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On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebration of Kannada Rajyotsava we showcase the major developments of Kannada filmdom in the last 71 years.
The first Kannada film released was Sathi Sulochana in 1934. The mere sound of lion's roar at the start of the film had a section of audience falling unconscious. Other fled the theatre thinking a lion had gate crashed into the theatre.
The first hero of Kannada cinema was Subbaiyanaidu. In 1938, 1939 and 1940 no films were made.
For Screenplay the first one to get national award is Puttanna Kanagal for the film 'Gejje Pooje'. 1944, 1946 no film got released.
During Second World War film production had to be completely stopped in Karnataka as in other states.
Actress M.V.Rajamma is the first woman to become the woman producer.
The first theatre of Karnataka is Paramount that was later named Parimala talkies in city market.
'Jaganmohini' made in 1951 was the first Kannada film to complete 100 days run.
1954 debut of Rajkumar Bedara Kannappa. Rajkumar was picked by director HLN Simha when he was standing in a bus stand at Nanjangud. 'Bedara Kannappa' won the certificate of merit at the national level in 1955. Rajkumar later acted in 206 films and won awards like Karnataka Rathna, Dadasaheb Phalke etc. Not only Rajkumar profited from this film but G.V.Iyer, Balakrishna and Narasimharaju also got exposure on motion picture.
Although 70's saw the advent of color films the first two reels of the Kannada film 'Stree Ratna' was made in 1954. The first complete color film was Amara Shilpi Jakkanachari.
The first cinemascope Kannada film was 'Sose Thanda Sowbhagya'.
'Adhikari' is the first film to be dubbed in Kannada.
Lack of raw stock and scarcity of funds gave rise to Chalanachitra Sahakari Federation with Rajkumar, G.V.Iyer, Balakrishna and Narasimha Raju at the helm. The federation's first film 'Ranadhira Kanteeerava' received a tumultuous welcome. In the beginning films were devotional, historical or mythological in content. Mysore (Karnataka earlier known) was the first state in South India to churn out a film on a relevant and contemporary social theme.
Gejje Pooje, Sharapanjara, Chakrateertha, Samskara, Uyyale and Shubba Shastri are the films screened for the first time in international film festival held abroad.
The first film to screen 100 days was 'Satya Harishchandra'. First silver Jubilee film was 'School Master'.
Shanker Nag is the first actor to get best actor at the international arena for his role in 'Ondanondu Kaladalli'. Vasudeva Rao is the first actor to get national award in Kannada for his role in 'Chomana Dudi'. Movieland theatre is the first theatre to start the Queue system in Bangalore.
Rajkumar, Bharathi starring 'Bangaradha Manushya' is the first film to run successfully for two years.
The first novel based Kannada film is 'Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu' (novel Dharmadevathe).
The first film journalist is H.R.Krishnamurthy of 'Chitra Samachar'. The first film magazine 'Cinema' was started in 1936 from Gadag.
A film in 24 hours 'September 8' was made in Tulu one of the four recognized languages of Karnataka. Dr.Shivarama Karanth played a guest role in it.
A film with only two artistes was 'Shringara Maasa'.
'Singapuradalli Rajakulla' is the first film to shoot abroad in Kannada.
The first cinematography division in India was started in Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic.
Bollywood singer Latha Mangeshkar's first Kannada song Bellane Belagayithu. is for the film 'Sangolli Rayanna'. Mohammad Rafi's Ninelli Nadave Dhoora. And Kishore Kumar's Aadu Aata Aadu.. are popular even to this day.
Subsidy of Rs.50000 to Kannada films was introduced in the year 1966. Now it is Rs.10 lakh for 20 quality films every year. Karnataka government is the first one to introduce 100 percent Entertainment Tax exemption to Kannada films.
'Samskara' is the first ever Kannada film to get the President's Gold Medal. The wave of new cinema started from then on. Girish Karnad made debut as an actor in this film.