Kavitha Pandian

Madras Central Railway Station. The movie reel box had arrived from Bombay by train. Thousands of people crowded the busy Wall Tax road through which the reel box was taken to Kinema Central- where the movie was to be screened. People all along the roads showered flowers, broke open coconuts on the roads, showed ‘arti’ and burnt incense sticks, welcoming the reel. “Watch for yourselves, the first talkie featuring your favorite star TP Rajalakshmi dance and sing in Tamil and Telugu” screamed the posters all along and “The famous drama artiste TP Rajalakshmi for the first time in a talking cinema”, announced loudspeakers in cars and automobiles. The first talkie of Tamil Cinema, Kalidas, rested squarely on the tender shoulders of a girl, who was barely 20, married at 7 and divorced at 11!

Hannah Ratnam Krishnama @ Kamala Sathianathan Nivedita Louis 1898… Senate House, Madras University. The Graduation Ceremony is underway. The names are called out and students…