I DIRECTORS: THE CAPTAINS — MASTERS AND COMMANDERS WITH AN IMPACT TO LAST THE AGES 

2. The 1930s— Part 12(1)

 Raja Chandrasekhar and T.R. Raghunath

This episode we are going to talk about the 2 forgotten pioneers, siblings Raja Chandrasekhar and T.R. Raghunath. The first part of this episode will be about the elder one Raja Chandrasekhar

(1) Raja Chandrasekhar

Raja Chandrasekhar was one of the early film makers of Tamil Cinema. He was born in Trichy and studied Textile Engineering in Bombay before his interest shifted towards Cinema. 

Few of the films made by Raja Chandrasekhar during 1930 – 1940: 

• 1936: CHANDRAMOHANA
• 1936: RAJA DESINGU
• 1937: BHAKTHA THULASIDAS
• 1938: DAKSHA YAGNAM
• 1939: MAYA MACHINDRA

Raja Chandrasekar started his film career by joining as assistant to Fatma Begam, the first female director of India in 1929. He later joined General Pictures Corporation. His first film as a director was the silent film Mohini Rukhmangatha. He is believed to have made around 12 silent films after that. One of them being Pandava Nirvahan in 1930 which was the most popular of all. His first talkie film was Chandramohana released in the year 1936. 

In 1936  he made another film Raja Desingu, Produced by Rajeswari talkies. The film was initially advertised as Desingu Rajan before release. The film was shown along with a dance presentation of the dance icon Rukmini Devi Arundale, the founder of Kalakshetra, an academy for dance and music

An advertisement of RAJA DESINGU

From the magazine ANANDA VIKATAN DEEPAVALI MALAR 1935

PC: From the archives of TCRC

Bhaktha Thulasidas directed by Raja Chandrasekhar released on September 9 1937. It had then popular star M.K. Radha in lead role along with K.S.Prabha Devi and Comedy duos N.S.Krishnan and T.A.Madhuram. 

A still from the Film BHAKTHA THULASIDAS

PC: From the archives of TCRC

Bhaktha Thulasidas had 19 songs composed by Jayarama Iyer  known as Fiddle Jayarama Iyer (Not to be mistaken with famous carnatic muscian Lalgudi Jayaraman)

One of the songs sung by the lead actor M.K.Radha written by Mayavaram Thyagaraja Mudaliyar , “Rama Ellam Neeye“ was quite popular then.

Another important film in Raja Chandrasekhar’s career was Maya Machindra released in the year 1939. The film again had M.K.Radha in titular role. M.R. Krishnamoorthy, younger brother of the famous carnatic singer Mahrajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer played an important role in the film. M.B. Radha Bhai was the female lead while N.S. Krishnan and his wife T.A. Madhuram filled the comedy part of the film. They sang few comic songs too. M.G. Ramachandran(MGR), who went on to become one of the most popular Tamil film stars and later as Tamilnadu Chief Minister played a minor role in the film as well. The film also had the star cast of some popular actors like M.G. Chakrapani, P.G. Venkatesan, K.S. Sankara Iyer, T.M. Pattammal, Saroja Ratnavali, Ramalakshmi, L. Chandrika, K. Soundaram, Sundari, K.S. Velayudham and V. Nataraj

A still from the Film MAYA MACHINDRA

PC: From the archives of TCRC

Maya Machindra was based on the story of life of Machindranath, believed to be incarnation of Lord Shiva. The first film based on this story was made in Hindi and Marathi of same name by Legendary filmmaker actor V. Shantharam.

Raja Chandrasekhar was believed to be the favorite director of the then Superstar M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar  with whom he made a few popular hit films like Ashok Kumar. Later he had to go through downfall in his career. MGR in his directorial venture Nadodi Mannan (1958) took his assistance and credited him as the Technical Advisor. 

His brother T.R. Raghunath too became a successful filmmaker. We will talk about him in our next edition

[To be continued] We’ll be back in next edition with more hidden treasure from the history of Tamil cinema. Stay tuned!

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