Malayalam Cinema Facts - For PSC

Malayalam Film Industry is celebrating its 90th Birthday in 2020. Here are some of the interesting facts about India's fourth-biggest entertainment industry:

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First In Malayalam Cinema

• First Malayalam Cinema – Vigathakumaran (1928).
• First Malayalam Film based on a Literary Work – Marthandavarma.
• First Indian Historical Drama Film – Marthandavarma (1933).
• First Film banned in Indian Film Industry due to copyright issues – Marthanda Varma (1933; directed by P. V. Rao).
• First Malayalam Sound/talkie Film – Balan (1938).
• First Person to Speak in Malayalam Cinema – Alleppey Vincent (Balan).
• First Malayalam Word to be spoken  – Hello Mister.
• First Cinema Hall (manually operated film projector) – Thrissur (by K. W. Joseph*, 1907).
• First Permanent Theatre (electrically operated film project) – Jose Electrical Bioscope (Thrissur by Jose Kattookkaran, 1913).
• First Mythological Film in Malayalam – Prahlada (1941).
• First Film Produced By A Malayali – Nirmala (1948).
• First Film With Songs – Nirmala.
• First Director to introduce play-back singing in cinema – P. J. Cherian.
• First Male Playback Singer in Malayalam – Govinda Rao.
• First Female Playback Singer in Malayalam – Sarojini Menon.
• First Film Studio – Travancore National Pictures (1926).*
• First Popular Film Studio – Udaya Studio (1948).
• First Movie produced from Udaya Studio – Vellinakshatram (1949).
• First Film Studio Owned by the Government of Kerala – Chitranjali Studio (1980).
• First Realistic Movie in Malayalam – Newspaper Boy (1955).
• First Thriller Film – C.I.D. (1955).
• First Malayalam Film based on the Bible – Snapaka Yohannan (1963).
• First Horror Film – Bhargavi Nilayam (1964).
• First Malayalam Film Actor – J. C. Daniel (Vigathakumaran).
• First Malayalam Film Actress – P. K. Rosi (Vigathakumaran).
• First Malayalam Film Actor Who Spoke in Malayalam Cinema – K.K. Aroor.
• First Malayalam Film Actress Who Spoke in Malayalam Cinema – M.K. Kamalam.
• First Woman director in the Malayalam film industry – Vijaya Nirmala ('Kavitha', 1973).
• First Box Office Hit in Malayalam – Jeevitha Nauka (1951).
• First Film in Kerala to have a separate gramaphone record for dialogues – Bharya (1962).
• First Sponsored Film in Malayalam – Makalkkayi (2005).
• First Film Society in Malayalam – Chithralekha (1965).
• First Malayalam movie with no actresses – Mathilukal (1989, Director & Producer: Adoor Gopalakrishnan).
• First Film directed by M.T. Vasudevan Nair – Nirmaalyam (1973).
• First Film Journalist in Malayalam – K.V. Koshi.
• First Film Magazine in Malayalam – Chalachithram (Editor: M.M. Ramachandran, Publisher: Manorajyam, Printed at Trivandrum).
• First Screenplay to be Published in Book format – Murappennu (1965).
• First Film to shot entirely in outdoor locations – Rosie (1965).
• First Film to shot entirely in a gulf country – Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980).
• First Millennium Hit – Narasimham (2000, Director: Shaji Kailas, Actor: Mohanlal).
• First Malayali Film Actor to become Parliament Member – Innocent.

