Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar (1885â€"1972[dubious â€" discuss]),
popularly known as the father of Tamil cinema, was a pioneer in the
production of silent films. Starting his career as an automobile spare
parts merchant, he started the "Indian Film Company Limited" in
Madras. In 1917, Mudaliar made Keechaka Vadham, South India's first
silent film. Upon critical success of the film, he went on to produce
films like Draupadhi Vastrapaharanam (1918), Lava Kusa (1919), Rukmini
Satyabhama and Mayil Ravana. After the death of his son in a fire
accident in 1923, Mudaliar retired from films.Mudaliar was born in
Vellore, Madras Presidency, India in a wealthy family. His father was
a successful trader. After completing his schooling, Mudaliar came to
Madras (now Chennai) to set up his business as the city was the
capital of the province. Following that, he started a bicycle business
named "Watson & Company" partnering with his cousin, S. M.
Dharmalingam Mudaliar. The company sold cycles at ₹ 25. The business
became successful as the partners acquired a foreign firm, "Romar Dan
& Company" in 1911, that dealt with the import of American cars and
automobile spare parts. Prior to that "Addison & Company" was the only
company in Madras to sell American cars. Mudaliar sold the same cars
as ₹ 1,000 and became the first Indian to sell American cars.
Mudaliar had an early interest in photography this later evolved into
"moving pictures".Mudaliar developed an interest for moving pictures
after watching the films of Dadasaheb Phalke. At the time
cinematographers from Britain were filming a documentary on Lord
Curzon, then the Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Mudaliar got
introduced to Stewart Smith, one of the cinematographers, and learned
about the basics of photography in film-making through him. This
eventually led to Mudaliar establishing his production house "India
Film Company" in 1917. He brought together some of his business
friends allowing them to invest on the production house and
established South India's first studio on Miller's Road, Purasawalkam,
Madras.
popularly known as the father of Tamil cinema, was a pioneer in the
production of silent films. Starting his career as an automobile spare
parts merchant, he started the "Indian Film Company Limited" in
Madras. In 1917, Mudaliar made Keechaka Vadham, South India's first
silent film. Upon critical success of the film, he went on to produce
films like Draupadhi Vastrapaharanam (1918), Lava Kusa (1919), Rukmini
Satyabhama and Mayil Ravana. After the death of his son in a fire
accident in 1923, Mudaliar retired from films.Mudaliar was born in
Vellore, Madras Presidency, India in a wealthy family. His father was
a successful trader. After completing his schooling, Mudaliar came to
Madras (now Chennai) to set up his business as the city was the
capital of the province. Following that, he started a bicycle business
named "Watson & Company" partnering with his cousin, S. M.
Dharmalingam Mudaliar. The company sold cycles at ₹ 25. The business
became successful as the partners acquired a foreign firm, "Romar Dan
& Company" in 1911, that dealt with the import of American cars and
automobile spare parts. Prior to that "Addison & Company" was the only
company in Madras to sell American cars. Mudaliar sold the same cars
as ₹ 1,000 and became the first Indian to sell American cars.
Mudaliar had an early interest in photography this later evolved into
"moving pictures".Mudaliar developed an interest for moving pictures
after watching the films of Dadasaheb Phalke. At the time
cinematographers from Britain were filming a documentary on Lord
Curzon, then the Governor-General and Viceroy of India. Mudaliar got
introduced to Stewart Smith, one of the cinematographers, and learned
about the basics of photography in film-making through him. This
eventually led to Mudaliar establishing his production house "India
Film Company" in 1917. He brought together some of his business
friends allowing them to invest on the production house and
established South India's first studio on Miller's Road, Purasawalkam,
Madras.
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