View source for Tamil cinema

{{Short description|Segment of Indian cinema}}
{{Redirect|Kollywood|other uses|Kollywood (disambiguation)|and|Tamil cinema (disambiguation)}}
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{{Infobox cinema market
| name                 = Tamil cinema
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| screens             = 1546 ([[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Pondicherry]]) (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vinayak |first=A. J. |date=28 September 2022 |title=Why films from the South set the box office on fire |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/data-stories/why-screens-and-seats-count-in-creating-hit-south-indian-movies/article65945389.ece |access-date=8 September 2023 |website=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |language=en}}</ref>
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| distributors         = {{br separated entries|[[2D Entertainment]]|[[AGS Entertainment]]|[[AVM Productions]]
|[[Aascar Films]]|[[Avni Cinemax]]|[[Dream Warrior Pictures]]|[[Gemini Film Circuit]]|[[Kavithalayaa Productions]]|[[Lakshmi Movie Makers]]|[[Lyca Productions]]|[[Madras Talkies]]|[[Modern Theatres]]
|[[National Pictures]]
|[[Raaj Kamal Films International]]|[[Red Giant Movies]]|[[Sathya Jyothi Films]]|[[Seven Screen Studio]]|[[A. M. Rathnam|Sri Surya Movies]]|[[Studio Green]]|[[Sun Pictures]]|[[Super Good Films]]|[[Sri Thenandal Films|Thenandal Studio Limited]]|[[S. Thanu|V Creations]]|[[Vijaya Vauhini Studios]]|[[Wunderbar Films]]}}
| produced_year        =2022 
| produced_ref         =<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kgf-2-to-rrr-south-indian-film-industry-saw-these-many-releases-across-4-languages-in-2022-2316743-2023-01-03 | title=KGF 2 to RRR, South Indian film industry saw THESE many releases across 4 languages in 2022! | date=3 January 2023 }}</ref>
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'''Tamil cinema''' is the segment of [[cinema of India|Indian cinema]] dedicated to the production of [[Film|motion pictures]] in the [[Tamil language]], the main spoken language in the state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is nicknamed '''Kollywood''', a [[portmanteau]] of the names [[Kodambakkam]], a [[Chennai]] neighbourhood with a high concentration of film studios, and [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]].{{Refn|<ref>{{cite book|last=Hiro|first=Dilip |title=After Empire: The Birth of a Multipolar World|year=2010|isbn=978-1-56858-427-0|page=248|publisher=PublicAffairs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zlivv_pQWnAC&pg=PA248 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tamil-telugu-film-industries-outshine-bollywood/238821/ |title=Tamil, Telugu film industries outshine Bollywood |date=25 January 2006 |access-date=19 February 2012|last1=Bureau |first1=Our Regional }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensimpfendorfer/2015/03/15/china-bollywood-india-future/#6d6c83032583 | title=China's Film Industry and Its Bollywood Future| website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/01/03/tamil_films_give_bollywood_a_run_for_its_money.html |title = Tamil films give Bollywood a run for its money|newspaper = The Toronto Star|date = 3 January 2013 |access-date=30 March 2020}}</ref>}}

The first Tamil [[silent film]], ''[[Keechaka Vadham]]'', was directed by [[R. Nataraja Mudaliar]] in 1918.<ref name="RANDOR">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912035730/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/09/07/stories/2009090750790300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 September 2009 |title=Metro Plus Chennai / Madras Miscellany : The pioneer'Tamil' film-maker |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=29 June 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The first Tamil [[Talkie|talking]] [[feature film]], ''[[Kalidas (film)|Kalidas]]'', a multilingual directed by [[H. M. Reddy]] was released on 31 October 1931, less than seven months after India's first talking motion picture ''[[Alam Ara]]''.<ref name="velayutham2">{{cite book |last=Velayutham |first=Selvaraj |url=https://www.routledge.com/Tamil-Cinema-The-Cultural-Politics-of-Indias-other-Film-Industry/Velayutham/p/book/9780415492195?srsltid=AfmBOoqB43pn6gdAXdg5qJ8qABa1lfHJRg6zZGifsF8_lmiJwCHmLtZa |title=Tamil cinema: the cultural politics of India's other film industry |publisher=Routledge |year=2008 |isbn=9780415396806 |page=2}}</ref> Tamil cinema has been noted for its advanced narratives and diverse films, with several productions in the 1990s and early 2000s cutting across ethnic and linguistic barriers. Such films include ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' (1992), ''[[Bombay (1995 film)|Bombay]]'' (1995), ''[[Indian (1996 film)|Indian]]'' (1996) and ''[[Enthiran]]'' (2010).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramesh |first=K.V |date=14 August 2017 |title=Maniratnam's Roja: Bridging the North-South divide |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bridging-the-north-south-divide/article19492689.ece |url-status=live |access-date=18 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217054956/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bridging-the-north-south-divide/article19492689.ece |archive-date=17 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 1995 |title=Mani Ratnam's film Bombay invites critical acclaim and howls of protest |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19950415-critical-acclaim-and-howls-of-protest-for-mani-ratnam-bombay-806737-1995-04-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222012839/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19950415-critical-acclaim-and-howls-of-protest-for-mani-ratnam-bombay-806737-1995-04-15 |archive-date=22 December 2018 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> Tamil cinema has since produced some of the most commercially successful actors, directors and films of Indian cinema.

By the end of the 1930s, the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|legislature]] of the [[Madras State|State of Madras]] passed the Entertainment Tax Act of 1939. [[Madras]] (now Chennai),  then became a secondary hub for [[Bollywood|Hindi cinema]], other South Indian film industries, as well as for [[Cinema of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnvat.gov.in/English/TN_ENTERTAINMENT%20TAX_ACT_1939.pdf |title=THE TAMIL NADU ENTERTAINMENTS TAX ACT, 1939 |publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu |access-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015202926/http://tnvat.gov.in/English/TN_ENTERTAINMENT%20TAX_ACT_1939.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2011 }}</ref> Over the last quarter of the 20th century, Tamil films established a global presence, enjoying strong box office collections among Tamil-speaking audiences in [[Sri Lanka]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Singapore]]. Tamil films are also distributed throughout the [[Middle East]], [[Oceania]], [[Europe]], [[North America]], parts of [[Africa]], and [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tamil-film-business-in-overseas-market/article8483410.ece|title=A gold mine around the globe|last=Pillai|first=Sreedhar|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=9 March 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=290977 |title=Eros buys Tamil film distributor |work=[[Business Standard]] |access-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903230315/http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=290977 |archive-date=3 September 2011 }}
*{{Cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-06-12/news/29649940_1_big-cinemas-anil-arjun-screens|title=With high demand for Indian movies, Big Cinemas goes global|access-date=26 September 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=12 June 2011}}</ref> The industry also inspired independent filmmaking among [[Tamil diaspora]] populations in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and the [[Western world|West]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1604/16040780.htm|title=SYMPOSIUM: SRI LANKA'S CULTURAL EXPERIENCE|access-date=26 September 2011|publisher=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|location=Chennai, India}}
*{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2339090.ece|title=Celebration of shared heritage at Canadian film festival|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=26 September 2011|location=Chennai, India|date=9 August 2011}}</ref>