Evolution of Films

• First Colour film – Kandam Bacha Coat (1961).
• First Cinemascope film – Thacholi ambu (1978).
• First 70mm Malayalam cinema – Padayottam (1982).
• First 3D movie – My Dear Kuttichathan (1984).
• First Cartoon/full-length live-action/animation hybrid movie in Malayalam – O' Faby (1993).
• First full-length feature film in Asia to combine live-action with animated characters – O' Faby.
• First Dolby Stereo Movie – Kalapani (1996).
• First Dolby Digital Movie – Indraprastham (1996).
• First DTS Movie – My Dear Kuttichathan (1997, re-released version of MDK 1984 by Navodaya).
• First Digital Movie – Moonnamathoral (2006).
• First high-definition (HD) movie digitally distributed to theaters via satellite.
• First Malayalam Film shot entirely on a Mobile phone camera – Jalachhayam (2010).
• First Malayalam film to release on Netflix – Grandmaster (2012).
• First Malayalam film to release with subtitles (English) in outside Kerala – Grandmaster (2012).
• First Dolby Atmos Movie – Manglish (2014).
• First Indian film to be shot entirely in 8K resolution – Villain (2017).
• First Crowdfunded (money collected from the public) Film – Amma Ariyan (1986; directed by John Abrahaam).
• First Online Crowdfunded Malayalam Cinema – Oraalppokkam (2014).
• First Film Song released through Whatsapp – Kootu thedi, Varsham (2014).
• First Malayalam Film released on OTT platform – Sufiyum Sujatayum (2020).
• First Malayalam film to be released directly on the OTT platform – Fourth River (2020).
• First Documentary Film in Kerala – Fathima Mathavinte Divya Ghoshayatra (Director: Kunchacko).
• First Film (World's as well) with one actor in the entire star cast – The Guard (2001).
• First Malayalam film to cross ₹10 million gross collection from theatres –  Thacholi Ambu (1978).
• First Malayalam film to cross ₹500 million gross collection from theatres –  Drishyam (2013).
• First Malayalam film to cross ₹1 billion gross collection from theatres –  Pulimurugan (2016).
• The First Malayalam film to cross ₹2 billion thus becoming highest-grossing film of all-time –  2018: Everyone is a Hero (2023).

Awards – National & International

National

• First Malayalam movie to win President’s Silver Medal for the Best Film – Neelakuyil (1954).
• First Malayalam (South Indian) movie to win President’s Gold Medal for the Best Film –Chemmeen (1965).
• First Malayali Actor to win National award – P. J. Antony (Nirmaalyam).
• First Woman to win National award for acting – Sarada (Thulabharam, 1968).
• First & Youngest Malayali actress to win National award – Monisha (Nakhakshathangal, 1986).
• First Malayali Director to win National award – Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
• First Malayali to win the maximum number of National awards for best director – Adoor Gopalakrishnan (16 times).
• First Malayali to win National award for Best Screenplay – S.L. Puram Sadanandan (Agniputhri).
• First Malayali to win the National award for Best Lyricist – Vayalar Ramavarma.
• First Malayalam actor to honored with Padmasree – Thikkurishi Sukumaran Nair (1973).
• First & Only Malayali to win the Dadasaheb Phalke Award – Adoor Gopalakrishnan (2004).
• First Malayalam film to win State award – Kumarasambhavam (1969).
• First recipient of Kerala State film award for best actress – Sheela (Kallichellamma, 1969).
• First recipient of Kerala State film award for best actor – Sathyan (Kadalppalam, 1969).
• First Female to win the Kerala State film award for best director – Vidhu Vincent (Manhole, 2016).
• First & Only Malayalam actress who won Kerala State Award 5 times – Urvasi (hat-trick - 1989, 1990 & 1991).
• First Singer to win Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer – K. J. Yesudas.
• First J. C. Daniel award winner – T. E. Vasudevan (1992).
• First Malayali Woman recipient of J.C Daniel Award – Aranmula Ponnamma.

International

• First Malayalam film to be nominated for Oscars – Guru (directed by Rajiv Anchal).
• First Malayalam film to be premiered in Cannes Film Festival – Elipathayam (Adoor Gopalakrishnan, 1981).
• First Malayalam film to get Golden Camera award in Cannes film festival – Marana Simhasanam (1999).
• First Malayalam film to get Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival – Veyil Marangal (Directed by Dr. Biju, 2019).
• First Malayali to win Oscar Award – Rasool Pookutty (Sound Mixing - Slumdog Millionaire).
• First & Only actor holding Guinness World Records for playing most no. of characters (45) by one actor in a single film – Johnson George (Aaranu Njan, 2018).
• First Indian director to use sound as a leitmotif (a recurring musical theme) – Adoor Gopalakrishnan (Swayamvaram, 1972). 

* For PSC, it is Udaya Studio.

