The document discusses the history and development of several major film studios in South India during the Tamil talkie era, including Modern Theatres (established 1936 in Salem), Jupiter Pictures (established 1934 in Coimbatore), AVM Studios (established 1946 in Chennai), Gemini Studios (established 1940 in Chennai), Vijaya Vauhini Studios (established 1948 in Chennai), and Prasad Studios (established 1956 in Hyderabad). The studios pioneered different aspects of film production in South India and helped launch the careers of many prominent actors and filmmakers.

1. TAMIL TALKIE STUDIO ERA
Present by: P. Santhoshkumar

2. MODERN THEATRE
➤ In 1936 T.R. SUNDRAM found
the studio Modern Theater
Limited at Salem.
➤ The
fi
rst major studio of south
India. Pre-production, shooting
(production) post production
facilities under one roof.
➤ Two huge studio
fl
oors a sound
recording studio, editing suite,
processing laboratory and a
preview theatre

3. ➤ 117
fi
lms between 1935 and 1982, of these Sundaram produced 99 and directed 56
fi
lms.
➤ The
fi
rst
fi
lm to roll out of the new studio was `Sathi Ahalya' in 1937. The dream run
continued for 45 years and ended in 1982 with `Vetri Namathe'.
➤ TR Sundaram who had an eye for talent operated the studio on the old Hollywood
system of having actors, writers and technicians on payroll. Those attached to Modern
Theaters included M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, M.
Karunanidhi, Kannadasan, Manohar, Ramasamy, Thangavelu. Jayalalitha, VN Janaki,
Manorama, and MN Nambiar have acted in movies made there
➤ Those introduced by TRS include MR Radha, SV Ranga Rao and Anjali Devi. Mention
must also be made of the American, Ellis R. Duncan who successfully directed several
fi
lms made at Modern Theatres.

4. ➤ In 1940 the
fi
rst dual role movie UTHAMAPUTHIRAN
➤ The
fi
rst South Indian colour
fi
lm ‘Alibabavam 40 Thirudargalum’ (1955) was made
at Modern Theatres. The MG Ramachandran and P Bhanumathi movie was a big hit.
➤ In Malayalam also the
fi
rst colour
fi
lm ‘Kandam Becha Coat’ (1961) came out of this
Salem institution.

5. JUPITER PICTURES
➤ was an Indian feature
fi
lm production
company founded in Coimbatore in 1934 by
M. Somasundaram and S.K. Mohideen.
➤ Jupiter Pictures was a major production
house with 46 releases with 36
fi
lms released
in Tamil, 5 in Telugu, 2 each in Kannada and
Hindi and one joint release in Tamil and
Telugu. In the late 40s and early 50s, they
operated out of Central Studios in
Coimbatore.

6. ➤ Following the closure of the studio, they relocated to Chennai and took over
Neptune Studio in Adayar which would later become Sathya Studios. In Chennai,
the Jupiter Pictures o
ffi
ce operated from a leased historic and palatial building in
Mylapore known as "Mangala Vilas".
➤ A. S. A. Sami directed most of his
fi
lms with Jupiter Pictures. In Chennai during the
50s and 60s, Jupiter produced many successful
fi
lms, such as "Manohara" (1954,
directed by L.V. Prasad), "Karpukkarasi" (1957, A. S. A. Sami),
"Thangapathumai" (1959, Sami), "Ellorum Innattu Mannar"(1960, Tatineni Prakasha
Rao), "Arasilankumari" (1961, Sami). Jupiter Pictures
fi
lms made with other
producers were sometimes less popular. In its later years the company was managed
by S.K. Habibullah.

7. A V M STUDIO
➤ AV.Meiyappan who set up the
fi
rst
studio in 1946,
➤ AVM Productions has been the
pioneer ever since it set up
grounds in Madras in 1948. With a
state of the art setup, AVM
Productions not only houses
several well equipped studio
fl
oors, but also recording, dubbing
and preview theatres making the
place a one stop destination for
fi
lm makers all over

8. ➤ The dawn of the talkie era (1931) inspired Meiyappan to start Saraswathi Sound
Productions and he launched his maiden movie venture, Alli Arjuna a Hindu
mythology based movie. The
fi
lm was shot in Calcutta and proved a total
fl
op as the
one that followed named Ratnavali.
➤ At this point, an aspiring amateur actor and college graduate A. T. Krishnaswamy
joined the unit as assistant director who was associated with Meiyappan for nearly a
decade and wrote and directed the early AVM productions.
➤ Meiyappan set up Pragati Pictures Pvt. Ltd in Bangalore. His
fi
rst studio was also set
up in Bangalore.
➤ In 1946 AVM production studio founded. It has produced over 300
fi
lms in Tamil,
Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema.