{{Indian cinema}}
{{Life in Tamil Nadu}}

==History==

===Early exhibitors===
[[File:Samikannu Vincent.jpg|thumb|256x256px|Samikannu Vincent]]
M. Edwards first screened a selection of silent films at the [[Victoria Public Hall]] in [[Chennai|Madras]] in 1897 during the [[British Raj]]. The selected films all featured non-fictional subjects; they were mostly photographed records of day-to-day events. The film scholar Stephen Hughes points out that within a few years there were regular ticketed shows in a hall in Pophams Broadway, started by one Mrs. Klug, but this lasted only for a few months. Once it was demonstrated as a commercial proposition, a Western entrepreneur, Warwick Major, built the first [[Movie theater|cinema theatre]], the Electric Theatre, which still stands. It was a favourite haunt of the British community in Madras. The theatre was shut down after a few years. This building is now part of a post office complex on [[Anna Salai]] ([[Mount Road]]). The ''Lyric Theatre'' was also built in the Mount Road area. This venue boasted a variety of events, including plays in English, [[Classical music|Western classical]] music concerts, and [[ballroom dance]]s. Silent films were also screened as an additional attraction.<ref name="folklore">{{cite book|title=Folklore, public sphere, and civil society|page=116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xsrgg1Mel8UC&q=Victoria+Public+Hall&pg=PA117|isbn=9788190148146|last1=Muthukumaraswamy|first1=M. D.|last2=Kaushal|first2=Molly|year=2004|publisher=NFSC www.indianfolklore.org}}</ref> [[Samikannu Vincent|Swamikannu Vincent]], a railway draftsman from [[Tiruchirappalli district|Tiruchirapalli]], became a travelling exhibitor in 1905. He showed short movies in a tent in [[Esplanade]], near the present Parry's Corner, using carbide jet-burners for projection. He bought the [[film projector]] and [[silent film]]s from the Frenchman Du Pont and set up a business as [[film exhibitor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/cinema/history/vincent.htm |title=Pioneers in Indian Cinema - Swamikannu Vincent |publisher=Indiaheritage.org |access-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509052024/http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/cinema/history/vincent.htm |archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> Soon, he tied up with [[Pathé]], a well-known pioneering film-producing company, and imported [[projector]]s. This helped new cinema houses to sprout across the [[Madras Presidency|presidency]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Rajmohan|first=Joshi|title=Encyclopaedia of Journalism and Mass Communication: Media and mass communication|page=68|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_aoH81IN8SsC&q=Swamikannu+Vincent&pg=PA68|isbn=9788182053663|year=2006|publisher=Isha Books}}</ref> In later years, he produced [[talkies]] and also built a cinema in [[Coimbatore]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tamil Cinema|url=http://o3.indiatimes.com/brahmanyan/archive/2007/09/21/4783241.aspx|access-date=29 June 2016|publisher=India Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630202911/http://o3.indiatimes.com/brahmanyan/archive/2007/09/21/4783241.aspx|archive-date=30 June 2015}}</ref>

To celebrate the event of [[George V|King George V]]'s visit in 1909, a grand [[Art exhibition|exhibition]] was organised in [[Chennai|Madras]]. Its major attraction was the screening of short films accompanied by sound. A British company imported a Crone [[megaphone]], made up of a film projector to which a [[Phonograph|gramophone]] with a disc containing prerecorded sound was linked, and both were run in unison, producing picture and sound simultaneously. However, there was no synched [[dialogue]]. [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu]], a successful [[photographer]], took over the equipment after the exhibition and set up a tent cinema near the [[Madras High Court]].<ref name="folklore" /> With this equipment, he screened the short films ''Pearl Fish'' and ''Raja's Casket'' in the Victoria Public Hall. When this proved successful, he screened the films in a tent set up in Esplanade. These tent events were the true precursors of the cinema shows. Naidu travelled with this unit to Burma (now [[Myanmar]]) and [[Sri Lanka]], and when he had gathered enough money, he put up a permanent cinema house in Madras—Gaiety, in 1914, the first cinema house in Madras to be built by an Indian. He soon added two more, Crown Theatre in Mint and Globe (later called Roxy) in [[Purasawalkam]].<ref name="CineGoer.com">{{Cite web |title=History of Birth and Growth of Telugu Cinema (Part 3) |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/telugucinema3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070411133017/http://www.cinegoer.com/telugucinema3.htm |archive-date=11 April 2007 |website=CineGoer.com}}</ref><ref name="IBRVN">{{Cite web |last=Visweswara Rao |first=Namala |title=Telugu Cinema Celebrity – Raghupati Venkaiah Naidu |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/starow/sow-rvn.html |website=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref><ref name="SS">{{cite web |last=Kumar |first=Srikanth |date=26 June 2010 |title=Why AP Government named an award after Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu. |url=http://www.southscope.in/telugu/article/why-ap-government-named-award-after-raghupathi-venkaiah |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029205323/http://www.southscope.in/telugu/article/why-ap-government-named-award-after-raghupathi-venkaiah |archive-date=29 October 2014 |access-date=29 October 2014 |website=[[South Scope]]}}</ref>

Swamikannu Vincent, who had built one of the first cinema halls of [[South India]] in [[Coimbatore]], introduced the concept of "Tent Cinema" in which a [[tent]] was erected on a stretch of open land close to a [[town]] or [[village]] to screen the films. The first of its kind was established in [[Chennai|Madras]], called "Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone". This was due to the fact that electric carbons were used for motion picture projectors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051340400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505150330/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/30/stories/2010043051340400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2010|title=He brought cinema to South|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=26 September 2011|location=Chennai, India|date=30 April 2010}}</ref>

Most of the films screened then were shorts made in the [[United States]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. In 1909, an Englishman, T. H. Huffton, founded Peninsular Film Services in Madras and produced some short films for local audiences. But soon, hour-long films, which narrated dramatic stories, then known as "[[Drama (film and television)|drama films]]", were imported. From 1912 onwards, feature films made in Bombay (now [[Mumbai]]) were also screened in Madras. The era of [[short film]]s had ended. The arrival of drama films firmly established cinema as a popular entertainment form. More cinema houses came up in the city.

Fascinated by this new entertainment form, an automobile dealer in the Thousand Lights area of Madras, [[R. Nataraja Mudaliar|R. Nataraja Mudaliyar]], decided to venture into film production. After a few days' training in [[Pune]] with the [[cinematographer]] Stewart Smith, the official cinematographer of [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Lord Curzon]]'s 1903 Durbar, he started a film production concern in 1916.

The man who truly laid the foundations of Tamil cinema was A. Narayanan. After a few years in film distribution, he set up a production company in Madras, the General Pictures Corporation, popularly known as GPC. Beginning with ''The Faithful Wife''/''Dharmapathini'' (1929), GPC made about 24 feature films. GPC functioned as a film school and its alumni included names such as Sundara Rao Nadkarni and Jiten Banerji. The studio of GPC was housed in the Chellapalli bungalow on Thiruvottiyur High Road in Madras. This company, which produced the most Tamil silent films, had branches in [[Colombo]], [[Yangon|Rangoon]] and [[Singapore]].

''The Ways of Vishnu''/''Vishnu Leela'', which R. Prakasa made in 1932, was the last silent film produced in Madras. The silent era of south Indian cinema has not been documented well. When the talkies appeared, film producers had to travel to [[Mumbai|Bombay]] or [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] to make films. Most films of this early period were celluloid versions of well-known stage plays. Company dramas were popular among the [[Chennai|Madras]] audience. The legendary Otraivadai drama theatre had been built in 1872 itself in Mint. Many drama halls had come up in the city where short silent films were screened in the afternoon and plays were enacted in the night.