Click here for a complete list of National Award Winners in the Malayalam Film Industry

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SideNotes:

• Father of Malayalam Cinema – J.C. Daniel.
• Vigathakumaran was released in the year – 23 October 1930.
• The place where Vigathakumaran was released – Capitol Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram (November 7, 1928).
• Director of the movie Vigathakumaran – J. C. Daniel.
• J. C. Daniel – Established the first Film Studio in Kerala.
• Highest film award in Malayalam Film Industry – J.C. Daniel Award.
• Second Malayalam movie – Marthandavarma.
• Second Malayalam Sound Film – Njanambika.
• Director of the Malayalam film "Prahlada"– K. Subramaniam.
• The third movie released in Malayalam – Balan.
• Director of the movie "Balan"– S. Nottani.
• Songwriter of the movie "Balan" – Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai.
• Director of Nirmala – P.J. Cherian.
• Nirmala's music composer – P. S. Divakar & E. I. Warrier.
• Nirmala's Lyricist – G. Sankara Kurup.
• Founder of Udaya Studio – Kunchako.
• The director of the movie 'Vellinakshatram' – Felix J. H. Bais.
• Second popular film studio in Kerala – Merryland Studio.
• Merryland was established by – P. Subramaniam (Nemom, 1951).
• Chitranjali Studio is located at – Thiruvallam (Thiruvananthapuram).
• The second largest indoor studio in Asia – Chitranjali Studio.
• Director of "Newspaper Boy"– P. Ramdas.
• Newspaper Boy has its roots in – Italian neorealism.
• Second Malayalam movie to win a National award – Swayamvaram (1972).
• Padayottam was inspired by the French novel – The Count of Monte Cristo (by Alexandre Dumas).
• Director of "Chemmeen" – Ramu Kariat.
• Producer of the movie Chemmeen – Babu Ismayil.
• Cinematographers of the movie Chemmeen – Marcus Bartley & U. Rajagopal.
• Author of the Malayalam Novel "Chemmeen" – Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1956).
• The backdrop of the Novel "Chemmeen" was set on – Purakkad beach, Alappuzha.
• The backdrop for the film "Chemmeen" was shot on – Nattika Beach, Thrissur.
• Scriptwriter of the movie "Neelakkuyil" – Uroob.
• Directors of the film "Neelakkuyil" – P. Bhaskaran & Ramu Kariat.
• Founders of Chitralekha film society – Kulathoor Bhaskaran Nair & Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
• No. of Kerala State Film Awards won by Adoor – 17 times.
• No. of films directed by Adoor – 12.
• Adoor Gopalakrishnan's debut film – "Swayamavaram" (1972).
• National Film Award for Best Actress was formerly called – Urvasi Award.
• O' Faby was directed by – Sreekuttan Nair.
• Malayali movie to win maximum no. of International film awards – Piravi.
• Director of the movie "Piravi" – Shaji N. Karun.
• Malayalam actor who three won National awards – Mammootty.
• Mathilukal is based on the autobiographical novel of – Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
• The Guinness World Record for playing in the most number of leading roles in films & for playing opposite the same heroine is held by – Prem Naseer (720 films - 130 films with Sheela).
• The record in Malayalam for acting in most films is held by – Jagathy Sreekumar.
• Malayalam actress who has acted in most films – Sukumari.
• Malayalam actor who was honored in Indian Postal stamp – Prem Naseer.
• Total no. of films directed by M.T. Vasudevan Nair – 7.
• No. of screenplays written by M.T. – 54.
• Murappennu was first film written by M.T. Vasudevan Nair.
• Malayalam film inspired by Shakespeare's 'Othello' – Kaliyattam (1997).
• Only Female director to have directed 47 films in Guinness Books of World Records – Vijaya Nirmala.
• First film directed by Vijaya Nirmala – Kavitha (1973).
• Vijaya Nirmala shot to fame for her role in – Bhargavi Nilayam (Bhargavikkutty).
• Bhargavi Nilayam is the film adaptation of the novel – Neelavelicham by Vaikom Muhammed Basheer.
• Only work of Kumaranasan that is converted into a movie of the same name – Karuna(1966, directed and produced by K. Thankappan).
• First person who called Yesudas as "Gana Gandharva" – G. Sankara Kurup. 
• Second Film to get Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film category – Adaminte Makan Abu (2011).

*First original DTS movie in Malayalam–Thirakalkkappuram (1998).*

 

(After the re-release of MDK in 1997, Navodaya installed DTS in about 10 theaters across Kerala from their pocket)

(Thanks Vinod!)