Chithralaya

Chithralaya
Company typeFilm production and distribution
IndustryMotion pictures
Foundedc. 1960s
FounderC. V. Sridhar
Chithralaya Gopu
A. Vincent
Tiruchi Arunachalam

Chithralaya (/tʃiθrɑːləjɑː/) also spelt Chitralaya, is an Indian film production company founded in the early 1960s. It produced films in Tamil and Hindi, most of them directed by C. V. Sridhar. The company was founded by Sridhar, screenwriter Gopu (who later became known as Chithralaya Gopu), cinematographer A. Vincent and still photographer Tiruchi Arunachalam.[1]

History

After making films for Venus Studios, in the early 1960s Sridhar founded Chithralaya to make the kind of films he wanted. The company's logo featured a boatman and a woman travelling on a boat with the tagline, "Kadal Alayil Engal Siriya Thoni, Kalai Ulagil Engal Pudhiya Baani".[2] When discussing with his associates what should be the company's first film, Sridhar devised the story of Nenjil Or Aalayam but later decided the company's first film should not be a tragedy and devised the lighter Thennilavu.[3] Thennilavu was a success at the box office,[4] running in theatres for over 100 days.[5] After the success of Thennilavu, Sridhar made Nenjil Or Aalayam, set completely in a hospital and became the first Tamil film to be shot entirely in single set.[6] It also became a box-office success.[7]

Chithralaya later produced Kadhalikka Neramillai, the first Tamil film in Eastmancolor with a contemporary setting.[8] Though the film initially found no takers, forcing Chithralaya to distribute the film themselves, it became a major success.[9] Gopu, one of the founders of the company, left after receiving more directorial offers.[10] Sridhar's relative C. V. Rajendran was an assistant director in Chithralaya before making his directorial debut with Anubavam Pudhumai by a different studio.[11] Thriveni was the only Malayalam film produced by Chithralaya.[12] Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa, unlike Chithralaya's previous ventures, was only produced by Sridhar, and directed by debutant N. S. Chakravarthi.[13][14] A magazine named after and run by Chithralaya was also founded.[15][16] Many of Chithralaya's film posters were designed by Eswara Rao, among the most prolific poster designers in India.[17]

Filmography

Caption text
Year Film Language Ref.
1961 Thennilavu Tamil
1962 Nenjil Or Aalayam Tamil
1964 Kadhalikka Neramillai Tamil
1965 Vennira Aadai Tamil
1966 Pyar Kiye Jaa Hindi
1967 Nenjirukkum Varai Tamil
1969 Sivantha Mann Tamil
1970 Thriveni Malayalam
1970 Dharti Hindi
1971 Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa Tamil
1971 Avalukendru Or Manam Tamil
1971 Duniya Kya Jaane Hindi
1973 Alaigal Tamil
1973 Gehri Chaal Hindi
1975 Vaira Nenjam Tamil
1983 Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu Tamil
1986 Naanum Oru Thozhilali Tamil
1991 Thanthu Vitten Ennai Tamil

References

  1. ^ "சித்ராலயா கோபுவின்.. மலரும் நினைவுகள்! (1)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 9 May 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  2. ^ ஸ்ரீதர், டைரக்டர் (15 December 1991). "கடலலையில் எங்கள் சிறிய தோணி; கலையுலகில் எங்கள் புதிய பாணி" [We know art is an ocean, we row for novel creation]. Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 63–64. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  3. ^ நரசிம்மன், டி.ஏ. (27 April 2018). "டி.சி(ரி)த்ராலயா 15: காஷ்மீரில் கட்டிப்போட்ட சலுகை!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  4. ^ "C.V Sridhar, veteran director passes away!". Sify. 20 October 2008. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  5. ^ Narayanan, Arjun (22 August 2012). "Serenading the Silver Screen". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  6. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (2 November 2008). "A breath of fresh air". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  7. ^ "ராஜேந்திரகுமார்: அன்று ஒதுங்கினேன், இன்று நெருங்கினேன்" [Rajendrakumar: I stayed away that day, we came close today]. Kalki (in Tamil). 26 January 1992. pp. 51–52. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  8. ^ "காதலிக்க நேரமில்லை". Kalki (in Tamil). 8 March 1964. p. 21. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ^ Kannan, Ramya (8 March 2014). "Kadhalikka Neramillai turns 50!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  10. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (18 February 2010). "In relaxed mood – 'Chitralaya' Gopu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  11. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (8 September 2016). "In a flashback mode". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  12. ^ Vijayakumar, B (14 March 2016). "Thriveni: 1970". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  13. ^ "மோதிர கையால் ஒரு குட்டு!". Kalki (in Tamil). 9 August 1992. pp. 50–51. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  14. ^ ஸ்ரீதர், டைரக்டர் (16 August 1992). "எனக்கென்றும் ஓர் மனம்" [A mind of my own]. Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 52–53. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  15. ^ Padmanabhan, Geeta (12 January 2017). "Pure Cinema Book Store — full of surprises!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  16. ^ Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema — Director Sridhar". Kalyanamalai. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  17. ^ Pudipeddi, Haricharan (6 April 2011). "Back in those days..." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2023.