We live in a time of great advances in technology and the Tamil cinema talent and business at its peak.  However exactly 70 years back in 1948  the legend S.S. Vasan dared to dream big and put in five long years and created the costliest Indian film of that time and even now if adjusted to inflation.  The film that first  took Tamil cinema to global pride is 'Chandralekha' starring T.R. Rajakumari, M.K. Radha and Ranjan.

It is well documented that S.S.Vasan began production with just the title and only after several months the inspiration for 'Chandralekha' came from the novel "Robert Macaire, the French Male. Bandit in England".  The project went through many cast and crew changes including the director and the producer himself finished the film.

'Chandralekha' is famous for the taut narration and the excellent production designs by A.K Shekar and the dance choreography by Jayshankar. T.R. Rajakumari and Ranjan became overnight stars with the latter even making it big in Bollywood. The drum dance in particular remains unparalleled to this day. However the Tamil version which received high critical accalaim could not recoup the cost of production and an undettered Vasan made a Hindi version which not only became a huge hit but also opened the gates for South Indian talents in the North.  It was also the first film dubbed into English, Japanese and other languages.  

We are extremely proud to  write about S.S. Vasan's pathbreaking 'Chandralekha' as the first Throwback Thursday article of 2018 the 70th anniversary of the magnum opus.