The scene changed in 1934 when Madras got its first sound studio. By this time, all the cinema houses in Madras had been wired for sound. Narayanan, who had been active during the silent era, founded Srinivasa Cinetone in which his wife worked as the sound recordist. ''Srinivasa Kalyanam'' (1934), directed by Narayanan, was the first sound film (talkie) produced in Madras. The second sound studio to come up in Madras was Vel Pictures, started by M. D. Rajan on Eldams Road in the Dunmore bungalow, which belonged to the [[Pithapuram Estate|Raja of Pithapuram]]. Before long, more sound studios came up. Thirty-six talkies were made in Madras in 1935.

===Influences===
The main impacts of the early cinema were the cultural influences of the country. The [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language was the medium in which many plays and stories were written since the ages as early as the [[Cholas]]. They were highly stylised and nature of the spectacle was one which could attract the people. Along with this, [[music]] and [[dance]] were one of the main entertainment sources.<ref name="IndiaGlitz">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/64835.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315071840/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/64835.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2011 |title=Abhinay Deo – "All stories can be found in Mahabharata and Ramayana" – Bollywood Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref>

There is a strong Indian tradition of narrating mythology, history, [[fairy tale]]s and so on through song and dance. Whereas Hollywood filmmakers strove to conceal the constructed nature of their work so that the realistic narrative was wholly dominant, Indian filmmakers made no attempt to conceal the fact that what was shown on the screen was a creation, an illusion, a fiction. However, they demonstrated how this creation intersected with people's day-to-day lives in complex ways.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theviewspaper.net/indian-films-vs-hollywood-2/ |title=Indian Films vs Hollywood |publisher=Theviewspaper.net |date=4 July 2008 |access-date=12 May 2011 |archive-date=4 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004145309/http://theviewspaper.net/indian-films-vs-hollywood-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> By the end of the 1930s, the State of Madras legislature passed the ''Entertainment Tax Act 1939''.

===Studios===
In 1916, a studio, the first in south India,{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} was set up in Madras at 10 Millers Road, Kilpauk. He called it the India Film Company. Rangavadivelu, an actor from Suguna Vilasa Sabha, a theatre company then, was hired to train the actors. Thirty-five days later, the first feature film made in south India, ''The Extermination of Keechakan''/''Keechakavatham'', based on an episode from the [[Mahabharata]], was released produced and directed by R. Nataraja, who established the India Film Company Limited.<ref name=tcp>{{cite book |title= Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=65Aqrna4o5oC&q=Tamil+cinema |last=Velayutham|first=Selvaraj|chapter='India' in Tamil silent era cinema |year=2008 |page=156 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-39680-6}}</ref>

Despite a century of increasing box office takings, Tamil cinema remains informal. Nevertheless, there are few exceptions like Modern Theatres, [[Gemini Studios]], [[AVM Productions|AVM]] and [[Thenandal Studio Limited|Sri Thenandal Films]] that survived beyond 100 productions.

===Exhibitor strike 2017===
In 2017, opposing the dual taxation of [[Goods and Services Tax (India)|GST]] (28%) and entertainment tax (30%), ''Tamilnadu Theatre Owners Association'' announced indefinite closure of all cinemas in the state from 3 July 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/gst-effect-tamil-nadu-theatres-to-shut-down-from-july-3/articleshow/59391557.cms|title=GST effect: Tamil Nadu theatres to shut down from July 3|last=IANS|date=30 June 2017|work=The Economic Times|access-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705132710/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/gst-effect-tamil-nadu-theatres-to-shut-down-from-july-3/articleshow/59391557.cms|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/040717/tamil-nadu-theatre-owners-go-on-strike-after-gst-lose-rs-50-crore-a-day.html|title=Tamil Nadu theatre owners go on strike after GST, lose Rs 50 crore a day|date=4 July 2017|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|access-date=7 July 2017|language=en}}</ref> The strike has been called off and the cinemas will be playing the movies starting Friday 7 July 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/060717/tamil-nadu-theatres-owners-and-distributors-call-off-strike.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409182629/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/060717/tamil-nadu-theatres-owners-and-distributors-call-off-strike.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2023|title=No local tax for now: Tamil Nadu theatres' owners call off strike|date=6 July 2017|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|access-date=7 July 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/tamil-nadu-theatre-owners-call-off-strike-over-30-local-body-tax-1721432|title=Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Call Off Strike Over 30% Local Body Tax|work=NDTV.com|access-date=7 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gst-rajinikanth-kamal-hassan-tamil-nadu-theatre-owners-call-off-strike-over-double-taxation-738721/|title=Tamil Nadu theatre owners call off strike over double taxation|date=6 July 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=7 July 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/tamil-nadu-screens-to-open-tomorrow-with-no-new-movies/articleshow/59476924.cms|title=Tamil Nadu screens to open tomorrow with no new movies|last=Vaitheesvaran|first=Bharani|date=6 July 2017|work=The Economic Times|access-date=7 July 2017}}</ref> Government has formed a committee to decide on the existence of state's 30% entertainment tax. It was reported that, per day business loss during the strike was around ₹ 20 crores.

==Distribution==
{{See also|List of Tamil-language films}}
Annual admissions in Chennai multiplexes and single screens averaged 1.1&nbsp;[[crore]] tickets with a standard deviation of ±10&nbsp;lakh tickets during 2011–16. The Chennai film industry produced the first nationally distributed film across India in 1948 with ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]''.<ref name="rivals">{{cite book|title=India|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari_2|last=Singh|first=Sarina|chapter=Film Studios|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari_2/page/964 964]|publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]|quote=Chennai's film industry now rivals that of Bollywood (Mumbai) for output|isbn=978-1-74059-421-9|chapter-url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetindi00sari_2/page/964}}</ref> They have one of the widest overseas distribution, with large audience turnout from the [[Tamil diaspora]]. They are distributed to various parts of Asia, Africa, Western Europe, North America and Oceania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/2007/07/15/stories/2007071551360500.htm|title=Film industry isn't high risk one: Kamal Haasan|publisher=[[Business Line]]|access-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521203624/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/2007/07/15/stories/2007071551360500.htm|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Many successful Tamil films have been remade by other film industries. It is estimated by the ''Manorama Yearbook 2000'' (a popular almanac) that over 5,000 Tamil films were produced in the 20th century. Tamil films have also been dubbed into other languages, thus reaching a much wider audience. There has been a growing presence of [[English language|English]] in dialogue and songs in Chennai films. It is not uncommon to see movies that feature dialogue studded with English words and phrases, or even whole sentences. Some movies are also simultaneously made in two or three languages (either using subtitles or several soundtracks). [[Chennai film music|Chennai's film composers]] have popularised their highly unique, syncretic style of film music across the world. Quite often, Tamil movies feature [[Madras Tamil]], a colloquial version of Tamil spoken in [[Chennai]].

