Jamesharrey at 23:02, 20 February 2025

2025-02-20T23:02:26Z

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{{Short description|Indian film production company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Chithralaya
| type = Film production and distribution
| image = Chithralaya.jpg
| foundation = {{circa}} 1960s
| founder = [[C. V. Sridhar]]<br />[[Chithralaya Gopu]]<br />[[A. Vincent]]<br />Tiruchi Arunachalam
| industry = Motion pictures
| parent =
}}
'''Chithralaya''' ({{IPAc-en|tʃ|i|θ|r|ɑː|l|ə|j|ɑː}}) also spelt '''Chitralaya''', is an Indian film production company founded in the early 1960s. It produced films in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]], most of them directed by [[C. V. Sridhar]]. The company was founded by Sridhar, screenwriter Gopu (who later became known as [[Chithralaya Gopu]]), cinematographer [[A. Vincent]] and still photographer Tiruchi Arunachalam.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 2020 |title=சித்ராலயா கோபுவின்.. மலரும் நினைவுகள்! (1) |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/malarkal/vara-malar-weekly-magazine/chitralaya-gobus-blooming-memories-1/52725 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230209101434/https://m.dinamalar.com/weeklydetail.php?id=52725 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== History ==
After making films for Venus Studios, in the early 1960s Sridhar founded Chithralaya to make the kind of films he wanted. The company's logo featured a boatman and a woman travelling on a boat with the tagline, "Kadal Alayil Engal Siriya Thoni, Kalai Ulagil Engal Pudhiya Baani".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஸ்ரீதர் |first=டைரக்டர் |author-link=C. V. Sridhar |date=15 December 1991 |title=கடலலையில் எங்கள் சிறிய தோணி; கலையுலகில் எங்கள் புதிய பாணி |trans-title=We know art is an ocean, we row for novel creation |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1991-12-15/page/n63/mode/2up |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |pages=63–64 |access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref> When discussing with his associates what should be the company's first film, Sridhar devised the story of ''[[Nenjil Or Aalayam]]'' but later decided the company's first film should not be a tragedy and devised the lighter ''[[Thennilavu]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=நரசிம்மன் |first=டி.ஏ. |date=27 April 2018 |title=டி.சி(ரி)த்ராலயா 15: காஷ்மீரில் கட்டிப்போட்ட சலுகை! |language=Tamil |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/127496-15.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920131307/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/127496-15.html |archive-date=20 September 2020}}</ref> ''Thennilavu'' was a success at the box office,<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2008 |title=C.V Sridhar, veteran director passes away! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/c-v-sridhar-veteran-director-passes-away-news-tamil-kkfsJNdjcaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122094100/http://www.sify.com/movies/c-v-sridhar-veteran-director-passes-away-news-tamil-kkfsJNdjcaa.html |archive-date=22 January 2014 |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> running in theatres for over 100 days.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narayanan |first=Arjun |date=22 August 2012 |title=Serenading the Silver Screen |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrintGifMSIE_PASTISSUES2&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOICH/2012/08/22&ChunkNum=0&ID=Ar03600 |url-status=dead |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180510125721/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrintGifMSIE_PASTISSUES2&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOICH/2012/08/22&ChunkNum=0&ID=Ar03600 |archive-date=10 May 2018}}</ref> After the success of ''Thennilavu'', Sridhar made ''Nenjil Or Aalayam'', set completely in a hospital and became the first Tamil film to be shot entirely in single set.<ref name="breath">{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=2 November 2008 |title=A breath of fresh air |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article446.ece |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929043923/http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article446.ece |archive-date=29 September 2015}}</ref> It also became a box-office success.<ref name="rajendra">{{Cite magazine |date=26 January 1992 |title=ராஜேந்திரகுமார்: அன்று ஒதுங்கினேன், இன்று நெருங்கினேன் |trans-title=Rajendrakumar: I stayed away that day, we came close today |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1992-01-26/page/n50/mode/1up |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |pages=51–52 |access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref>

