FROM BLACK&WHITETO

MULTI COLOUR FILMS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MALAYALAM CINEMA WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON CAMERA TECHNIQUES

Malayalam film- origin

Malayalam cinema is the Indian film industry based in Kerala, India, dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Malayalam language.

Also called as Mollywood At first (beginning in the 1920s), the Malayalam

film industry was based in Trivandrum. The film industry started to develop and flourish

only by the late-1940s. By the end of 1980s, the Malayalam film industry

returned and established itself in Kerala.  J.C.Daniel regarded as the father of Malayalam

cinema.

The first Malayalam film-Vigathakumaran (1930) Which is silent film produced & directed by

J.C.Daniel Marthanda Varma, based on a novel by C. V.

Raman Pillai, was produced by R. Sundar Raj in 1933.

The first talkie in Malayalam was Balan, released in 1938. It was directed by S. Nottani.

Artist P. J. Cherian was the first Malayali producer to produce Nirmala in 1948.

Vellinakshatram (1949), Jeevitha Nouka (1951) In 1954, the film Neelakuyil captured national

interest by winning the President's silver medal.

The era of colour films came to Malayalam cinema with its first colour film, Kandam Bacha Coat(1961).

First cinemascope film produced in Malayalam was Thacholi Ambu (1978).

First 70mm film is Padayottam(1982). First 3D cinema produced in India My Dear

Kuttichathan(1984). World’s first film with one actor-The Guard

(2001). Rajiv anjal’s Guru (1997), Salim Ahmad’s

Adaminte Makan Abu (2011) made official entry for the best foreign language film category at the academic award.

35mm,cinemascope,70mm films

The 35mm format, or simply 35mm, is the common name for the 24×36 mm film format or image sensor format used in photography.The format originated with Oskar Barnack and his introduction of the Leica camera in the 1920s.

Cinemascope is an anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, for shooting wide screen movies. Created by Spyros P.Skouras.

The Robe (1952) was the first film to start production in CinemaScope

70mm film or 65 mm film is a wide high resolution film gauge.

Higher resolution than 35 mm.

The film is 65 mm (2.6 in) wide.For projection the original 65 mm film is printed on 70 mm(2.8 in) film.

The additional 5mm are for holding six tracks of sounds.

 

The first Malayalam film The first Malayalam film is Vigatha

kumaran(1930)

the type of movie camera that he would have filmed Malayalam’s first movie?...

Popular ones during those times were- Debrie Le Parvo, Moy (Moy&Bastie), Bell & Howel 2709, Mitchell Standard and Eyem.

Debrie Le Parvo used for making this film. 35 mm camera

The hand-cranked Le Parvo was at one time the most popular European made camera.

Most used camera’s in 1920’s around the world. J.C.Daniel bought this camera for 40000/- DOP Jayanam Vincent says “the Debrie, Mitchell

NC, Hewall are still available at AVM studios, Chennai”

On J.C. Daniel’s cinematography equipment

DEBRIE LE PARVO

First talkie film in Malayalam Balan  is a 1938 Malayalam film directed

by S. Nottani. Based on the short story "Vidhiyum Mrs.

Nayarum" by A. Sundaram. screenplay and dialogues are written

by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. German cinematographer Bado

Gushwalker handled the camera. 35 mm camera

FIRST COLOUR FILM

Kandam Becha Kottu ( The Patched-up Coat)   is the first colour film in Malayalam.

Directed by T. R. Sundaram, starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and Aranmula Ponnamma.

Release dates -August 24, 1961. 35 mm camera

Chemmeeen

Babumon (1975) Ragam(1975)

First 3D cinema in India is My Dear Kuttichaattan (1984).

3D orthree-dimensional film or S3D (stereoscopic 3D) film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception

First 70mm movie Padayottam (1982)Sri Ramachandra Babu  : That’s right…Usually 70mm movies were shot using 65 mm camera and 65 mm film negative. Then it would be printed on 70 mm film. 65 mm cameras were not available in India at that time. SHOLAY, the first 70 mm film in India was shot in Cinemascope and the negative was taken to London to be blown up to 70 mm size. Padayottam was also shot in Cinemascope. But it was processed in Prasad Labs Chennai. So Padayottam was the first indigenous 70 mm movie in India. Several aspects had to be taken care of while processing that movie.

Historical moviesOru vadakkan veeragaatha

Kerala varma veera Pazhassiraja

Sequential movies

IN HARIHAR NAGAR SERIES

The King and Commisioner

First Digital moviemoonnamathoral

First Digital movie in Malayalam Moonnamathoral (2006) is directed by V.K.Prakash.  The movie stars Jayaram and Jyothirmayi in the

lead roles. first high-definition (HD) cinema to be digitally

distributed to theatres via satellite. shot entirely using HD cameras. Digital cinema refers to the use

of digital technology to distribute or project motion pictures as opposed to the historical use of motion picture film. A movie can be distributed via hard drives, the Internet, dedicated satellite links or optical disks such as Blu-ray Discs.

helicam

For the first time in the history of Malayalam filmdom, a helicam, a camera which goes up into the air, was used for the shoot of V K Prakash's Trivandrum Lodge.

 The helicam, a camera that has been fitted on a mini helicopter can go up to a height of 400 feet and captures panoramic shots, which is an impossible feat for regular cameras. around 4 lakh as daily rent.

