It's golden jubilee for Tulu's tryst with silver screen

Tulu film industry or Coastalwood is completing 50 years on Friday. The first-ever Tulu film ‘Yenna Thangadi’ (my sister) was released on February 19, 1971.

Efforts for the first-ever Tulu film had begun as early as 1967. Well-known actor and director of Tulu dramas K N Taylor, who had formed Shri Ganesh Nataka Sabha in 1958, decided to take up the mammoth challenge of making the first Tulu film.

To help matters at that time, the state government promised subsidy for films made in Tulu. Taylor, with the help of entrepreneurs based in Chennai, launched the Tulu film Industry’s first movie production company ‘Shri Sharavu Pictures’ on September 4, 1970.

He sought the help of director Aroor Pattabhi, a native of the then undivided Dakshina Kannada district, to make the first film.

As planned, the recordings of songs for the film was completed at Vijaya Studio in Chennai.

Lack of proper planning proved costly and delayed the release of another Tulu film ‘Dareda Budadi’ (official’s wife).

At about the same time, entrepreneur S R Rajan from Kodagu district, with help from friends in Mangaluru, completed the shooting of ‘Yenna Thangadi’ and released the film at Jyothi theatre on February 19, 1971.

The film, made at a cost of Rs 50,000, failed to draw audiences to the theatre.

T A Srinivas of Chitra Bharati, which had purchased rights for distributing the film, recollects investing Rs 35,000 and losing Rs 20,000.

“The film was rejected by the audience on the grounds of being technically unsound,” he said. Taylor’s ‘Dareda Budedi’, which was released the following month, ran for eight weeks at Roopavani talkies.

Only 40 Tulu films were released in a span of 40 years till 2011. The floodgates for Coastalwood opened in 2013 and now the industry’s 115th film, ‘Gamjaal’ (fun), is all set to be released in theatres on Friday. Among directors, Aroor Pattabhi stands out for having directed 10 Tulu films.

Despite many setbacks, the Tulu film industry takes pride in introducing many skilled technicians and talented directors like Richard Castelino.

Many actors like Jayamala began their film careers in the Tulu industry. Fans celebrating the Tulu film industry’s important milestone believe that Coastalwood has a potential to achieve greater glory, if it sheds its obsession with comedy.

Though the industry is stepping into its 50th year, its demands continue to be ignored by the government. Prominent among the demands of Coastalwood include setting up a film city in Mangaluru and forming a separate film chamber of commerce for films made in Tulu, Konkani, Beary, Kodava and Lambani languages.