===Tamil film distribution territories===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Territory || Maximum Business (%){{Clarify|date=October 2021}} || Division
|-
| NS || 20 || 4 districts – [[Cuddalore district|Cuddalore]], [[Tiruvannamalai district|Tiruvannamalai]], [[Vellore district|Vellore]] and [[Viluppuram district|Viluppuram]]
|-
| [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu]] || 100 || 3 districts - [[Chengalpattu district|Chengalpattu]], [[Kanchipuram district|Kanchipuram]], [[Tiruvallur district|Tiruvallur]]
|-
| Coimbatore || 50 || 4 Western districts – [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]], [[Erode district|Erode]], [[The Nilgiris District|Nilgiris]] and [[Tiruppur district|Tiruppur]]
|-
| Chennai || 37 || 1 Northern district – Chennai
|-
| MR || 35 || 6 Southern districts – [[Dindigul district|Dindigul]], [[Madurai district|Madurai]], [[Ramanathapuram district|Ramanathapuram]], [[Sivaganga district|Sivaganga]], [[Theni district|Theni]] and [[Virudhunagar district|Virudhunagar]]
|-
| TT || 32 || 8 Central districts – [[Ariyalur district|Ariyalur]], [[Karur district|Karur]], [[Nagapattinam district|Nagapattinam]], [[Perambalur district|Perambalur]], [[Pudukkottai district|Pudukkottai]], [[Thanjavur district|Thanjavur]], [[Tiruchirappalli district|Tiruchirappalli]] and [[Tiruvarur district|Tiruvarur]]
|-
| Salem || 28 || 4 Western districts – [[Dharmapuri district|Dharmapuri]], [[Krishnagiri district|Krishnagiri]], [[Namakkal district|Namakkal]] and [[Salem district|Salem]]
|-
| TK || 13 || 3 Southern districts – [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]], [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]] and [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari]]
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Karnataka || 83 ||
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Andhra Pradesh || 79 ||
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| [[Telangana]] || 63 ||
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Kerala || 63 ||
|- style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| Rest of India || 15 ||
|-
| Sri Lanka  || 68 ||
|-
| US and Canada || 119 ||
|-
| [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]] || 106 ||
|-
| Malaysia || 82 ||
|-
| Rest of the world || 89 ||
|}

=== The rest of India ===
''[[Keechaka Vadham]]'' (1918) was the first [[silent film]] made in [[South India]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Remembering a pioneer|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/05/09/stories/2002050900170300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030701044553/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/05/09/stories/2002050900170300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2003|access-date=29 June 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=9 May 2002|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> ''[[Kalidas (film)|Kalidas]]'' (1931) was the first [[Tamil Language|Tamil]] [[sound film|talkie film]] made in 1931.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Indian Popular Cinema: A Narrative of Cultural Change|last=Gokulsing |first=K.|author2=Wimal Dissanayake  |year=2004|publisher=Trentham Books|isbn=1-85856-329-1|page=24 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_plssuFIar8C&q=Ayodhyecha+Raja+1932&pg=PA24 }}</ref> ''[[Kalava (film)|Kalava]]'' (1932) was the first full-length talkie made entirely in Tamil.<ref name=pammal>{{cite news|title=He drew inspiration from Shakespeare|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/04/18/stories/2008041851180600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421205243/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/04/18/stories/2008041851180600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2008|access-date=30 June 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 April 2008|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> ''[[Nandanar]]'' (1935) was the first film for American film director [[Ellis R. Dungan]].<ref name="dungan">{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/01/stories/2002020100850300.htm |title=He transcended barriers with aplomb |work=The Hindu |date= 1 February 2002 |access-date=1 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130001747/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/01/stories/2002020100850300.htm |archive-date=30 November 2009 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> ''[[Balayogini]]'' released in 1937 was considered to be first children's film of South India.<ref name="Balayogini">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/balayogini-1937/article3021357.ece|title=Balayogini 1937|date=10 April 2009|access-date=27 December 2019|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> It is estimated by the ''Manorama Yearbook 2000'' (a popular almanac) that over 5,000 Tamil films were produced in the 20th century. Tamil films have also been dubbed into other languages, thus reaching a much wider audience. There has been a growing presence of English in dialogue and songs in Chennai films.

In 1991, ''[[Marupakkam]]'' directed by [[K.S. Sethu Madhavan]], became the first Tamil film to win the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film]], the feat was repeated by ''[[Kanchivaram]]'' in 2007.<ref name="Baskaran2013">{{cite book|last=Baskaran|first=Sundararaj Theodore |title=The Eye Of The Serpent: An Introduction To Tamil Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jBcAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT164|year=2013|publisher=Westland|isbn=978-93-83260-74-4|pages=164–}}</ref> Tamil films enjoy significant patronage in neighbouring Indian states like [[Kerala]], [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Gujarat]] and [[New Delhi]]. In Kerala and Karnataka the films are directly released in Tamil but in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh they are generally dubbed into Telugu where they have a decent market.<ref name=sify1>{{cite web|title=Tamil films dominate Andhra market|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil-films-dominate-andhra-market-news-tamil-lhnlKUabgib.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716065723/http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil-films-dominate-andhra-market-news-tamil-lhnlKUabgib.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2011|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=27 April 2013|date=14 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/29/stories/2006122901630100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103213349/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/12/29/stories/2006122901630100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2007 |location=Chennai, India |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |title=A few hits and many flops |date=29 December 2006}}</ref>

=== International ===
Tamil films have enjoyed consistent popularity among populations in [[South East Asia]]. Since ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]'', ''[[Muthu (film)|Muthu]]'' was the second Tamil film to be dubbed into Japanese (as ''Mutu: Odoru Maharaja''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/1140/1/SES71_011.pdf |title=Mutu: Odoru Maharaja |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073202/http://ir.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/1140/1/SES71_011.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>) and grossed a record $1.6&nbsp;million in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/06/stories/2002010601320900.htm |title=Rajnikanth casts spell on Japanese viewers |author=Gautaman Bhaskaran |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 January 2002 |access-date=10 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520060231/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/06/stories/2002010601320900.htm |archive-date=20 May 2007 |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2010, ''[[Enthiran]]'' grossed a record $4&nbsp;million in North America.<ref>{{cite web|date=11 March 2018|title=Agni Natchathiram & Kaakha Kaakha {{!}} 12 Unknown facts in Tollywood history!|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/15-unknown-facts-in-Tollywood-history/angi-natachathiram-kaakha-kaakha.html|access-date=13 July 2021|website=Behindwoods}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Many Tamil-language films have premiered or have been selected as special presentations at various film festivals across the globe, such as [[Mani Ratnam]]'s ''[[Kannathil Muthamittal]]'' (2002), [[Vasanthabalan]]'s ''[[Veyil (2006 film)|Veyyil]]'' (2006) and [[Ameer Sultan]]'s'' [[Paruthiveeran]]'' (2007). ''[[Kanchivaram]]'' (2009) was selected to be premiered at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]]. Tamil films have been a part of films submitted by India for the [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Academy Award for Best Foreign Language]] on eight occasions, next only to Hindi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/GalleryDetails.aspx?ID=3290&category=Movies&picno=1&Section=Bollywood |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922140550/http://movies.ndtv.com/GalleryDetails.aspx?ID=3290&category=Movies&picno=1&Section=Bollywood |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 September 2012 |title=India's Oscar failures (25 Images) |publisher=Movies.ndtv.com |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> Mani Ratnam's ''[[Nayakan]]'' (1987) was included in [[Time magazine's "All-TIME" 100 best movies]] list.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050525030815/http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/0,23220,nayakan,00.html Nayakan], [[Time magazine's "All-TIME" 100 best movies|All-Time 100 Best Films]], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 2005</ref>

==Economics==
Average annual film output in Tamil film industry peaked in 1985. The Tamil film market accounts for approximately 0.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the state of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/12/28/stories/2007122850050100.htm |title=Superstars dominate |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=28 December 2007 |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809044201/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/12/28/stories/2007122850050100.htm |archive-date=9 August 2010}}</ref> For the purpose of entertainment taxes, returns have to be filed by the exhibitors weekly (usually each Tuesday).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnsalestax.com/briefent.htm |publisher=www.tnsalestax.com |title=tnsalestax|access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717064417/http://www.tnsalestax.com/briefent.htm |archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref>

