Tamil movies have the second largest following in India. Specifically, they are based on the Tamil language, and the filmmakers hail from the Southern Indian locale of Tamil Nadu. In the capital of Tamil Nadu, the city of Chennai is churning out starlets and handsome actors like the beautiful Tamil Actress Priyamani and her co-stars Vaseegaran, Tarun, whom she is now engaged too, and others. Although Priyamani’s first features were box office failures, she eventually found some success with the acclaimed Muthazhagu, which earned her the National Film’s coveted Best Actress award.
The Tamil film industry has grown to dominate the southern part of India, and as a reference to the location the industry is concentrated, Kodambakkam, it has been dubbed Kollywood. The movie industry there is so dominating that it heavily influences the music industry as well, and Tamil music that makes it into a movie soundtrack is sure to find its way into the hearts of the locals.
Ilaiyaraaja is perhaps the best known film score producer in the Tamil movie industry, and been the recipient of the National Film Award for best score in a film three times. His work is not limited to Tamil movies, though, and has entranced for many Bollywood movies as well.
The maturing Tamil movies industry started with silent movies in the early 1900′s, but by the end of the 1930′s, talking films like ‘Kalidas’ form H.M. Reddy were being shown to audiences in Chennai. Much as Bollywood has created a showcase for multiple languages, the Tamil Nadu cinema has provided a platform for films in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema as well.
Upcoming movies and directors to watch include the new effort by director Bhagyaraj in the movie Siddhu +2. The movie he wrote and directed will star his own son Shanthanu alongside co-actress Chandini. The movie, with a musical score from Dharan, is showing in Tamil as well as the Telugu languages.
Rajinikanth stars as mythological hero with his daughter Soundarya producing and directing the film Sultan the Warrior. This action adventure features the classic Rajini style of dialogue his fans love, and includes a 45 minute action sequence. Soundarya has produces other films as well, with one of the latest being Goa, a film aimed at soon-to-be young Indian professionals.
Tamil movies are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with, and Kollywood will soon become as famous as Bollywood.
Hope that you enjoyed this overview of the industry and stop back often for the latest Kollywood News.
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