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	===Studio beginnings===		===Studio beginnings===
	~~[[File:Central Studios Coimbatore Catalogue.jpg\|thumb\|right\|220px\|<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"> Catalogue of Central Studios, Coimbatore</div>]]~~
	Central Studio was founded by a group of prominent industrialists B. Rangaswamy Naidu, R. K. Ramakrishnan Chettiar (brother of India's first Finance Minister [[R. K. Shanmukham Chetty]]), [[Samikannu Vincent]], and another new movie director [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]] (who joined as a working partner). Studio commenced its operation in 1936 with their first release being Thukkaram in 1937 directed by [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]]. By the early 1940s the Studio became the central hub of Tamil Movie industry.		Central Studio was founded by a group of prominent industrialists B. Rangaswamy Naidu, R. K. Ramakrishnan Chettiar (brother of India's first Finance Minister [[R. K. Shanmukham Chetty]]), [[Samikannu Vincent]], and another new movie director [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]] (who joined as a working partner). Studio commenced its operation in 1936 with their first release being Thukkaram in 1937 directed by [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]]. By the early 1940s the Studio became the central hub of Tamil Movie industry.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Central Studios
| logo = Central Studios Openning.jpg
| type = [[Managing Agency]] , later Private Limited Company<ref>{{cite web | title=CENTRAL STUDIOS AND TEXTILES PRIVATE LIM ITED - Company, directors and contact details | website=Zauba Corp | date=2021-03-02 | url=https://www.zaubacorp.com/company/CENTRAL-STUDIOS-AND-TEXTILES-PRIVATE-LIMITED/U17111TZ1936PTC000033 | access-date=2021-04-19}}</ref>
| foundation = 1935
| defunct = 1958 (de facto)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1104826/ |title= Commissioner Of Income-Tax vs Central Studios (P.) Ltd. on 16 August, 1972 |website=indiankanoon.org|access-date=2021-04-19}}</ref>
| location = [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]],
| key_people = B. Rangaswamy Naidu, Sriramulu Naidu, Samikannu Vincent, R. K. Ramakrishnan Chettiar, [[Lakshmi Mills]]
| industry = [[Motion picture]]s
}}

'''Central Studios''' was an Indian [[film studio]] in [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], started by B.Rangaswamy Naidu (a.k.a. B. R. Naidu) and other prominent industrialists like [[Swamikannu Vincent]] of Coimbatore in 1935 to make [[Tamil films|Tamil]] and other South Indian language movies. The studio was a major hub of Tamil movie production and notable for its association with many early day Tamil Movie Superstars, directors and script writers etc. and many making their career debuts here. The studio is best remembered for movies like [[Sivakavi]], [[Velaikari]] and [[Haridas (1944 film)|Haridas]].

==History==

===Movie industry in Coimbatore===
[[File:Samikannu Vincent.jpg|thumb|right|150px|<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Samikannu Vincent</div>]]
Movies became a major industry in [[Coimbatore]] when in 1905 a South Indian Railways employee Samikannu Vincent purchased a film projector along with some silent films from a Frenchman named Du Pont who had fallen ill on his touring exhibition. Samikannu Vincent then built a business as film exhibitor first by traveling around the country and finally erecting tents theatres for screening films. His tent cinema became popular as he traveled all over the state with his mobile unit. In 1917, Samikannu Vincent built South India's first permanent cinema theatre, Variety Hall Cinema, at the Town Hall; it is now called the Delite theatre. As Samikannu Vincent also generated his own electric power for his theatres, he built a series of theatres in and around the city to screen silent films. He also became a distributor for the French [[Pathé Frères]] movie projectors. In the early 1930s he launched the Variety Hall Talkies banner to make [[sound film]] (a.k.a. talkies) and released a few movies which were mainly shot in [[Calcutta]]. Feeling a need to have a movie studio, he was instrumental, along with other industrialists and movie makers, in establishing a fully equipped studio in Coimbatore.

Also during the late 1920s, another firm under Sabapathy was involved in the distributorship of an Italian [[movie projector]] company, eventually leading to the manufacture of their own brand of movie projectors in Coimbatore. By the early thirties Coimbatore already had a studio named Premier Cinetone Studio <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/Sathi-Anusuya-1937/article17111613.ece|title=Sathi Anusuya (1937)|first=Randor|last=Guy|date=29 January 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> (later renamed [[Pakshiraja Studios]]). In 1935 a London-educated graduate, [[T. R. Sundaram]], built a fully equipped movie studio, [[Modern Theatres]], in [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]], and the region became the central hub for movie activity.

