Thenandal Studio Limited
Thenandal Studios Limited (TSL), formerly known as Sri Thenandal Films and Sri Thenandal Pictures, is an Indian film production and distribution studio in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded by director Rama Narayanan.
Production Company | |
Founded | 1979 |
Founder | Rama Narayanan |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Film Production Film Distribution |
History
Rama Narayanan set up Sri Thenandal Films in 1976 in Chennai, and the studio has gone on to distribute over 750 films across India. Sri Thenandal Films is one of the few producers in Tamil cinema to survive beyond 100 productions along with AVM, Modern Theatres, Gemini Studios, etc.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Sri Thenandal Films produced and distributed a series of devotional films directed by Rama Narayanan. The quick spate of releases titled after goddesses such as Palayathu Amman (2000), Nageswari (2001), Kottai Mariamman (2001) and Annai Kaligambal (2003), saw the studio garner an image of focussing solely on Hindu devotional subjects.[1]
In the 2010s, Murali Ramaswamy made a decision to actively purchase and distribute horror films, and experienced immediate success after Aranmanai (2014), Kanchana 2 (2015), Demonte Colony (2015) and Maya (2015) all became profitable ventures. The success of the studio's investment in that particular genre prompted them to finance smaller budget horror films including Strawberry (2015) and Jackson Durai (2016), in attempt to capitalise on the popularity of the genre across Tamil Nadu.[2][3][4] The studio also ventured into the production of stage plays under the leadership of Murali's wife, Hema Rukmani, in 2015, and financed Chillu, a futuristic science fiction play, performed in Chennai.[5] Hema Rukmani is the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the production house.
Following the release of Atlee's Theri, Sri Thenandal Films signed Vijay and Atlee for another project together titled Mersal for their 100th movie in September 2016.[6][7]
Following the release of Mersal, the studio faced financial problems and cancelled several projects that they were associated with. A proposed high budget fantasy drama titled Sangamithra directed Sundar C entered pre-production and was promoted at the Cannes Film Festival as one of India's most expensive films. The film, which was set to star Jayam Ravi, Arya and Disha Patani in the lead roles, went through multiple changes in its cast and budget before being postponed indefinitely. Ananda Krishnan's Furthermore, Ashwin Saravanan's Iravaakaalam with S. J. Suryah and Dhanush's untitled directorial venture featuring himself alongside Nagarjuna and Aditi Rao Hydari, have continued to face significant production delays.
Selected filmography
Production
- Naagam (1985)
- Veeran Veluthambi (1987)
- Sahadevan Mahadevan (1988)
- Thangamani Rangamani (1989)
- Aadi Velli (1990)
- Manaivi Oru Manickam (1990)
- Durga (1990)
- Sendhoora Devi (1991)
- Vaa Magale Vaa (1994)
- Vaanga Partner Vaanga (1994)
- Thirumbi Paar (1996)
- Manaivikku Mariyadhai (1999)
- Maaya / Gurupoornima / Jayasoorya (1999)
- Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa (1999)
- Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000)
- Palayathu Amman (2000)
- Kuberan (2000)
- Nageswari (2001)
- Viswanathan Ramamoorthy (2001)
- Kottai Mariamman (2001)
- Annai Kaligambal (2003)
- Mannin Maindhan (2005)
- Kutti Pisasu (2010)
- Kalpana (Kannada) (2012)
- Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013)
- Arya Surya (2013)
- Aarathu Sinam (2016)
- Dhilluku Dhuddu (2016)
- Manal Kayiru 2 (2016)
- Podhuvaga En Manasu Thangam (2017)
- Mersal (2017)
- Iravaakaalam (TBA)
- Vallavanukku Vallavan (TBA)
- Aadi Velli 2 (TBA)
Distribution
The following films are a list of films which were distributed by Sri Thenandal Films throughout Tamil Nadu, apart from their own productions:[8]
- Engal Kural (1985)
- Rudra Naagam (dubbed) (2008)[9]
- Pachchai Manithan (dubbed) (2008)[10]
- Arundhati (dubbed) (2009)
- Madurai Sambavam (2009)
- Marmadesam (dubbed) (2010)[11]
- Chutti Chathan (2010)
- Rudram 2012 (2010)
- Muni 2: Kanchana (2011)
- Nanjupuram (2011)
- Appu and Pappu (Kannada) (2012)
- Raaz 3D (Hindi) (2012)
- Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal (Hindi) (2012)
- Rush (Hindi) (2012)
- Murder 3 (Hindi) (2013)
- Zila Ghaziabad (Hindi) (2013)
- Jack the Giant Slayer (English) (2013)
- Karimedu (dubbed) (2013)
- Superman (dubbed) (2013)
- Policegiri (Hindi) (2013)
- Ruthranagaram (dubbed) (2013)
- Sonna Puriyathu (2013)
- Pasamalar (restored) (2013)
- Vizha (2013)
- Inga Enna Solluthu (2014)
- Aaha Kalyanam (2014)
- Nee Enge En Anbe (dubbed) (2014)
- Aranmanai (2014)
- Pisaasu (2014)
- Katham Katham (2015)
- Muni 3: Kanchana 2 (2015)
- Demonte Colony (2015)
- Baahubali: The Beginning (2015)
- Strawberry (2015)
- Maya (2015)
- Puli (2015)
- Rudhramadevi (dubbed) (2015)
- Oru Naal Iravil (2015)
- Urumeen (2015)
- Kathakali (2016)
- Aranmanai 2 (2016)
- Saahasam (2016)
- Nayyapudai (2016)
- Sowkarpettai (2016)
- Aviyal (2016)
- Sawaari (2016)
- Tea Kadai Raja (2016)
- Zero (2016)
- Hello Naan Pei Pesuren (2016)
- Idhu Namma Aalu (2016)
- Oru Naal Koothu (2016)
- Muthina Kathirikai (2016)
- Jackson Durai (2016)
- Dhilluku Dhuddu (2016)
- Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru (2016)
- Thirunaal (2016)
- Nayaki (2016)
- Sivanaagam (dubbed) (2016)
- Kaashmora (2016)
- Veera Sivaji (2016)
- Paambhu Sattai (2017)
- Kaatru Veliyidai (2017)
- Mersal (2017)
- Aaruthra (2018)
References
- "Palayathamman". Cinema Today.
- "Sri Thenandal Films-The success mantra!". Sify Movies. 25 August 2015.
- "Thenandal Films procure horror thriller 'Maya'". Sify Movies. 12 February 2015.
- Sreedhar Pillai (5 September 2015). "Have ghosts taken over Kollywood?". The Hindu.
- "Shraddha's next play". The Hindu. 4 September 2015.
- "Sri Thenandal Films signs Ilayathalapathy Vijay?". Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- Upadhyaya, Prakash. "'Vijay 60': 'Bairavaa' star to collaborate with Atlee, Sri Thenandal Films". Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- "Distribution movies". Thenandal Films. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- "Review – Rudra Nagam". Kollywood Today. 1 April 2008.
- Sreedhar Pillai (23 June 2008). "Hulk rebooted". The Times of India.
- "Hollywood film Clash of Titans dubbed in Tamil". Kollywood Today. 10 March 2010.
External links
- Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived June 23, 2016)
- Sri Thenandal Films on IMDb
- Thenandal Studios on IMDb