CinemaNational and Dravidian movements

S. S. Vasan founds Gemini Studios

· Chennai

S. S. Vasan founds Gemini Studios
India Post, Government of India, GODL-India · Wikimedia Commons

S. S. Vasan acquired a studio in Madras and established Gemini Studios, which became one of India's major film studios.

S. S. Vasan, the publisher of the magazine Ananda Vikatan, established Gemini Studios in Madras in 1940. The studio produced large-scale films in Tamil and Hindi in the following decades. It contributed to Madras becoming a major centre of film production in India. Its building later became a well-known landmark of the city.

Related events

  1. 1937

    1. 1937ChennaiCinema

      Chintamani runs for a year in a single theatre

      Starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Chintamani was the first Tamil film to stay a full year in one theatre.

  2. 1938

    1. 2 May 1938ChennaiCinema

      Sevasadanam released, M. S. Subbulakshmi's film debut

      K. Subramanyam's reformist film Sevasadanam was released, marking the screen debut of M. S. Subbulakshmi.

  3. 1941

    1. 1941ChennaiLiterature

      Kalki magazine launched

      Writer R. Krishnamurthy (Kalki) and T. Sadasivam launched the Tamil weekly Kalki, which serialised popular historical novels.

  4. 1944

    1. 9 Nov 1944 to Apr 1947ChennaiLaw Justice

      Lakshmikanthan murder case

      Film stars M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and N. S. Krishnan were convicted in the murder of journalist C. N. Lakshmikanthan, later freed on appeal.

    2. 16 Oct 1944ChennaiCinema

      Haridas released

      Haridas, a Tamil film with M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the lead, played at one Madras theatre across three Diwalis in a row, a record that stood for years.

    3. 1 Jan 1944 to 30 Jun 1946ChennaiLiterature

      Kalki begins Sivagamiyin Sapatham

      Kalki Krishnamurthy began serialising Sivagamiyin Sapatham, a historical novel set in the Pallava period.

Open in the timeline explorer