===Studio beginnings===
[[File:Central Studios Coimbatore Catalogue.jpg|thumb|right|220px|<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"> Catalogue of Central Studios, Coimbatore</div>]]
Central Studio was founded by a group of prominent industrialists B. Rangaswamy Naidu, R. K. Ramakrishnan Chettiar (brother of India's first Finance Minister [[R. K. Shanmukham Chetty]]), [[Samikannu Vincent]], and another new movie director [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]] (who joined as a working partner). Studio commenced its operation in 1936 with their first release being Thukkaram in 1937 directed by [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]]. By the early 1940s the Studio became the central hub of Tamil Movie industry.

==Facilities==

The Studio is located in [[Uppilipalayam]] near [[Singanallur]] township, Trichy Road which is today a part of [[Coimbatore]] city. The Studio had almost all modern facilities required for a Movie studio along with Sound and film editing labs and technical workshops. The sound engineers and cameramen were all Germans during the 30s and most of the Make-Up team were from [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/in-the-limelight/article3649311.ece|title=In the limelight|first=Subha J.|last=Rao|date=17 July 2012|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The studio also had a music department headed by [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]]. The studio also boasted the BNC [[Mitchell Camera]], then a Hollywood standard, which cost a whopping Rs 500,000 in the 1930s and the Studio was equipped with 10 KW, 5 KW AND 2 KW lights. Most of the artists and technicians were on monthly payroll.

==Studio system==
The Silver Jubilee hit movie of 1936 [[Sivakavi]] starring [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]], was an in-house production, as well as several socially significant movies. Central Studio released few movies, but the Studio housed lot of other production banners. The most popular being [[Jupiter Pictures]] and [[Pakshiraja Films]]. Other production houses that operated inside the studio were Narayanan and Company, Manorama Pictures and Venu Pictures. The then popular comedian trio [[N. S. Krishnan]] and T. Mathuram had their independent production unit, Ashoka Films inside the premises. They often made their comedy track independently and sold to other Movie producers who later released as ‘side reel’.

==Notable film personalities==

The studio was a central hub during the early days for [[Tamil movie]]s first 'Superstars' [[P. U. Chinnappa]] and [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] and the popular comedian [[N. S. Krishnan]] and T. A. Mathuram. The studio was also a starting point for four of [[Tamil Nadu]] state [[Chief Minister]]s [[C. N. Annadurai]], [[M. Karunanidhi]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/kalaignars-tryst-with-cinema-began-in-coimbatore/articleshow/65423106.cms|title=Kalaignar’s tryst with cinema began in Coimbatore | Coimbatore News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> [[M. G. Ramachandran]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/celluloid-stories/article5810184.ece|title=Celluloid stories|first=K.|last=Jeshi|date=20 March 2014|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> and [[V. N. Janaki]]. The Studio housed famous musicians [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]], while [[G. Ramanathan]] along with [[Papanasam Sivan]] and [[K. V. Mahadevan]] composed for some of the Studio Movies. The popular music composer [[M. S. Viswanathan]] was an assistant to S. M. Subbiah Naidu. Playback singer [[T. M. Soundararajan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-on-an-icon/article5500972.ece|title=Notes on an icon|first=K.|last=Jeshi|date=25 December 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> made his early foray as playback singer here so was Lyricist [[Kannadasan]] in his initial career. Central Studio was a launch pad for many later day directors like [[Muktha Srinivasan]] who was an Associate Director for 1954 release [[Sorgavasal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Sorgavaasal-1954/article15448137.ece|title=Sorgavaasal 1954|first=Randor|last=Guy|date=4 February 2010|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> and [[K. Shankar]] who was in the editing department. Actress [[Sachu]] as childhood artist appeared in few films shot here. [[T. R. Rajakumari]] featured in many films shot in Central Studioc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/sree-andal-1949/article5788442.ece|title=Sree Andal (1949)|first=Randor|last=Guy|date=15 March 2014|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

Famous directors who operated out of the Studio were [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]], [[Ellis R. Dungan]], [[A. S. A. Sami]], [[A. P. Nagarajan]] and popular duo [[Krishnan–Panju]] of [[Parasakthi (film)|Parasakthi]] fame who directed their first movie in Central Studios. India's pioneering [[Cinematographer]] [[Adi Merwan Irani]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/a-scholars-paupers-death/article3412048.ece|title=A scholar's pauper's death|first=S.|last=Muthiah|date=13 May 2012|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> worked in this studio for [[Sivakavi]] and [[Haridas (1944 film)|Haridas]]. [[Sando Chinnappa Thevar]], of [[Devar Films]] living nearby in Ramanathapuram was a body builder who worked as stunt actor before becoming one of Indias successful movie producers.

