Kanna chan at 06:06, 28 September 2024

2024-09-28T06:06:42Z

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{{Short description|Indian film producer, writer, orator, and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Chinna
| name = Annamalai
| birth_name = Nagappan
| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|06|18|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|06|18|1920|06|18|df=y}}
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
}}
'''Chinna Annamalai''' (18 June 1920{{snd}}18 June 1980) was an Indian film producer, writer, orator, and politician known for his contributions to Tamil literature.

== Early life ==
Chinna Annamalai, originally named Nagappan, was born on 18 June 1920, in O. Siruvayal Village near [[Karaikudi]] to Nachiyappa Chettiar and Meenakshi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An Insight into the Eventful Journey of a Freedom Fighter, Writer and Social Reformer |url=https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/an-insight-into-the-eventful-journey-of-a-freedom-fighter-writer-and-social-reformer/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=2020-09-14 |title=When Chinna Annamalai's arrest led to a jailbreak |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-chinna-annamalais-arrest-led-to-a-jailbreak/article32604691.ece |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2022-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506202047/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-chinna-annamalais-arrest-led-to-a-jailbreak/article32604691.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Early activism ==
Chinna Annamalai was expelled from [[Devakottai]] NSMVPS school for organising a strike to mourn the death of [[Kamala Nehru]], which prevented him from taking his final exams.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=migrator |date=2020-06-07 |title=Those were the days: Chinna Annamalai — Patriarch to Tamil publishers, but overlooked by history books |url=https://www.dtnext.in/city/2020/06/07/those-were-the-days-chinna-annamalai--patriarch-to-tamil-publishers-but-overlooked-by-history-books |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709133723/https://www.dtnext.in/city/2020/06/07/those-were-the-days-chinna-annamalai--patriarch-to-tamil-publishers-but-overlooked-by-history-books |url-status=live }}</ref> Concerned about his anti-government activities, his parents sent him to Penang, Malaysia.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Rangaraj |first=R. |title=A firebrand freedom fighter who left an impression on screen too |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/a-firebrand-freedom-fighter-who-left-an-impression-on-screen-too/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2022-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112041437/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/a-firebrand-freedom-fighter-who-left-an-impression-on-screen-too/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There, as a teenager, he led estate workers in a protest against local liquor shops, resulting in arson. He was deported back to India after being brought before the Penang magistrate.<ref name=":2" />

== Freedom struggle ==
Back in India, Annamalai joined the freedom struggle in the late 1930s.<ref name=":2" /> Influenced by Kalki's writings, he became a popular speaker, drawing large crowds. On 9 August 1942, the day of Gandhi’s arrest, he was scheduled to speak at Jawahar Maidan in Devakottai.<ref name=":0" /> The police detained him at midnight and imprisoned him in Thiruvadanai Jail, 22 miles away from Devakottai.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

News of his arrest spread quickly, inciting anger among the nationalists and young people of Devakottai who marched to Thiruvadanai Jail. They forcibly released Chinna Annamalai, carried him on their shoulders, and returned to Devakottai.<ref name=":0" />

As the crowd approached Devakottai, the British police opened fire. Many volunteers sacrificed their lives to protect Chinna Annamalai. He remained in hiding for a month before surrendering. He was subsequently sentenced to four and a half years of rigorous imprisonment. With the intervention of [[Rajaji]]’s arguments and appeals, Chinna Annamalai was released within six months.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== Literary contributions ==
Following his release, Annamalai moved to [[Chennai]] on Rajaji's advice and pursued his interests in Tamil literature and music.<ref name=":2" /> He founded Tamil Pannai, a publishing firm, to promote books on [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] leaders and Tamil writers, including [[Rajaji]], [[Kalki Krishnamurthy|Kalki]], [[T. S. Chockalingam|T. S. Chokkalingam]], [[T. K. Chidambaranatha Mudaliar]], [[Venkatarama Ramalingam Pillai|Namakkal Ramalingam Pillai]], [[Kannadasan]], and Vali.<ref name=":3" /> He also organized events to support struggling writers, such as a 1944 function for [[Namakkal Kavignar]], where he presented him with ₹20,000.<ref name=":3" />

Annamalai's Tamil Pannai published a book on the Bengal famine, which led to his imprisonment.<ref name=":2" /> He ran the weekly magazine Sankap Pantha<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinna Annamalai |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?14265 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2023-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224105326/https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?14265 |url-status=live }}</ref> and published Gandhi's Harijan paper in Tamil.