The [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] made provisions for an entertainment tax exemption for Tamil films having titles in words from the [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language only.<ref name="tax exemption"/> This is in accordance with Government Order 72 passed on 22 July 2006. The first film to be released after the new Order was ''[[Unakkum Enakkum]]''. The original title had been ''Something Something Unakkum Ennakkum'', a half-English and a half-Tamil title.<ref name="tax exemption">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-08/va-quarter-cutting-10-11-10.html |title=Va: Cutting of the Quarter! Why? - Tamil Movie Articles - Va-Quarter Cutting &#124; Kallarai Manithan |website=Behindwoods.com |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref> In July 2011, strict norms on entertainment tax were passed which stated that films which were given a "U" certificate by the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] alone were eligible for tax exemption and those with an "A" certificate could not fit into this category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69083.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024030024/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/69083.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 October 2012 |title=Strict norms on entertainment tax - Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=27 July 2011 |access-date=22 February 2013}}</ref>

There are three major roles in the Tamil film value chain ''viz'' producer, distributor and exhibitor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sebi.gov.in/dp/pyra.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - Draft RHP PSTL 31.07.06.doc |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721170237/http://www.sebi.gov.in/dp/pyra.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> The distributor purchases theatrical distribution rights from the producer for exhibiting the film in a defined territory. The distributor performs enhanced functions such as:
# part-financing of film (in case of minimum guarantee / advance based purchase of film rights)
# localised marketing of film
# selection of exhibition halls
# managing the logistics of physical print distribution

There are three popular approaches to transfer of distribution rights via distribution contracts:

# Minimum Guarantee + Royalty – Here, the producer sells the distribution rights for a defined territory for a minimum lump sum irrespective of the box office performance of the film. Any surplus is shared between the producer and distributor, in a pre-set ratio (typically 1:2) after deducting tax, show rentals, commission, print costs and publicity costs. Effectively, the distributor becomes a ''financier'' in the eyes of the market. This is the most common channel available to high budget producers.
# Commission – Here, the distributor pays the producer the entire box office collection after deducting commission. So, the entire risk of box office performance of the film remains with the producer. This is the most common channel available to low budget producers. By the first decade of 21st century, about 90 per cent of the films were released on commission basis.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/how-film-distribution-has-changed-with-times-in-Tollywood/article8289535.ece|title=Out with the old|first=Sreedhar|last=Pillai|date=27 February 2016|access-date=27 December 2019|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
# Outright Sale – Here, the producer sells all distribution and theatrical exhibition rights for a defined territory exclusively to a distributor. Effectively, the distributor becomes a ''producer'' in the eyes of the market. So, the entire risk of box office performance of the film remains with the distributor.

There are four popular approaches to transfer of exhibition rights via exhibition contracts:
# Theatre Hire – Here, the exhibitor pays the distributor the entire box office collection after deducting tax and show rentals. So, the entire risk of box office performance of the film remains with the distributor. This is the most common channel for low-budget films, casting rank newcomers, with unproven track record. In Chennai, a moderate theatre with AC and DTS can fetch around {{INR}}1 lakh as weekly rent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Screening a movie - an eye-opener!, Unnaipol Oruvan, kamal haasan |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-column/screening-a-movie---an-eye-opener.html |access-date=27 December 2019 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>
# Fixed Hire – Here, the exhibitor pays the distributor a maximum lump sum irrespective of the box office performance of the film. Rental is not chargeable per show. Any surplus after deducting tax is retained by the exhibitor. Effectively, the exhibitor becomes a ''distributor'' in the eyes of the market. So, the entire risk of box office performance of the film remains with the exhibitor.
# Minimum Guarantee + Royalty – Here, the exhibitor pays the distributor a minimum lump sum irrespective of the box office performance of the film. Rental is not chargeable per show. Any surplus after deducting tax and show rental is shared in a pre-set ratio (1:2) between the distributor and exhibitor typically.
# Revenue Share – Here, the distributor shares with the exhibitor, in a pre-set ratio (typically 1:1), the entire box office collection of the film after deducting tax. Rental is not chargeable per show. So, the entire risk of box office performance of the film is shared between the exhibitor and distributor. This is the most common channel preferred by multiplex screens.

