from black n white to multi colour films-focus on cameras used in malayalam films

details about the different camera's used in malayalam film from 1930s to 2015

1. From Black &white to M U L T I C O L O U R F I L M S A BRIEF HISTORY OF MALAYALAM CINEMA WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON CAMERA TECHNIQUES

2. Malayalam film- origin Malayalam cinema  is the Indian film industry based in Kerala, India, dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Malayalam language. Also called as Mollywood At first (beginning in the 1920s), the Malayalam film industry was based in Trivandrum. The film industry started to develop and flourish only by the late-1940s. By the end of 1980s, the Malayalam film industry returned and established itself in Kerala.  J.C.Daniel regarded as the father of Malayalam cinema.

3. The first Malayalam film- Vigathakumaran (1930) Which is silent film produced & directed by J.C.Daniel Marthanda Varma , based on a novel by C. V. Raman Pillai, was produced by R. Sundar Raj in 1933. The first talkie in Malayalam was  Balan , released in 1938. It was directed by S. Nottani. Artist P. J. Cherian was the first Malayali producer to produce Nirmala in 1948. Vellinakshatram (1949), Jeevitha Nouka  (1951) In 1954, the film  Neelakuyil  captured national interest by winning the President's silver medal.

4. The era of colour films came to Malayalam cinema with its first colour film,  Kandam Bacha Coat (1961). First cinemascope film produced in Malayalam was Thacholi Ambu (1978). First 70mm film is Padayottam(1982). First 3D cinema produced in India My Dear Kuttichathan (1984). World’s first film with one actor-The Guard (2001). Rajiv anjal’s Guru (1997), Salim Ahmad’s Adaminte Makan Abu (2011) made official entry for the best foreign language film category at the academic award .

5. 35mm,cinemascope,70mm films The  35mm format , or simply  35mm , is the common name for the 24×36 mm film format or image sensor format used in photography. The format originated with Oskar Barnack and his introduction of the  Leica camera in the 1920s. Cinemascope  is an anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, for shooting wide screen movies. Created by Spyros P.Skouras. The Robe  (1952) was the first film to start production in CinemaScope

6. 70mm film or 65 mm film is a wide high resolution film gauge. Higher resolution than 35 mm. The film is 65 mm (2.6 in) wide. For projection the original 65 mm film is printed on 70 mm(2.8 in) film. The additional 5mm are for holding six tracks of sounds.  

7. The first Malayalam film The first Malayalam film is Vigatha kumaran(1930)

8. the type of movie camera that he would have filmed Malayalam’s first movie?... Popular ones during those times were- Debrie Le Parvo, Moy (Moy&Bastie), Bell & Howel 2709 , Mitchell Standard and Eyem . Debrie Le Parvo used for making this film. 35 mm camera The hand-cranked Le Parvo was at one time the most popular European made camera. Most used camera’s in 1920’s around the world. J.C.Daniel bought this camera for 40000/- DOP Jayanam Vincent says “the Debrie, Mitchell NC, Hewall are still available at AVM studios, Chennai” On J.C. Daniel’s cinematography equipment

9. DEBRIE LE PARVO

10. First talkie film in Malayalam Balan   is a 1938 Malayalam film directed by S. Nottani. Based on the short story "Vidhiyum Mrs. Nayarum" by A. Sundaram. screenplay and dialogues are written by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. German cinematographer Bado Gushwalker handled the camera. 35 mm camera

11. FIRST COLOUR FILM

12. Kandam Becha Kottu  ( The Patched-up Coat)   is the first colour film in Malayalam. Directed by T. R. Sundaram, starring Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and Aranmula Ponnamma. Release dates -August 24, 1961. 35 mm camera

13. Chemmeeen

14. Babumon (1975) Ragam (1975)

15. First 3D cinema in India is My Dear Kuttichaattan (1984). 3D  orthree-dimensional film or  S3D  ( stereoscopic 3D ) film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception

16. First 70mm movie P adayottam (1982) Sri Ramachandra Babu   : That ’ s right … Usually 70mm movies were shot using 65 mm camera and 65 mm film negative. Then it would be printed on 70 mm film. 65 mm cameras were not available in India at that time. SHOLAY, the first 70 mm film in India was shot in   Cinemascope   and the negative was taken to London to be blown up to 70 mm size. Padayottam was also shot in Cinemascope. But it was processed in Prasad Labs Chennai.   So Padayottam was the first indigenous 70 mm movie in India.   Several aspects had to be taken care of while processing that movie.

17. Historical movies Oru vadakkan veeragaatha Kerala varma veera Pazhassiraja

18. Sequential movies

19. IN HARIHAR NAGAR SERIES

20. The King and Commisioner

21. First Digital movie moonnamathoral

22. First Digital movie in Malayalam Moonnamathoral (2006) is directed by V.K.Prakash.  The movie stars Jayaram and Jyothirmayi in the lead roles. first high-definition (HD) cinema to be digitally distributed to theatres via satellite. shot entirely using HD cameras. Digital cinema  refers to the use of digital technology to distribute or project motion pictures as opposed to the historical use of motion picture film. A movie can be distributed via hard drives, the Internet, dedicated satellite links or optical disks such as Blu-ray Discs.

23. helicam For the first time in the history of Malayalam filmdom, a helicam, a camera which goes up into the air, was used for the shoot of V K Prakash's  Trivandrum Lodge.  The helicam, a camera that has been fitted on a mini helicopter can go up to a height of 400 feet and captures panoramic shots, which is an impossible feat for regular cameras. around 4 lakh as daily rent .