== Film industry ==
In the film industry, Annamalai wrote scripts for films such as "[[Thangamalai Ragasiyam]]", "Naan Yaar Theriyuma" and "[[Dharma Raja (film)|Dharmaraja]]".<ref name=":1" /> He founded Vetrivel Films, producing movies like "[[President Panchaksharam|President Panchatcharam]]", "[[Aayiram Roobai]]", "[[General Chakravarthi]]", "[[Dharma Raja (film)|Dharmaraja]]" and "[[Kadavulin Kuzhandhai]]". In August 1969, Chinna Annamalai formed and coordinated the All India Shivaji Fans Club.

== Published works ==

* Kandarriyathana Kanden (ta : கண்டறியாதன கண்டேன்)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chinna Annamalai |url=https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=277108 |title=Kandariyathana kanten |date=1959 |publisher=Bharathi Pathippagam |location=Chennai}}</ref>
* Sarkkaraip Pandhal (ta : சர்க்கரைப் பந்தல்)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chinna Annamalai |url=https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=254479 |title=Sarkkaraip panthal |date=1964 |publisher=Tamilp Pannai |location=Chennai |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709133735/https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=254479 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Sindhikka Vaikkum Sirippu Kathaigal (ta : சிந்திக்க வைக்கும் சிரிப்புக் கதைகள்)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chinna Annamalai |url=https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=262469 |title=Chinthikka vaikkum sirippuk kathaikal |date=1989 |publisher=Vanathi |location=Chennai |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709133731/https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=262469 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Sonnal Namba Maattirgal (ta : சொன்னால் நம்பமாட்டீர்கள்)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Annamalai |first=Chinna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfLKzgEACAAJ |title=Sonnal Namba Maateergal / சொன்னால் நம்பமாட்டீர்கள் |date=2021-12-02 |publisher=Repro India Limited |isbn=979-8-88521-709-5 |language=ta |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709133719/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Sonnal_Namba_Maateergal_%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9/lfLKzgEACAAJ?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Thalaiezhuththu (ta : தலைஎழுத்து)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chinna Annamalai |url=https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=279435 |title=Thalaiezhuththu |date=1964 |publisher=Thamizh Pannai |location=Chennai |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709133721/https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=279435 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Rajaji Uvamaigal (ta : ராஜாஜி உவமைகள்)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chinna Annamalai |url=https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=278838 |title=Rajaji Uvamaikal |date=1959 |publisher=Bharathi Pathippagam |location=Chennai |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709134228/https://catalogue.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=278838 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Books Published by Tamil Pannai ==

* '''Bharathi Pirandhar''' by Kalki
* '''V. O. Chidambaranar''' by M.P. Sivagnanam<ref>{{Cite web |title=கப்பலோட்டிய தமிழன் |url=https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=www.tamildigitallibrary.in |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703023146/https://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Avalum Avanum''' by Ve. Ramalingam
* '''Sathyamurthi Pesugiraar''' by S. Sathyamurthi
* '''Naalai Ulagam''' by Tyagi Ram. Sadagopan

== Magazines published ==

* '''Harijan''' (in Tamil)<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |date=1988 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |pages=1362 |language=en |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709134258/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Encyclopaedia_of_Indian_Literature/zB4n3MVozbUC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Sivaji Rasikan'''<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gokulsing |first1=K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwGgF-rDucEC |title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas |last2=Dissanayake |first2=Wimal |date=2013-04-17 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-77291-7 |language=en |access-date=2024-07-04 |archive-date=2024-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709134239/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Routledge_Handbook_of_Indian_Cinemas/QwGgF-rDucEC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Kumari Malar'''{{fact|date=August 2024}}

== Death ==
Chinna Annamalai died on 18 June 1980.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
<references />

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Annamalai, Chinna}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil film producers]]
[[Category:Film producers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Tamil Nadu]]

Chinna Annamalai - Revision history

Kanna chan at 06:06, 28 September 2024