=== Highest-grossing Tamil films by year ===
{| class="sortable" style=" margin:auto;"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Director
!Studio
!ref(s)
|-
|2024
|''[[The Greatest of All Time]]''
|[[Venkat Prabhu]]
|[[AGS Entertainment]]
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-09-14 |title='The Greatest of All Time': Makers of Vijay - Venkat Prabhu's 'GOAT' call it the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/the-greatest-of-all-time-makers-of-vijay-venkat-prabhus-goat-call-it-the-highest-grossing-tamil-film-of-the-year/article68641834.ece/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|''[[Jailer (2023 Tamil film)|Jailer]]''
|[[Nelson Dilipkumar]]
|[[Sun Pictures]]
|-
|2022
|''[[Ponniyin Selvan: I]]''
|[[Mani Ratnam]]
|[[Lyca Productions]], [[Madras Talkies]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2022-10-10 |title=Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan 1 surpasses Vikram in Tamil Nadu to emerge the HIGHEST grossing film of ALL TIME :Bollywood Box Office - Bollywood Hungama |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/box-office-special-features/mani-ratnams-ponniyin-selvan-1-surpasses-vikram-tamil-nadu-emerge-highest-grossing-film-time/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|[[Master (2021 film)|''Master'']]
|[[Lokesh Kanagaraj]]
|XB Film Creators
|<ref>{{cite web|title=2021 Top grossers in Tamil Nadu - Thalapathy Vijay's Master tops|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/2021-top-grossers-tamil-nadu-thalapathy-vijays-master-tops-986378|access-date=10 May 2022|website=www.pinkvilla.com|date=6 January 2022 }}</ref>
|-
|2020
|''[[Darbar (film)|Darbar]]''
|[[AR Murugadoss]]
|[[Lyca Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite news |title='Darbar' box office collection: Superstar Rajinikanth's starrer enters 200 crore club in 11 days |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/box-office/darbar-box-office-collection-superstar-rajinikanths-starrer-enters-200-crore-club-in-11-days/articleshow/73514596.cms |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=22 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Karthik |title=Darbar enters Rs 200 crore club, fifth Rajinikanth film to achieve feat |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/darbar-enters-rs-200-crore-club-fifth-rajinikanth-film-to-achieve-feat/story-nzjTEHMUkCqZVJgDk6DzQP.html |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |date=21 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2019
|''[[Bigil]]''
|[[Atlee (director)|Atlee]]
|[[AGS Entertainment]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Grossers All Formats Worldwide Gross|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/all_format_worldwide_gross.php|access-date=11 April 2021|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|''[[2.0 (film)|2.0]]''
|[[S. Shankar]]
|[[Lyca Productions]]
|<ref name="2.0 boxoffice">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/south-gossip/article/2-0-exclusive-exhibitionin-chennai-original-costumes-of-rajinikanth-akshay-attracts-visitors/348361|title=2.0 exclusive exhibition in Chennai: Original costumes of Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar attract visitors|author=Vijayaprakash R|date=16 January 2019|publisher=Times Now|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2018/tamil-movies-biggest-blockbuster-and-hits-of-2018/articlecontent-pf274550-280826.html|title=Tamil Movies 2018 Box Office Report: Biggest Blockbusters And Hits Of This Year!|date=24 December 2018|work=[[Filmibeat]]|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|''[[Baahubali 2: The Conclusion]]''
|[[S. S. Rajamouli]]
|[[Arka Media Works]]
|<ref name="boi-worldwide">{{cite news|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=4396|title=Top Worldwide Figures – All Formats And Hindi|date=2 November 2018|work=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref><ref name="Top10TN2017">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/baahubali-2-mersal-vikram-vedha-velaikkaran-top-10-highest-grossing-tamil-films-of-2017-tamil-news-204595|title=TOP 10 Highest grossing TAMIL FILMS OF 2017|date=8 January 2018|work=Indiaglitz|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|''[[Kabali]]''
|[[Pa. Ranjith]]
|[[V. Creations|V.Creations]]
|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/rajinikanths-kabali-smashes-all-box-office-records-earns-rs-250-crore-in-india/articleshow/53354457.cms|title=Rajinikanth's 'Kabali' smashes all box office records, earns Rs 250 crore in India on first day - The Economic Times|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=23 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freebrazzersite.co.in/2023/04/List%20of%20Highest%20Grossing%20Tamil%20Movies.html|title=Top 10 Highest Grossing Tamil Movies 2016|date=30 January 2017|website=[[Filmibeat]]|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2015
|''[[Baahubali: The Beginning]]''
|[[S.S. Rajamouli]]
|[[Arka Media Works]]
|<ref name="baahubali">{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/bahubali-2-baahubali-2-3-days-worldwide-box-office-collection-ss-rajamoulis-film-crosses-rs-500-crore-1-weekend-724964|title=Baahubali 2 3-day worldwide box-office collection: SS Rajamouli's film crosses Rs 500 cr mark in 1st weekend|last1=Hooli|first1=Shekhar|date=1 May 2017|work=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/highest-grossing-tamil-movies-2015-top-10-films-that-kept-cash-registers-ringing-box-office-659394|title=Tollywood 2015: Top 10 Highest Grossing Tamil Movies in the Year|date=16 December 2015|work=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|''[[Lingaa]]''
|[[K. S. Ravikumar]]
|[[Lyca Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/photos/all-time-highest-grossing-tamil-films-2881-slide-21709#irb3dx06fyQfqTfD.97|title=All Time Highest Grossing Tamil films - Photos|website=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2013
|''[[Vishwaroopam]]''
|[[Kamal Haasan]]
|[[Raaj Kamal Films International]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/vishwaroopam-box-office-collection-kamal-haasan-starrer-earns-220-crores-445593#ljIikk9rT5A2xrXW.97|title='Vishwaroopam' Box Office Collection: Kamal Haasan Starrer Earns ₹220 Crores|last=Mehta|first=Ankita|website=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=2 December 2016|date=13 March 2013}}</ref>
|-
|2012
|''[[Thuppaki]]''
|[[A.R. Murugadoss]]
|[[V. Creations]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/mersal-box-office-collection-vijay-crowned-king-rs-100-crore-club-consistent-performer-749164|title=Mersal box office collection: Vijay crowned the king of Rs 100 crore club; consistent performer than Rajinikanth, Ajith|last1=Upadhyaya|first1=Prakash|website=International Business Times|location=India|access-date=6 June 2018|date=13 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Vijays-Thuppakki-makes-180-crore/articleshow/18691254.cms|title=Vijay's Thuppakki makes 180 crore!|website=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2011
|''[[7 Aum Arivu]]''
|[[AR Murugadoss]]
|[[Red Giant Movies]]
|-
|2010
|''[[Enthiran]]''
|[[S. Shankar]]
|[[Sun Pictures]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/baahubali-beats-endhirans-lifetime-box-office-record-639747|title=2nd Saturday Box Office Collection: Baahubali Beats Endhiran's Lifetime Record in 9 Days|last=Hooli|first=Shekhar H|website=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=2 December 2016|date=19 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
|2009
|''[[Ayan (film)|Ayan]]''
|[[K.V. Anand]]
|[[AVM Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/7KRxtPzMttlQkDr0wz4pdN/Suriya-Bollywood8217s-hottest-sixpack.html|title=Suriya: Bollywood's hottest six-pack - Livemint|access-date=2 December 2016|date=2 October 2009}}</ref>
|-
|2008
|''[[Dasavathaaram]]''
|[[K. S. Ravikumar]]
|Aascar Film Pvt. Ltd
|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/business-of-bollywood/a-rendezevous-with-kamal-haasan/articleshow/4357064.cms?from=mdr|title=A rendezevous with Kamal Haasan - The Economic Times|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=4 April 2009}}</ref>
|-
|2007
|''[[Sivaji (film)|Sivaji]]''
|[[S. Shankar]]
|[[AVM Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/photos/all-time-highest-grossing-tamil-films-2881-slide-21710#kJJfaB8I3z4OhJc5.97|title=All Time Highest Grossing Tamil films - Photos|website=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2006
|''[[Varalaru]]''
|[[K. S. Ravikumar]]
|NIC Arts
|-
|2005
|''[[Chandramukhi]]''
|[[P. Vasu]]
|[[Sivaji Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/the-boss,-no-doubt/1/267.html|title=The boss, no doubt - Business Today - Business News|date=6 June 2014|access-date=2 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606140544/http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/the-boss,-no-doubt/1/267.html|archive-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>
|-
|2004
|''[[Ghilli]]''
|[[Dharani (director)|Dharani]]
|Sri Surya Movies
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-03 |title=28 Years of Vijay: Five times when Thalapathy Vijay's films ruled the box office |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/28-years-of-vijay-five-times-when-thalapathy-vijays-films-ruled-the-box-office/photostory/79548694.cms |access-date=2024-09-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
|-
|2003
|''[[Saamy]]''
|[[Hari]]
|[[Kavithalayaa Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/09/stories/2003050901080200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030923220258/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/09/stories/2003050901080200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 September 2003|title="Saami"|last=thmrn|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=9 May 2003}}</ref>
|-
|2002
|''[[Villain (2002 film)|Villain]]''
|[[K. S. Ravikumar]]
|NIC Arts
|-
|2001
|''[[Dheena]]''
|[[AR Murugadoss]]
|Vijayam Cine Combines
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/raceing-to-be-a-superstar/article28244405.ece|title=RACE(ing) to be a Superstar|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 May 2003}}</ref>
|-
|2000
|''[[Vaanathaippola]]''
|[[Vikraman]]
|Aascar Film Pvt. Ltd
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/01/19/stories/09190224.html|title=Hits and misses of the year that was|last=Kumar|first=S. R. Ashok|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=15 February 2017}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|-
|1999
|''[[Padayappa]]''
|[[K. S. Ravikumar]]
|Arunachala Cine Creations
|<ref name="BUSINESS TODAY">{{cite web|url=http://archives.digitaltoday.in/businesstoday/20020915/features2.html|title=BUSINESS TODAY|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1998
