Tamil Nadu Timeline

CinemaNational and Dravidian movements

Meera released with M. S. Subbulakshmi

· Chennai

Meera, directed by Ellis R. Dungan with M. S. Subbulakshmi in the lead and a script by Kalki, reached screens; a Hindi version came later.

Directed by Ellis R. Dungan, the Tamil musical Meera was produced by T. Sadasivam from a script by Kalki Krishnamurthy. M. S. Subbulakshmi played the title role of Mirabai, the devotional poet of the 16th century. The film came out in 1945 and was later followed by a Hindi version. Its songs, sung by Subbulakshmi, gained wide popularity.

Related events

  1. 1931

    1. 31 Oct 1931ChennaiCinema

      Kalidas, the first Tamil talkie, released

      Released in 1931, H. M. Reddy's Kalidas was the first Tamil film with sound and opened the era of Tamil talkies.

  2. 1936

    1. 1 Feb 1936ChennaiCinema

      Sathi Leelavathi released, M. G. Ramachandran's debut

      Ellis R. Dungan's Sathi Leelavathi was released, marking the film debuts of M. G. Ramachandran and other future stars.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 1940

    1. 1940ChennaiCinema

      S. S. Vasan founds Gemini Studios

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

  6. 1944

    1. 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.

Open in the timeline explorer