==Final years==
In 1945 [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]] left Central Studios to start his own Studio called [[Pakshiraja Studios]] and B. Rangaswamy Naidu family bought out majority of its shares. During the late 1940s the management leased the Studio to [[Jupiter Pictures]]. After B. R. Naidu's demise the Studio management passed on to [[Lakshmi Mills]] family who closed it in 1959 as Chennai by then emerged as the major Movie hub and also as a result of other lobbying groups who wanted to keep movie industry out of Coimbatore, as it was then emerging into an Industrial and Educational hub. The Studio with its equipments were leased to other producers in 1958 and continued Film distribution till 1962.

==Present day==
Most of the Studio structure is still intact as the B. R. Naidu family uses the premises for various industrial activities. Some of the buildings houses Textile production units and small workshops. During the 70s and 80s race car constructor and driver [[S. Karivardhan]] used the studio premises to build and test his race cars.

Till 2009 the text impression ‘ Central Studios’ can found at their main entrance gate. Recently in 2010 some structures were pulled down to make way for new developments. Post 2013 the studio premises was split between the family members of B. R. Naidu and though the buildings remain as it, the approach roads are different and still remain private.

==List of Major Releases==

Movies listed here are partial list only. The list includes other Production houses operating from Central Studios.
{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Language
! Production
! Lead Cast
! Director
! Music Composer
! Notes
|-
| 1938
| [[Thukkaram]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Central Studios
| [[Musiri Subramania Iyer]] [[Chokkalinga Bhagavathar]] K. Seetha Meenambal [[R. Balasaraswathi]]
| B. N. Rao
| [[Musiri Subramania Iyer]]
| '' The only movie of the iconic Carnatic musician [[Musiri Subramania Iyer]]. Telugu version was played by [[C. S. R. Anjaneyulu]] as the lead ''
|-
| 1939
| [[Rambaiyin Kaadhal]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Central Studios, Sri Murugan Talkies
| [[K. Sarangkapani]], K. L. V. Vasantha, [[N. S. Krishnan]]
| B. N. Rao
|
| ''Debut movie for comedian [[T. S. Durairaj]]''
|-
| 1941
| [[Aryamala]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| [[Pakshiraja Films]] K. S. Narayanan Iyengar
| [[P. U. Chinnappa]] M. S. Sarojini [[M. R. Santhanalakshmi]] [[N. S. Krishnan]]
| Bomman Irani
| [[G. Ramanathan]]
| ''
|-
| 1943
| [[Sivakavi]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Central Studios, [[Pakshiraja Films]]
| [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] [[S. Jayalakshmi]] [[T. R. Rajakumari]] [[N. S. Krishnan]]
| [[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]]
| [[Papanasam Sivan]]
| ''Shooting started in 1942 with [[P. K. Raja Sandow]] as the director. But soon disputes arose between Raja Sandow and the producer S. M. Sriramulu Naidu who took over the reins himself. The script was written by Elangovan''. Upon release this was the major blockbuster of the year with full houses in all over [[Madras Presidency]].
|-
| 1944
| [[Haridas (1944 film)|Haridas]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Royal Talkies
| [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] [[T. R. Rajakumari]] [[N. C. Vasanthakokilam]] [[N. S. Krishnan]]
| [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]]
| [[Papanasam Sivan]], [[G. Ramanathan]]
| ''One of the record setting blockbuster hit, released for 1944 Deepavali, it ran continuously in Madras Broadway theatre with full shows for 110 weeks, crossing 1945 and 1946 Deepavali's ''
|-
| 1946
| [[Valmiki (1946 film)|Valmiki]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Central Studios
| [[C. Honnappa Bhagavathar]] [[U. R. Jeevarathinam]] [[T. R. Rajakumari]] [[N. C. Vasanthakokilam]]
| [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]]
| [[Papanasam Sivan]]
| ''The movie was originally signed with [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] and shooting commenced in 1944 with M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar as the lead before his arrest in the [[Lakshmikanthan Murder Case]]. Later, all the scenes had to be re-shot with C. Honnappa Bhagavathar ''.
|-
| 1948
| [[Bilhanan]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| TKS Brothers
| [[T. K. Shanmugam]] [[T. K. Bhagavathi]] M. S. Draupathi
| K.V. Srinivasan
| T. A. Kalyanam
| ''The story and screenplay was by [[A.S.A. Sami]] was popular in AIR played by [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhaghavathar]]''.
|-
| 1949
| [[Velaikkaari]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| [[Jupiter Pictures]]
| [[K. R. Ramaswamy (actor)|K. R. Ramasamy]] [[Janaki Ramachandran]] [[M. N. Nambiar]]
| [[A. S. A. Sami]]
| [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]] [[C. R. Subburaman]]
| ''The film script was written by [[C. N. Annadurai]] (later chief minister of [[Tamil Nadu]]), his second film to be based on his plays. .''.
|-
| 1949
| [[Kanniyin Kaadhali]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| [[Jupiter Pictures]]
| Madhuri Devi [[Anjali Devi]] [[N. S. Krishnan]] [[T. A. Mathuram]]
| [[K. Ramnoth]] and A. K. Sekhar
| [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]] [[C. R. Subburaman]]
| ''The movie featured a dance sequence by the famed sister duo [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]] and [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]''.
|-
| 1950
| [[Krishna Vijayam]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| [[Jupiter Pictures]]
| [[N. C. Vasanthakokilam]] [[P. V. Narasimha Bharathi]] 
| [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]]
| [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]] [[C. S. Jayaraman]]
| '' Th efilm featured dance by [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]] and [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] ''.
|-
| 1951
| [[Marmayogi]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| [[Jupiter Pictures]]
| [[M. G. Ramachandran]] [[M. N. Nambiar]] [[Anjali Devi]] Madhuri Devi
| [[K. Ramnoth]]
| [[S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]], [[C. R. Subburaman]]
| ''Jupiter Pictures remade the film in Telugu with same name starring [[N. T. Rama Rao]].[2] The film was also made in Hindi as Ek Tha Raja in 1951 with M. G. Ramachandran played the lead role at the same time''.
|-
| 1954
| [[Sorgavasal]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Parimalam Pictures
| [[K. R. Ramaswamy (actor)|K. R. Ramaswamy]] [[S. S. Rajendran]] [[Anjali Devi]] [[P. S. Veerappa]] [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]
| A. Kasilingam
| [[Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy]]
| ''The film was partly shot at Central Studion and Neptune Studios, Adyar, Madras. Parimalam Pictures was jointly promoted by [[Jupiter Pictures]] and N. K. Kaliappa ''
|-
| 1955
| [[Town Bus]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| M. A. Venu (M. A. V Pictures)
| [[N. N. Kannappa]] [[Anjali Devi]] [[A. Karunanidhi]]
| K. Somu
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| ''Story by [[A. P. Nagarajan]]''
|-
| 1955
| [[Mullaivanam]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| Arvind Pictures (V. Krishnan)
| Sriram [[Kumari Rukmini]] [[P. S. Veerappa]] [[A. Karunanidhi]]
| V. Krishnan
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| 
|-
| 1955
| [[Pennarasi]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| M. A. Venu
| [[P. Kannamba]] [[A. P. Nagarajan]] [[Rajasulochana]] [[M. N. Nambiar]] [[P. S. Veerappa]]
| K. Somu
| [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| Story by [[A. P. Nagarajan]] 