|''[[Jeans (1998 film)|Jeans]]''
|[[S.Shankar]]
|Amritraj Solomon Communications
|-
|1997
|''[[Arunachalam (film)|Arunachalam]]''*
|[[Sundar C]]
|Annamalai Cine Combines
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/0ohY74X6wA3pOFsGU1AuwN/Rajinikanths-trackrecord-at-the-box-office.html|title=Rajinikanth's track-record at the box office|last=Thangavelu|first=Dharani|date=1 July 2016|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1996
|''[[Indian (1996 film)|Indian]]''
|[[S.Shankar]]
|Sri Surya Movies
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Baashha]]''
|[[Suresh Krissna]]
|Sathya Movies
|<ref name="newindianexpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/Setting-the-Cash-Registers-Ringing.-The-Top-Ten-Grossers-So-Far/2014/05/04/article2203478.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508083419/http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/Setting-the-Cash-Registers-Ringing.-The-Top-Ten-Grossers-So-Far/2014/05/04/article2203478.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 May 2014|title=Setting the Cash Registers Ringing. The Top Ten Grossers So Far|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1994
|''[[Nattamai]]''
|[[K. S. Ravikumar]]
|[[Super Good Films]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E5JlAAAAIBAJ&hl=fr&pg=1838,3762683|title=The Indian Express - Recherche d'archives de Google Actualités|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1993
|''[[Walter Vetrivel]]''*
|[[P. Vasu]]
|Kamalam Movies
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19930117&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=The Indian Express - Google News Archive Search|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1992
|''[[Annaamalai]]''
|[[Suresh Krissna]]
|[[Kavithalayaa Productions]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/will-kabali-be-rajinikanths-most-revered-film-here-are-his-top-10-roles-1434235|title=Will Kabali be Rajinikanth's Most Revered Film? Here Are His Top 10 Roles|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
|-
|1989
|''[[Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989 film)|Apoorva Sagodharargal]]''
|[[Singeetam Srinivasa Rao]]
| [[Raaj Kamal Films International]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=கண்ணன் |first=முரளி |title=ஒரு துப்பாக்கி கையில் எடுக்காதே, எந்தத் தோட்டாவும் என்ன துளைக்காதே!" - கமல் சொல்லி அடித்த 'அபூர்வ சகோதரர்கள்' |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/special-article-about-31-years-of-aboorva-sagotharargal-movie |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=vikatan.com |date=14 April 2020 |language=ta}}</ref>
|-
|1986
|''[[Vikram (1986 Tamil film)|Vikram]]''
|[[Rajasekhar (director)|Rajasekhar]]
| [[Raaj Kamal Films International]]
|-
|1985
|''[[Padikkadavan (1985 film)|Padikkadavan]]''*
|[[Rajasekhar (director)|Rajasekhar]]
|Sri Eswari Productions
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/Southern-Supernova/2014/05/04/article2200321.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506223913/http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/Southern-Supernova/2014/05/04/article2200321.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 May 2014|title=Southern Supernova|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1984
|''[[Nallavanuku Nallavan]]''*
|[[SP. Muthuraman]]
|AVM Productions
|<ref name="newindianexpress.com" />
|-
|1982
|''[[Sakalakala Vallavan (1982 film)|Sakalakala Vallavan]]''*
|[[SP. Muthuraman]]
|[[AVM Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Panchu-Arunachalam-is-the-man-who-invented-Rajinikanth-as-an|title=actor/articleshow/48215004.cms?from=mdr|website = [[The Times of India]]|access-date=27 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
|1981
|''[[Sattam Oru Iruttarai]]''*
|[[S. A. Chandrasekhar]]
|Vadularan Combines
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinebio/28-08-99/vijayakan.htm|title=dinakaran|date=18 January 2000|access-date=2 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000118102004/http://dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinebio/28-08-99/vijayakan.htm|archive-date=18 January 2000}}</ref>
|-
|1980
|''[[Billa (1980 film)|Billa]]'' 
|[[R. Krishnamoorthy]]
|Suresh Arts
| <ref>{{cite news |last1=ராம்ஜி |first1=வி. |title=கமலின் கமர்ஷியல் 'குரு'வுக்கு 40 வயது! - இலங்கையில் செய்த மெகா சாதனை! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/565372-kamal-guru.html |access-date=5 March 2021 |publisher=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |date=19 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|''[[Thirisoolam]]''
|[[K. Vijayan]]
|[[Sivaji Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|last=Shankar|date=7 April 2018|title=நகைச்சுவைப் பேய்ப் படங்களுக்கு முன்னோடி - கல்யாணராமன்|url=https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/kamal-haasan-s-kalyanaraman-nostalgia-053003.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=tamil.filmibeat.com|language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kamal's many avatars 7|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/kamals-many-avatars-imagegallery-movies-jdwmTsbjcejsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812194132/https://www.sify.com/movies/kamals-many-avatars-imagegallery-movies-jdwmTsbjcejsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2021|access-date=12 August 2021|website=[[Sify]]|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|1978
|''[[Thyagam]]''
|[[K. Vijayan]]
|Sujatha Cine Arts
|<ref name="news18">{{Cite web |date=4 March 2022 |title=சிவாஜியின் தியாகம் பட வசூல் சர்ச்சை - போஸ்டரிலேயே பதிலடி கொடுத்த தயாரிப்பாளர் |url=https://tamil.news18.com/news/sivaji-ganesan-thyagam-collection-controversy-producer-balaji-bold-reply-in-poster-jbr-scs-710895.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410143306/https://tamil.news18.com/news/sivaji-ganesan-thyagam-collection-controversy-producer-balaji-bold-reply-in-poster-jbr-scs-710895.html |archive-date=10 April 2024 |access-date=10 April 2024 |website=[[News18]] |language=ta}}</ref>
|-
|1977
|''[[16 Vayathinile]]''
|[[Bharathiraja]]
|S.A.Rajkannu
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Sigappu Rojakkal (1978) - '16 Vayathinile' to 'Moondram Pirai', Sridevi's best performances till date|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/16-vayathinile-to-moondram-pirai-sridevis-best-performances-till-date/sigappu-rojakkal-1978/photostory/63065692.cms|access-date=12 August 2021|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=16 வயதினிலே வெளிவந்து 43 ஆண்டுகள்: கிராமத்துக் காதல் ஓவியம்|url=https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/special/2020/sep/15/bharathirajas-16-vayathinile-3465599.html|access-date=12 August 2021|website=Dinamani|date=15 September 2020 |language=ta}}</ref>
|-
|1974
|''[[Thangappathakkam]]''
|[[P. Madhavan]]
|[[Sivaji Productions]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/171422-72.html|title = 72ல் ஏழு சிவாஜி படம்; 'வசந்தமாளிகை' மெகா ஹிட்! - இன்று டிஜிட்டலில் படம் ரிலீஸ்| date=21 June 2019 }}</ref>
|-
|1972
|''[[Vasantha Maligai]]''
|[[K. S. Prakash Rao]]
|Vijaya Suresh Combines
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/171422-72.html|title = 72ல் ஏழு சிவாஜி படம்; 'வசந்தமாளிகை' மெகா ஹிட்! - இன்று டிஜிட்டலில் படம் ரிலீஸ்| date=21 June 2019 }}</ref>
|-
|1971
|''[[Rickshawkaran]]''*
|[[M. Krishnan Nair (director)|M. Krishnan Nair]]
|Sathya Movies
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/300716/mgrs-film-to-be-restored.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409182625/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/300716/mgrs-film-to-be-restored.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2023|title=MGR's 1971 blockbuster film Rickshawkaran to be restored!|date=30 July 2016|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1968
|''[[Thillana Mohanambal]]''
|[[A. P. Nagarajan]]
|Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/138143--4.html|title = சிவாஜியின் நடிப்புக்கு ஒரு படம்!| date=3 August 2018 }}</ref>
|-
|1966
|''[[Anbe Vaa (1966 film)|Anbe Vaa]]''*
|[[A. C. Tirulokchandar]]
|AVM Productions
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/cinema-news/26078/special-report/Anbe-Vaa-in-50th-Year.htm|title=50வது ஆண்டில் 'அன்பே வா'! - Anbe Vaa in 50th Year|date=29 June 2016|access-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629143536/http://cinema.dinamalar.com/cinema-news/26078/special-report/Anbe-Vaa-in-50th-Year.htm|archive-date=29 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
|1965 
|''[[Enga Veettu Pillai]]''
|[[Tapi Chanakya]]
|[[Vijaya Vauhini Studios]]
|
|-
|1959
|''[[Veerapandiya Kattabomman]]''
|[[B. R. Panthulu]]
|[[Padmini Pictures]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/review/2015/08/24104012/Veerapandiya-kattapomman-movie.vpf|title=வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன்|date=24 August 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1958
|''[[Nadodi Mannan]]''
|[[M. G. Ramachandran]]
|MGR Pictures
|
|-
|1956
|''[[Madurai Veeran]]''
|[[D. Yoganand]]
|Krishna Pictures
|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/article2418144.ece|title=Following a star|last=Jeshi|first=K.|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 September 2011}}</ref>
|-
|1955
|''[[Missiamma]]''*
|[[L. V. Prasad]]
|[[Vijaya Vauhini Studios]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2015/05/16/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF---2.-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF/article2815909.ece|title=சாவித்ரி - 2. காதல் மந்திரவாதி! - Dinamani - Tamil Daily News|date=11 June 2015|access-date=2 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611160435/http://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2015/05/16/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF---2.-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF/article2815909.ece|archive-date=11 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1954
|''[[Malaikkallan]]''
|[[S. M. Sriramulu Naidu]]
|[[Pakshiraja Studios]]
|<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/blockbusters-of-coimbatore/article3881150.ece|title=Blockbusters of Coimbatore|last=Jeshi|first=K.|access-date=2 December 2016|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 September 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1952
|''[[Parasakthi (1952 film)|Parasakthi]]''
|[[Krishnan–Panju]]
|P. A. Perumal Mudaliar
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dinamalar.com/news/tamil-nadu-news/news/2078910 |title=இதே நாளில் அன்று |publisher=Dinamalar |date=12 August 2018 |access-date=16 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
|1948
|''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]''
|[[S. S. Vasan]]
|[[Gemini Studios]]
|
|}