Movie by DSLR camera

The first movie made on DSLR camera. Cinematographer and director Sameer

Thahir used a digital still camera to shoot his entire film —Chappa Kurishu (2011).

a task which was considered almost 'suicidal' at that point. But the final product proved that visually good films can be made with lower budgets too.

The film was shot entirely with a Canon 7D DSLR camera.

Slow motion movies

Slow motion movies The trend was introduced by Amal Neerad in

his debut movie BIG B (2007). He is well notable for his stylish

cinematography.  He was awarded with both National

Award and Ajaykar Award for his work as a cinematographer.

. The visuals of Big B were noticed for their Hollywood feel and tone.

Used Super 16 mm camera.

Sagar alias Jacky Anwar

Bachelor Party Iyyobinte Pusthakam

Used HS2 Weisscamera for Bachelor Party

Used super 16 and Weisscam for Anwar, Sagar Alias Jacky.

Today RED Digital cameras were using commonly.

Such as RED One MX, RED Epic and RED Scarlet .

Spanish Masala D.O.P - LokanathanNidra (RED One MX) D.O.P - Sameer ThahirCinema Company (RED One MX) D.O.P - Jibu JacobKarmayogi D.O.P - R.D.RajasekharHusbands In Goa D.O.P - Anil NairNaughty Professor (RED One MX)22 Female Kottayam (RED Epic) D.O.P : Shyju KhalidRun Baby Run (Epic) D.O.P : R.D. RajasekharMolly Aunty Rocks D.O.P: Sujith VasudevMaad Dad (RED Epic ) - Dop : Pradeep nairHousefull - (RED Epic) dop : Neil D' CunhaMantrikan -(RED Epic) D.O.P - Vaidy S PillaiAyalum njanum Thammil (RED Epic) D.O.P - Jomon T JohnDa Thadiya (RED Epic) - D.O.P - Shyju KhalidChettayees (RED One MX) D.O.P - Vinod IllampillyAnnayum rasoolum D.O.P - Madhu NeelakantanTrivandrum Lodge D.O.P : Pradeep NairABCD (RED Epic) D.O.P - Jomon T JohnNee Ko Nja Cha (Red One MX) D.O.P - Neil D' CunhaKkamath and Kkamath (RED Epic,RED One MX) - D.O.P - Anil NairRomans (RED One MX ) D.O.P - Vinod Illampilly

List films shooted in RED Digital Cameras'l (RED One MX, RED Epic and RED Scarlet

August Club (RED Epic,RED Scarlet) D.O.P - PrathapanUp and Down (Canon C300 and RED Scarlet ) D.O.P - Jomon ThomasRose Guittarinaal (Epic) D.O.P - Sudheesh PappuDavid and Goliath (RED One MX) D.O.P - Jithu DamodarMatinee (Red One MX) D.O.P - PappinuKili Poyi (RED One MX and Red Epic ) D.O.P - Pradeesh VarmaBuddy (RED One MX)My Fan Ramu (RED One MX)Immanuel (RED Epic) D.O.P - Pradeep NairHotel California (RED One MX) D.O.P - Jithu DamodarChewing Gum (RED One MX) D.O.P - Sakhya5 Sundarikal (sameer thahir chapter ) (RED Epic) D.O.P - Shyju Khalid Lokpal (RED Epic) D.O.P - Pradeep NairKuttiyum Kolum (Red One MX)Lucky Star (RED Epic) D.O.P - Vijay UlakanathNatholi oru Cheriya Meenalla (Red Epic) D.O.P - Arun JamesMumbai Police (Red Epic) D.O.P - DivakaranAmen (Red Epic) D.O.P - Abhinandan

Movies shot on Arri Alexa:

Ozhimuri D.O.P - Azhagappan101 Weddings D.O.P - AzhagappanCelluloid D.O.P -VenuScene Onnu Nammude Veedu D.O.P - AzhagappanGangs of VadakkumnathanKalikaalam D.O.P - Madhu AmbatKunjananthante Kada (Arriraw externally on Codex) D.O.P - Madhu AmbatPullippulikalum Aatinkuttiyum (Arri Alexa XT) D.O.P - S Kumar

Movies shot on Sony PMW-F3:Arike D.O.P - Azhagappan

On Canon C300 :Up and Down D.O.P - Jomon ThomasEnglish - D.O.P - Udhayan Ambadi

ALEXA XT CAMERA ,made by Arri (Arnold and Richter cine Technique

Pullippuliyum Aattinkuttiyum (2013)

Anjuli ShuklaKutty Srank Malayalam [

Madhu Ambat –Adaminte Makan Abu K. V. Anand Thenmavin Kombath 1995

Santosh Sivan Kaalapani

The first talkie in the world is The Jazz Singer (1927).

In Malayalam Balan (1938).

First cinemascope movie The Robe (1955), in Malayalam it is Thacholi Ambu (1978).

First 3D film The Power of Love (1922), in India it is My Dear Kuttichattan (1984).

V K Prakash feels that Malayalam cinema now is getting back the lost art of technique. "Our films before the 80's were quite ahead of the times in terms o technology; Bhargavinilayam and Chemmeen are examples. Later, the focus shifted to dialogue. But the people who should understand the value of technical perfection are the producers," he concludes.

For a long time, Malayalam filmmakers were willing to spend lakhs on exotic locations, song sequences and imported actresses, but were stingy when it came to technical perfection. But the scenario has been changing.