24. Movie by DSLR camera

25. The first movie made on DSLR camera. Cinematographer and director Sameer Thahir used a digital still camera to shoot his entire film — Chappa Kurishu  (2011). a task which was considered almost 'suicidal' at that point. But the final product proved that visually good films can be made with lower budgets too. The film was shot entirely with a Canon 7D DSLR camera.

26. Slow motion movies

27. Slow motion movies The trend was introduced by Amal Neerad in his debut movie BIG B (2007). He is well notable for his stylish cinematography.  He was awarded with both National Award and Ajaykar Award for his work as a cinematographer. . The visuals of  Big B  were noticed for their Hollywood feel and tone. Used Super 16 mm camera.

28. Sagar alias Jacky Anwar

29. Bachelor Party Iyyobinte Pusthakam

30. Used HS2 Weisscamera for Bachelor Party Used super 16 and Weisscam for Anwar, Sagar Alias Jacky. Today RED Digital cameras were using commonly. Such as RED One MX, RED Epic and RED Scarlet .

31. Spanish Masala D.O.P - Lokanathan Nidra (RED One MX) D.O.P - Sameer Thahir Cinema Company (RED One MX) D.O.P - Jibu Jacob Karmayogi D.O.P - R.D.Rajasekhar Husbands In Goa D.O.P - Anil Nair Naughty Professor (RED One MX) 22 Female Kottayam (RED Epic) D.O.P : Shyju Khalid Run Baby Run (Epic) D.O.P : R.D. Rajasekhar Molly Aunty Rocks D.O.P: Sujith Vasudev Maad Dad (RED Epic ) - Dop : Pradeep nair Housefull - (RED Epic) dop : Neil D' Cunha Mantrikan -(RED Epic) D.O.P - Vaidy S Pillai Ayalum njanum Thammil (RED Epic) D.O.P - Jomon T John Da Thadiya (RED Epic) - D.O.P - Shyju Khalid Chettayees (RED One MX) D.O.P - Vinod Illampilly Annayum rasoolum D.O.P - Madhu Neelakantan Trivandrum Lodge D.O.P : Pradeep Nair ABCD (RED Epic) D.O.P - Jomon T John Nee Ko Nja Cha (Red One MX) D.O.P - Neil D' Cunha Kkamath and Kkamath (RED Epic,RED One MX) - D.O.P - Anil Nair Romans (RED One MX ) D.O.P - Vinod Illampilly List films shooted in RED Digital Cameras'l (RED One MX, RED Epic and RED Scarlet

32. August Club (RED Epic,RED Scarlet) D.O.P - Prathapan Up and Down (Canon C300 and RED Scarlet ) D.O.P - Jomon Thomas Rose Guittarinaal (Epic) D.O.P - Sudheesh Pappu David and Goliath (RED One MX) D.O.P - Jithu Damodar Matinee (Red One MX) D.O.P - Pappinu Kili Poyi (RED One MX and Red Epic ) D.O.P - Pradeesh Varma Buddy (RED One MX) My Fan Ramu (RED One MX) Immanuel (RED Epic) D.O.P - Pradeep Nair Hotel California (RED One MX) D.O.P - Jithu Damodar Chewing Gum (RED One MX) D.O.P - Sakhya 5 Sundarikal ( sameer thahir chapter ) (RED Epic) D.O.P - Shyju Khalid Lokpal (RED Epic) D.O.P - Pradeep Nair Kuttiyum Kolum (Red One MX) Lucky Star (RED Epic) D.O.P - Vijay Ulakanath Natholi oru Cheriya Meenalla (Red Epic) D.O.P - Arun James Mumbai Police (Red Epic) D.O.P - Divakaran Amen (Red Epic) D.O.P - Abhinandan

33. Movies shot on Arri Alexa : Ozhimuri D.O.P - Azhagappan 101 Weddings D.O.P - Azhagappan Celluloid D.O.P -Venu Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu D.O.P - Azhagappan Gangs of Vadakkumnathan Kalikaalam D.O.P - Madhu Ambat Kunjananthante Kada (Arriraw externally on Codex) D.O.P - Madhu Ambat Pullippulikalum Aatinkuttiyum (Arri Alexa XT) D.O.P - S Kumar Movies shot on Sony PMW-F3 : Arike D.O.P - Azhagappan On Canon C300 : Up and Down D.O.P - Jomon Thomas English - D.O.P - Udhayan Ambadi

34. ALEXA XT CAMERA ,made by Arri (Arnold and Richter cine Technique Pullippuliyum Aattinkuttiyum (2013)

35. Anjuli Shukla Kutty Srank Malayalam   [ Madhu Ambat – Adaminte Makan Abu K. V. Anand Thenmavin Kombath 1995 Santosh Sivan Kaalapani

36. The first talkie in the world is The Jazz Singer (1927). In Malayalam Balan (1938). First cinemascope movie The Robe (1955), in Malayalam it is Thacholi Ambu (1978). First 3D film The  Power of Love ( 1922), in India it is My Dear Kuttichattan (1984).

37. V K Prakash feels that Malayalam cinema now is getting back the lost art of technique. "Our films before the 80's were quite ahead of the times in terms o technology;  Bhargavinilayam  and Chemmeen  are examples. Later, the focus shifted to dialogue. But the people who should understand the value of technical perfection are the producers," he concludes. For a long time, Malayalam filmmakers were willing to spend lakhs on exotic locations, song sequences and imported actresses, but were stingy when it came to technical perfection. But the scenario has been changing .