==Legislation==
Film studios in Chennai are bound by legislation, such as the Cinematography Film Rules of 1948,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peso.gov.in/cinematographic.aspx|title=Cinematograph film rules, 1948|access-date=26 September 2011|publisher=Government of India|archive-date=16 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916081937/http://peso.gov.in/cinematographic.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Cinematography Act of 1952,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbfcindia.gov.in/html/uniquepage.aspx?unique_page_id=4|title=Posters|access-date=26 September 2011|publisher=Central Board of Film certification (CBFC)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123134645/http://cbfcindia.gov.in/html/uniquepage.aspx?unique_page_id=4|archive-date=23 November 2011}}</ref> and the Copyright Act of 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://copyright.gov.in/Documents/CopyrightRules1957.pdf|title=INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957|access-date=26 September 2011|publisher=Government of India}}</ref> In [[Tamil Nadu]], cinema ticket prices are regulated by the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|government]]. Single screen theatres may charge a maximum of {{INR}}50, while theatres with more than three screens may charge a maximum of {{INR}}120 per ticket.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ashok Kumar|first=S.R.|title=Cinema ticket rate revision reflects a balancing act|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010215570200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105092346/http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010215570200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=18 January 2013|location=Chennai, India|date=2 January 2007}}</ref>

==Awards==
* [[Filmfare Awards South]]
* [[IIFA Utsavam]]
* [[Mirchi Music Awards South]]
* [[Toronto Tamil Film Festival]] 
* [[SIIMA Awards]]
* [[Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards]] 
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]
* [[Vijay Awards]]
* [[International Tamil Film Awards]] 
* [[Kalaimamani]]
*[[Edison Awards (India)|Edison Awards]]
* [[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards]]
* [[South Scope| South Scope Awards]]
{{clear}}

==See also==
* [[Cinema of the world]]
* [[Cinema of India]]
* [[Earliest color films in South India]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Indian films]]
* [[List of Tamil actors]]
* [[List of Tamil film actors]]
* [[List of Tamil film actresses]]
* [[List of Tamil music directors]]
* [[Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics]]
* [[List of highest-grossing Tamil films]]
* [[Lists of Tamil-language films]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music| last=Arnold|first=Alison| year=2000| publisher=Taylor & Francis| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&q=A.+R.+Rehman+tamil&pg=RA2-PA554|chapter=Pop Music and Audio-Cassette Technology: Southern Area – Film music|isbn= 978-0-8240-4946-1}}
* {{cite book | title=Eye of The Serpent: An Introduction to Tamil Cinema| last=Bhaskaran|first=Theodore, Sundararaj|year=1996| publisher=East West Books|location=[[Chennai]] / [[University of Michigan]]}}
* {{cite book | title=Indian Popular Cinema: A Narrative of Cultural Change| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_plssuFIar8C&pg=PA132|last=Gokulsing| first= K. |author2=Moti Gokulsing, [[Wimal Dissanayake]]| year=2004| page=132| publisher=Trentham Books| isbn=1-85856-329-1}}
* {{cite book | title=Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOXoeyesZOIC&pg=PA149| last=Shohini Chaudhuri| year=2005| page=149| publisher=Edinburgh University Press| isbn=0-7486-1799-X}}
* {{cite book | title=Tamil Movies Abroad: Singapore South Indian Youths and their Response to Tamil Cinema|last=Chinniah|first=Sathiavathi| year=2001| volume=8| publisher=Kolam}}
* {{cite book | year=1997|title=Starlight, Starbright : The Early Tamil Cinema| last =Guy|first=Randor|oclc=52794531|location=[[Chennai]]}}
* {{cite conference| first = Stephen P.| last = Hughes| title = Tamil Cinema as Sonic Regime: Cinema Sound, Film Songs and the Making of a Mass Culture of Music| book-title = New Perspectives on the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century| publisher = Chicago, Illinois| date = 25 February 2005| conference = Keynote address: South Asia Conference at the University of Chicago}}
* {{cite book | title=Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts and Lifestyle| last=Kasbekar|first=Asha| year=2006|publisher=ABC-CLIO| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sv7Uk0UcdM8C&q=A.+R.+Rehman+tamil&pg=PA215|isbn= 978-1-85109-636-7}}
* {{cite conference| first = Gopalan| last = Ravindran| title = Negotiating identities in the Diasporic Space: Transnational Tamil Cinema and Malaysian Indians| publisher = Korea Broadcasting Institute, Seoul| date = 18 March 2006| conference = Cultural Space and Public Sphere in Asia, 2006| location= Seoul, Korea}}
* {{cite journal | year=2007|title=Desire, Youth, and Realism in Tamil Cinema| last = Nakassis|first=Constantine V.|author2=Dean, Melanie A. |periodical=Journal of Linguistic Anthropology|volume=17|pages=77–104| doi=10.1525/jlin.2007.17.1.77|s2cid=145685533}}
* {{cite book | title= Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=65Aqrna4o5oC&q=Tamil+cinema| last=Velayutham|first=Selvaraj| year=2008| publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-39680-6}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Tamil cinema}}
{{National Film Award Best Feature Film Tamil}}
{{Cinema of India}}
{{World cinema}}
{{Chennai topics}}
{{Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:Tamil cinema| ]]
[[Category:Film production districts]]
[[Category:Indian film industries]]