Vigathakumaran (The Lost Child) was the very first movie ever
made in Malayalam. Unlike the movies in those days which were based on events
from religion & mythology; this was a very brave attempt as it dealt with
social drama. It was written, directed, produced, acted & edited by JC
Daniel. Though a silent movie, it had a very good script and was a brilliant
work in those days. Daniel himself played the protagonist in the movie. Daniel
had invested a sum of Four lakh British Indian ruppee(which was really a huge
sum of money in those days) and it was released in the year 1928.
The movie wasn't welcomed by the public. The society being very
orthodox in those days, where caste system played a pivotal role in the
society; couldn't accept the movie as it depicted a Nair (high class) lady
named Saroja which was enacted by a low caste woman. Acting in movies by women
were at par with prostitution in those days, and the public created great
ruckus in cinema halls where it was screened. They pelted stones at the screen.
Daniel suffered from debts as the movie was not a commercial
success. To pay his debtors, he had to sell his equipments and close down his
studio. He was bankrupt & towards the end of his life he was in total
poverty.He died in April 1975, The Father of Malayalam Cinema, with no
recognition for his works & forgotten by all...
The Malayalam movie - "Celluloid" directed by Kamal,
which is a biopic on Daniel's life portrays the efforts and hardships of
JC Daniel and how the very first Malayalam movie was lost forever.
Check out the below
links:
How 'Vigathakumaran' was lost to history :
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-14/kochi/37099536_1_malayalam-film-industry-j-c-daniel-vigathakumaran
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-14/kochi/37099536_1_malayalam-film-industry-j-c-daniel-vigathakumaran
Who was J C Daniel ?
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