The Tollywood industry has a century-old history. Since the release of the first talkie film, Bhakta Prahlada in 1931, the Telugu cinema industry has seen many advancements in technology and larger-than-life actors. Undoubtedly, movies are an integral part of Telugu-speaking people’s lives. In the great historical records of Tollywood, Vizag plays a pivotal role. Wondering how? The first film production studio in Andhra Pradesh was established in Visakhapatnam.
Yes, you heard it right! In the year 1936, Andhra Cinetone, established in Visakhapatnam was considered one of the first film production studios in the state.
Before Andhra Cinetone, there was a film studio in Madras called Glass Studio, founded in 1913 by Raghupathi Venkayya, who brought the cinema craze to South India. The studio primarily produced silent films.
Later, in 1931, the Tamil and Telugu industries together produced the first talkie film, Bhakta Prahlada directed by H M Reddy. While this was a step towards progress, Tollywood grew further when Andhra Cinetone was established in Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Cinetone paved the way for regional cinema to grow independently from Tamil cinema. It was established by Gottumukkala Jagannadha Raju, who is also known for introducing digital theatre sound with the film Jagadamba.
Andhra Cinetone produced two notable talkies Bhakta Jayadev and Pushpatastram. Similarly, another film studio named Durga Cinetone was built in the year 1936 by Nidamarthi Surrayya in Rajahmundry. Sampurna Ramayanam was the first film produced by this studio. However, there is no definite proof of which one among these was constructed first, and both of these film studios were short-lived.
Interestingly, the location of the Andhra Cinetone film studio in Seethammadhara later housed the office of Eenadu, the Telugu daily founded by media mogul Ramoji Rao in Visakhapatnam.
While we try to discover more interesting facts about Visakhapatanam, let us know which one of these studios you think was established first!
Also, read- In the 1960s, THIS was the first film to ever be shot in Visakhapatnam
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