R. Nataraja Mudaliar

R. Nataraja Mudaliar
Mudaliar, c. 1920s
Born1885
Vellore, Madras Presidency, British India
DiedMay 2, 1971 (aged 85–86)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Occupation(s)Film Director, film Producer, writer, cinematographer
In this Indian name, the name Rangaswamy is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Nataraja Mudaliar.

Rangaswamy Nataraja Mudaliar (1885–1971[dubious – discuss]), was an Indian film director. Popularly known as the father of Tamil cinema,[1] he was a pioneer in the production of silent films. Starting his career as an automobile spare parts merchant, he started the "Indian Film Company Limited" in Madras.[2] In 1917, Mudaliar made Keechaka Vadham, South India's first silent film. Upon critical success of the film, he went on to produce films like Draupadhi Vastrapaharanam (1918), Lava Kusa (1919), Rukmini Satyabhama and Mayil Ravana. After the death of his son in a fire accident in 1923, Mudaliar retired from films.

  1. ^ "Classics must be preserved, says B. Mahendra". Deccan Chronicle. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  2. ^ Selvaraj Velayutham (2008). Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's other Film Industry. Taylor & Francis. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-0-203-93037-3.