K Subrahmanyam Hall to be opened tomorrow
A lawyer by profession and filmmaker by choice, Subrahmanyam was one of the early pioneers of Indian cinema to get global recognition.
Chennai: Eminent writer, socially conscious filmmaker and studio-owner K. Subrahmanyam, who contributed immensely to growth of cinema, will be remembered with fondness when a hall will be opened in his name at MGR Janaki College on Thursday (August 30).
Subrahmanyam’s memorable movies include Balayogini, Seva Sadanam, Thyaga Bhoomi, Bhaktha Chetha, Vikata Yogi, Bhaktha Kuchela, Vichitra Vanitha and Geetha Gandhi. M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S.D.Subbulakshmi, B.S. Saroja, T.R. Rajakumari, Lalitha-Padmini and Chandrababu were among the new faces he introduced and who reached dizzying heights in Tamil cinema between 1930s and 1950s.
While he gave the first opportunity to M.S. Subbulakshmi to perform a concert and also featured her in his film Sevasadanam, he also introduced D.K. Pattammal as a playback singer.
A lawyer by profession and filmmaker by choice, Subrahmanyam was one of the early pioneers of Indian cinema to get global recognition. He was honoured by the government of USSR, Directors Guild of America and Unesco among others in the 1950s.
Sharing with DC his father’s connection with the college, well-known documentary film-maker Dr S. Krishnaswamy said, “The college, as we all know, is founded in memory of Dr MGR and Janaki. When they decided to get married in the 1950s, they requested my father K. Subrahmanyam to sign as witness to their registered marriage. Dr Latha Rajendran (niece of Janaki Ramachandran) and her son Kumar Rajendran are at the helm of the college founded on the land which originally belonged to MGR. There has been a long standing bond between the families of MGR and K.Subrahmanyam. Dr Latha Rajendran is a dance student of my sister Dr Padma Subrahmanyam. Soon after MGR became the CM, he commissioned me to make a short biopic of himself (The MGR Phenomenon). My brother ‘Isaimazhalai’ Ramjhi was like a son to Janaki Ramachandran and was her campaign manager during her brief tenure in active politics and as CM.”
It may be recalled Dr MGR Janaki College of Arts & Science for Women situated on a vast piece of land once housed Meenakshi Cinetone. Subrahmanyam’s debut film as a director Pavlakkodi was made in the studio. Later, it was renamed Neptune studio and then Sathya studio before becoming a college. Several successful films of Subrahmanyam were filmed in Neptune studio.
Recognising the significance of the location, MGR Janaki College and K.Subrahmanyam’s family decided to open a hall with a seating capacity of 200 for concerts and conferences.
The hall will be inaugurated by popular yesteryear film star B. Saroja Devi who was introduced to cinema by K. Subrahmanyam.
Other participants at the inaugural function will be veteran actor Sivakumar and textile industrialist Nalli Kuppusami Chetty.