Malayalam Cinema Facts - For PSC


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:

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


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 MalayalamThirakalkkappuram (1998).*
 
(After the re-release of MDK in 1997, Navodaya installed DTS in about 10 theaters across Kerala from their pocket)

(Thanks Vinod!)

Comments

  1. Hello, First DTS movie in malayalam is "My dear kuttichathan " 1997 version.

    First original malayalam film to use DTS was "Thirakalkkappuram " in 1998.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My mistake for not doing enough research.. Updated the post. Thanks for the correction...

      Delete
  2. I think its Darling Darling (2000)

    ReplyDelete

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