Chithralaya later produced ''[[Kadhalikka Neramillai]]'', the first Tamil film in [[Eastmancolor]] with a contemporary setting.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=8 March 1964 |title=காதலிக்க நேரமில்லை |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1964/mar/08-03-1964/p21.jpg |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |page=21 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220722052914/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1964/mar/08-03-1964/p21.jpg |archive-date=22 July 2022 |access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> Though the film initially found no takers, forcing Chithralaya to distribute the film themselves, it became a major success.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kannan |first=Ramya |date=8 March 2014 |title=Kadhalikka Neramillai turns 50! |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/kadhalikka-neramillai-turns-50/article5765005.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215061827/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/kadhalikka-neramillai-turns-50/article5765005.ece |archive-date=15 February 2023}}</ref> Gopu, one of the founders of the company, left after receiving more directorial offers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=18 February 2010 |title=In relaxed mood – 'Chitralaya' Gopu |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-relaxed-mood-Chitralaya-Gopu/article16815321.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206082228/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-relaxed-mood-Chitralaya-Gopu/article16815321.ece |archive-date=6 February 2020}}</ref> Sridhar's relative [[C. V. Rajendran]] was an assistant director in Chithralaya before making his directorial debut with ''[[Anubavam Pudhumai]]'' by a different studio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=8 September 2016 |title=In a flashback mode |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-a-flashback-mode/article14628558.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601063450/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-a-flashback-mode/article14628558.ece |archive-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> ''[[Thriveni]]'' was the only Malayalam film produced by Chithralaya.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijayakumar |first=B |date=14 March 2016 |title=Thriveni: 1970 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/thriveni-1970/article8349826.ece |url-status=live |access-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919130340/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/thriveni-1970/article8349826.ece |archive-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> ''[[Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa]]'', unlike Chithralaya's previous ventures, was only produced by Sridhar, and directed by debutant N. S. Chakravarthi.<ref name="kalki">{{Cite magazine |date=9 August 1992 |title=மோதிர கையால் ஒரு குட்டு! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1992-08-09/page/n51/mode/2up |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |pages=50–51 |access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஸ்ரீதர் |first=டைரக்டர் |author-link=C. V. Sridhar |date=16 August 1992 |title=எனக்கென்றும் ஓர் மனம் |trans-title=A mind of my own |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1992-08-16/page/n53/mode/2up |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |pages=52–53 |access-date=16 February 2023}}</ref> A magazine named after and run by Chithralaya was also founded.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Padmanabhan |first=Geeta |date=12 January 2017 |title=Pure Cinema Book Store — full of surprises! |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/Reel-stories/article17028921.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115181230/http://www.thehindu.com/society/Reel-stories/article17028921.ece |archive-date=15 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Majordasan |title=Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema — Director Sridhar |url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Nov_16_30/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Director_Sridhar.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111080210/http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Nov_16_30/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Director_Sridhar.html |archive-date=11 November 2021 |access-date=16 February 2023 |website=Kalyanamalai}}</ref> Many of Chithralaya's film posters were designed by Eswara Rao, among the most prolific poster designers in India.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pudipeddi |first=Haricharan |date=6 April 2011 |title=Back in those days... |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/nxg/Back-in-those-days%E2%80%A6/article14672798.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018215837/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/nxg/Back-in-those-days%E2%80%A6/article14672798.ece |archive-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Caption text
|-
! Year !! Film
!Language!! {{tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 1961 || ''[[Thennilavu]]''
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Nenjil Or Aalayam]]''
| Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Kadhalikka Neramillai]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Vennira Aadai]]''
| Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1966
|''[[Pyar Kiye Jaa]]''
|[[Hindi]]
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Nenjirukkum Varai (1967 film)|Nenjirukkum Varai]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Sivandha Mann|Sivantha Mann]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1970
|''[[Thriveni]]''
|[[Malayalam]]
|
|-
|1970
|''[[Dharti (1970 film)|Dharti]]''
|Hindi
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa]]''
| Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Avalukendru Or Manam]]''
| Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Duniya Kya Jaane]]''
|Hindi
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Alaigal (film)|Alaigal]]''
| Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1973
|''[[Gehri Chaal]]''
|Hindi
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1975
|''[[Vaira Nenjam]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1983
|''[[Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1986
|''[[Naanum Oru Thozhilali]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|1991
|''[[Thanthu Vitten Ennai]]''
|Tamil
| style="text-align: center;" |
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0272465 Chithralaya] at [[IMDb]]
*[https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/company/chitralaya/filmography/ Chithralaya] at [[Bollywood Hungama]]

[[Category:Film production companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Film production companies of India]]

Chithralaya - Revision history

Jamesharrey at 23:02, 20 February 2025