|}

* The 1947 Sinhala film [[Asokamala]] was also shot in Central Studios <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/lester-and-ceylons-films/article23879760.ece|title=Lester and Ceylon’s films|first=S.|last=Muthiah|date=14 May 2018|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
* The 1954 Prem Nazir hit movie [[Manasakshi]] was produced here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/old-is-gold-manasakshi-1954/article5693417.ece|title=OLD IS GOLD: MANASAKSHI 1954|first=B.|last=Vijayakumar|date=16 February 2014|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Pakshiraja Studios]]
* [[Pakshiraja Films]]
* [[Jupiter Pictures]]
* [[Chamundeshwari Studios]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050508164351/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/11/17/stories/2003111700890100.htm Reel-time nostalgia The Hindu]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040510163921/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/02/02/stories/2004020201050100.htm Coimbatore Wealth creators - The Hindu ]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article451896.ece Baker-turned filmmaker - The Hindu ]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/article417856.ece Samikannu Vincent ,he brought cinema to South - The Hindu ]
* [Book: Life of a Textile Pioneer Published by Limex Journal]
* [Book: B.Rangaswamy Naidu - Vazhkai Varalaru]

==External links==
* [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/04/stories/2006020400100300.htm Remembering Kovai - Business Line]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100622052650/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/06/18/stories/2010061850740400.htm Naidu - hits and misses - Randoor Guy]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121020135949/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article69891.ece Valmiki (1946), Movie review - The Hindu]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/article434342.ece Rani (1952), Movie review - Randoor Guy]

[[Category:Indian companies established in 1935]]
[[Category:Film production companies of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian film studios]]
[[Category:Companies based in Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Film production companies based in Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1935]]

Central Studios - Revision history

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