9. ➤ Over 177
fi
lms in major regional languages, AVM production has
introduced several super stars to the world of cinema.
➤ AVM Studios is one of the
fi
ve studios in the world which has been functioning
without a break till date.
➤ The advance of playback and dubbing technology introduced in the Tamil industry
➤ introduction of dubbing as a concept in the
fi
lm Harischandra,
➤ In 1947 NAAM IRUVAR was
fi
rst
fi
lm under the AVM banner.
➤ In 1948 VEDHLA ULAGAM WAS
fi
rst fantasy movie in Tamil
fi
lm industry
➤ In 1954 ANTHANAL, AVM Produced the
fi
rst Tamil
fi
lm to be made without song,
dance and stunt directed by S. BALACHANDAR

10. GEMINI STUDIO
➤ Gemini Studio in Chennai was started
in the year 1940 on Mount Road by
Thiruthuraiponndi Subramanian
Srinivasan (a) SS Vasan who bought a
fi
l m d i s t r i b u t i o n c o n c e r n K
Subramanian who was doing the
fi
lm
distribution business with Motton
picture producer's combines which
was later renamed by Gemini Studio.
➤ The Gemini twin has become a
household symbol and the Gemini
fl
yover was named after the studio at
that junction.

11. ➤ There are lots of movies produced by Gemini studio in Tamil. One of the best studio
in state.
➤ Tamil, Gemini studio produced some movies in Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam also.
There was an excellent great top secret success story behind Gemini studio.
➤ The very
fi
rst movie by Gemini pictures and productions is 'Madanakamarajan'
➤ in 1941 with the onset of cameraman and scenarist Mr K Ramnath and at director
Mr AK Sekhar. Also 'Chandralekha' is one of the outstanding movies by SS Vasan.
Point to be noted that Chandralekha is the
fi
rst movie in Tamil that achieved All
India distribution and brought excellent returns.

12. ➤ 'Mangamma Sabatham' in 1943
➤ ‘Kannama en Kadhali' in 1945
➤ 'Miss malini' in 1947
➤ 'Kalpana' in 1948 – This movie has brought Gemini Studio a great achievement due
to its Choreography by Mr Uday Shankar who sets the greatest trend for future
choreographers'.
➤ 'Apoorva Sagodharargal' in 1949 which is the costume adventure
fi
lm which was
released in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu languages and brought a grant success.
➤ After the death of SS Vasan, Gemini studio was overtaken by his son SS
Balasubramaniyan. Finally after the release of the
fi
lm 'Ellorum Nallavare' in 1970,

13. VAHINI STUDIO
➤ In 1948 along with his friends, Shri
B.Nagi Reddi established the famous
Vijaya Vauhini Studios which
became one of the largest studios in
South East Asia.
➤ Shri Nagi Reddi produced a number
of movies under the banner of Vijaya
Productions. He produced many
movies in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi,
Malayalam & Kannada. Almost all of
his
fi
lms were box-o
ffi
ce hits.

14. ➤ Some of these
fi
lms such as Pathala Bhairavi, Pelli Chesi Choodu (as Kalyanam
Panni Paar 6 months later), Chandraharam, and Maya Bazar were dubbed into Tamil
at the same time, Missamma was remade as Missiamma (1955) with Gemini
Ganesan playing NTR's role. Excepting Chandraharam and Uma Chandi Gauri
Shankarula Katha, every movie made by Vijaya Productions was successful at the
box o
ffi
ce.
➤ Enga veetu Pillai, Uzhaipali, Nammavar, Padikathavan, veeram, Bairava.. etc..,

15. PRASAD STUDIO
➤ Prasad Studios and Prasad Film Labs are
motion picture post production studios in
Hyderabad,the studio was founded by L.V.
Prasad in 1956
➤ Prasad Productions, with a history
spanning 6 decades, is a Pioneer and
L e a d e r i n t h e I n d i a n M e d i a &
Entertainment World.
➤ The activities of Prasad encompass Film
Production, Post Production,
➤ focus on constant upgradation and
keeping abreast of emerging technologies.

16. ➤ Ramesh Prasad envisioned the huge need for state of the art production facilities in
India. With the blessings of his father, he started Prasad Studios in Chennai in 1962
and brought in some of the best cameras and Film equipments to cater to the needs of
the Indian
fi
lm industry.
➤ Prasad is active in shooting Floors, shooting equipment,
fi
lm processing and printing,
telecine, editing, audio, graphics (VFX), digital intermediate (DI), digital
fi
lm
restoration, DVD authoring, release printing, format conversions and Digital Cinema
services.
➤ under the famous Banner Prasad Productions Pvt. Ltd. These include Blockbusters like
DAADI MAA, MILAN, JEENE KI RAAH, KHILONA and BIDAAI
➤ The production house has produced over 150 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada,
Malayalam and Hindi.