CinemaNational and Dravidian movements

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

· Chennai

Sevasadanam released, M. S. Subbulakshmi's film debut
Krishnaswami Subrahmanyam (producer and director), Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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

Sevasadanam was a Tamil drama directed by K. Subramanyam, based on a story by Premchand. Released on 2 May 1938, it was one of the early Tamil films set in a contemporary social setting and advocating social reform. It told the story of an abused wife and dealt with the treatment of women. It was the first film of the Carnatic singer M. S. Subbulakshmi.

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. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 1945

    1. 1945ChennaiCinema

      Meera released with M. S. Subbulakshmi

      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.

Open in the timeline explorer