{{Short description|Indian film studio}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Modern Theaters Ltd | logo = ModernTheatersLtd-Logo.jpg | logo_size = 220px | type = [[Private company limited by shares|Limited]] | genre = | fate = Liquidated | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 1935 | founder = [[T. R. Sundaram|T. R. Sundaram Mudaliar]] | defunct = 2001 | location_city = Yercaud Road, [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] - 636 008, Tamil Nadu | location_country = India | location = | locations = | area_served = [[Tamil Nadu]]<br/>[[Kerala]]<br />[[Andhra Pradesh]] | key_people = [[T. R. Sundaram|T. R. Sundaram Mudaliar]] | industry = [[Motion picture]]s | products = | services = | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = | footnotes = | intl = }}
'''Modern Theaters Ltd''' was an Indian [[film studio]] in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], [[Tamil Nadu]] started by [[T. R. Sundaram|T. R. Sundaram Mudaliar]] in 1935. The studio produced over more than 150 films until 2001 in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]], [[Hindi]], [[Sinhala language|Sinhalese]] and even [[English language|English]] of which Tamil were the majority.
==History==
In the early 1930s, T. R. Sundaram entered the world of Tamil cinema as a partner of a Salem-based film company, [[Angel Films]]. He was involved in productions such as ''[[Draupadi Vastrapaharanam]]'' (1934), [[Dhruva]] (1935) and [[Nalla Thangal (1935 film)|Nalla Thangal]] (1935). Then he decided to start his own company, Modern Theatres Limited. He realized that to make film making a business, it had to be organized and managed like a business enterprise. He also planned a schedule of producing films on a tight budget (two or three a year), so that the market and consumers were regularly and continually supplied with his products.
The maiden production of Modern Theatres, directed by Sundaram, was '''''Sathi Ahalya''''', a mythological plot was released in 1937. The following year he produced the first Malayalam talkie ''[[Balan (film)|Balan]]''. Sundaram promoted Modern Theatres as a joint stock company and built a studio on a vast stretch of land on the outskirts of Salem town. The hundred odd films that came from his studio covered a wide spectrum of themes — [[mythology]], [[comedy]] and original screenplays to adaptation of classic works of literature and murder mysteries. It is, however, the [[James Bond]] style of films starring [[Jaishankar (actor)|Jaishankar]] that are almost synonymous with the banner.
Following the Hollywood [[studio system]], TRS had on his rolls writers, technicians, actors and so on. He paid generously and promptly, a rarity in the film circle.<ref name=hindu />
==Notable contributions== * First time in the world, T. R. Sundaram, the Salem-based Indian movie mogul. It was he who introduced the novel idea of seeking public opinion on the choice of the female and male leads. He advertised in the press, asking moviegoers to suggest the names of artists for the lead roles, and the almost unanimous choice was the 'Dream Girl of Tamil Cinema' Rajakumari as Manonmani and the multi-talented star Chinnappa as the prince-hero. It is perhaps the only incident of its kind in the history of world cinema and certainly in Indian cinema read this article in ''The Hindu'' newspaper.<ref name=hindu>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Stickler-for-discipline/article15399624.ece|title=Stickler for discipline|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en|date=August 2012}}</ref> * Produced the first Malayalam talkie ''[[Balan (film)|Balan]]'' in 1938 * First Double role in Tamil Films introduced in ''[[Uthama Puthiran (1940 film)|Uthama Puthiran]]'' starring [[P. U. Chinnappa]] in the year 1940. * The first most expensive film to be produced was ''[[Manonmani (film)|Manonmani]]'' in 1942, starring [[P. U. Chinnappa]] and [[T. R. Rajakumari]]. * First Tamil Color film ([[Geva Color]]) was [[Alibabavum Narpadhu Thirudargalum (1956 film)|Alibabavum Narpadhu Thirudargalum]]-1956 <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culturopedia.com/Cinema/tamil_cinema.html |title=Culturopedia.com - Cinema in India~ the Tamil Cinema? |access-date=11 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118213158/http://culturopedia.com/Cinema/tamil_cinema.html |archive-date=18 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * First Malayalam Talkie film called ''[[Balan (film)|Balan]]'' directed by Notani was produced in 1938<ref name="chintha.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.chintha.com/keralam/malayalam-cinema-history.html |title=History of Malayalam Cinema | chintha |access-date=11 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612051653/http://www.chintha.com/keralam/malayalam-cinema-history.html |archive-date=12 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * First Malayalam Color film was ''[[Kandam Becha Kottu]]'' in 1961<ref name="chintha.com"/> * First English film in Tamil Nadu: Modern Theatres teamed up with an American Film company to produce the first English movie in 1952- ''[[The Jungle (1952 film)|The Jungle]]'' * First film in which [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] starred as a heroine is [[Konjum Kumari]] in 1963. This is the 97th film for [[T. R. Sundaram]] * First film to have 3 separate stories within a movie was ''Sow Sow''. The 3 stories are ''Kaligala Mainar'', ''School Drama'' and ''Soorapuli''. * When Zoom lens was not invented such an effect was pioneered in ''[[Ponmudi (1950 film)]]'' for which the [[French Government]] awarded the cameraman. * Has a unique record of having five former [[Chief Minister of India|Chief Ministers of India]] in its payroll. * Frequently used foreigners like [[Ellis R. Dungan]], [[Manik Lal Tandon]], [[Bomman D. Irani]] to bring up the quality factor of his films. * The last film shot at Modern Theatres, Salem was [[Muthu Engal Sothu]] (1983)
== Present status== The landmark, situated on nine acres on Yercaud road here, has been handed over to a private construction firm for promoting flats and houses. The promoters, respecting its glorious past, have decided to dismantle the exquisitely designed stone arch carrying the legendary name of `Modern Theatres Limited' and erect it a few metres away with a new name, `Sundar Garden' as per `vasthu sasthra'. Other worn-out buildings, including studio houses and sheds, that figured in many movies are also being brought down. The arch is the only remaining of the glorious past.
T.R. Sundaram's grandson Suman Sundaram who is settled in Australia is currently looking to enter into the film making and follow his grandfather's route in making successful new technology advancement in the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]].
==Gallery== <gallery> Modern theatres.jpg </gallery>
==See also== * [[List of Modern Theatres films]]
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/03/08/stories/2004030804000600.htm |title=It is curtains for tinsel world's dream factory |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190720054619/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/it-is-curtains-for-tinsel-worlds-dream-factory/article27573810.ece |archive-date=20 July 2019 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=8 March 2004 |access-date=3 November 2006 |url-status=usurped }}
[[Category:Indian film studios]] [[Category:Film distributors of India]] [[Category:Film production companies of Tamil Nadu]] [[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1935]] [[Category:1935 establishments in India]] [[Category:Salem, Tamil Nadu]]