I’ve got a couple of YouTube tabs open and they’re all beckoning to me. It’s going to be a while before I resurface. And when I do, I shall speak to you in chaste monologue ridden Tamil, then break into song. And then who knows, I might surprise you with a dance.
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