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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
{{Infobox writer
| name = Samikannu Vincent
| name = Samikannu Vincent
| image = Samikannu Vincent.jpg
| image = Samikannu Vincent.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1883|4|18}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1883|4|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kottaimedu, [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| birth_place = Kottaimedu, [[Coimbatore]], [[Madras Presidency]]
| occupation = [[Film producer|Producer]], [[Film maker]]
| occupation = [[Film producer]] <br> [[Film maker]]
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1942|4|22|1883|4|18}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1942|4|22|1883|4|18}}
| death_place = [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| death_place = Coimbatore, Madras Presidency
| nationality = [[India]]}}
| nationality = Indian
}}


'''Samikannu Vincent''' (18 April 1883 – 22 April 1942) was a cinema exhibitor turned theatre owner. His first theatre was Variety Hall (now Delite theatre) in Coimbatore in 1914. He was a pioneer in making movies, popular in Madras presidency and contributing to growth of it by buying new equipment from abroad, as well as establishing the concept of modern day theatres that exist today.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/cinema/a-way-of-life/article5189219.ece|title=A way of life|date=18 Oct 2013|work=Frontline|accessdate=19 Jun 2018}}</ref>
'''Samikannu Vincent''' (18 April 1883 – 22 April 1942) was a [[Filmmaking|filmmaker]] and cinema exhibitor from [[Coimbatore]], India. He was a pioneer in the movie business in [[South India]]. In 1905, he established tent cinemas where movies were projected in a makeshift tent in open spaces which were a precursor to modern day [[movie theater]]s. In 1914, he established Variety Hall in Coimbatore, which was one of the first permanent movie theatres in South India. He was later involved in the [[Film producer|production]] and [[Film director|direction]] of [[Tamil film industry|Tamil movies]].


==Early Days==
==Early life and family==
Samikannu Vincent was born on 18 April 1883 to Thambusamy in [[Coimbatore]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|India]].<ref name="SV1">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/pioneering-film-production-in-tamil-nadu/article65665894.ece|title=Pioneering film production in Tamil Nadu|date=21 July 2022|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="TC">{{Cite news|url=https://time.news/a-movie-theater-that-bound-people/|title=A movie theater that bound people|newspaper=Time News|date=9 February 2023|access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref> He worked as a draftsman-clerk with [[South Indian Railway]] at [[Golden Rock Railway Workshop|Ponmalai]] in [[Tiruchirappalli]].<ref name="TC"/> Samikannu had four wives with whom he had four sons and two daughters.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 August 2007|title=Down memory lane|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/down-memory-lane/article2252632.ece |access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref> Samikannu died on 22 April 1942.<ref name="SV4">{{Cite news|date=23 March 2011|title=Memories of Coimbatore: A silent revolution|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/A-silent-revolution/article14957596.ece|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref> Tamil film actor [[J. P. Chandrababu]] was married to one of the granddaughters of Samikannu.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Guy|first=Randor|date=2 October 2009|title=A voice that mesmerised|newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/A-voice-that-mesmerised/article16884379.ece|access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref>
Samikannu Vincent was born on April 18, 1883. He was born in [[Coimbatore]]. He was working in [[South Indian Railway]] as a draftsman-clerk. He happened to see some short films exhibited by French film exhibitor named DuPont. Vincent befriended him and by the time when DuPont wanted to return home, Samikannu Vincent raised enough money with difficulty to buy the Frenchman's projector, accessories and films. At the age of 22, he resigned his desk job and set up business as film exhibitor. He travelled to villages to exhibit the films he had. The film "Life of Jesus" became a huge hit in the "tent cinema" where he projected his films. Vincent usually screened his films in a tent, which was erected on a stretch of open land close to a town or village. The “tent cinema” concept became very popular.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/He-brought-cinema-to-South/article16373561.ece|title=He brought cinema to South|date=30 Apr 2010|work=The Hindu|accessdate=19 Jun 2018}}</ref>


==Family==
==Career==
During his career as a clerk with South Indian railway, Samikannu was exposed to short films exhibited by DuPont, a [[French people|French]] film exhibitor.<ref name="SV2">{{Cite news|date=30 April 2010|title=He brought cinema to South|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/He-brought-cinema-to-South/article16373561.ece |access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref> In 1905, When DuPont wanted to return home, Samikannu raised money to buy the projector, accessories and films used by DuPont for {{INRconvert|2250}}.<ref name="SV4"/> He resigned his job and set up business as a film exhibitor screening films across India, [[Afghanistan]] and [[Myanmar]].<ref name="SV4"/> He established "tent cinemas" which were effectively make shift tents erected on open land close to a town or village, pioneering the cinema show business in [[South India]].<ref name="FL">{{Cite news|date=18 October 2013|title=A way of life|newspaper=Frontline|url=https://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/cinema/a-way-of-life/article5189219.ece|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref>


Samikannu established the first tent cinema at [[Madras]] called Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone.<ref name="SV2" /> The electrically lit tents drew large crowds and quickly became popular. Buoyed by the success, Samikannu established a brick and mortar cinema house called "Variety Hall" in 1914, which was one of the first permanent movie theatres in South India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/Cinema-and-the-city/article15513259.ece|title=Cinema and the city|date=9 January 2009|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/farewell-to-old-cinema-halls/articleshow/8202426.cms|title=Farewell to old cinema halls|date=9 May 2011|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref> The cinema hall initially screened silent films with commentary, later moving on to talkie films with the evolution of Indian cinema.<ref name="SV3">{{Cite news |date=14 March 2013 |title=Born in Coimbatore |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/born-in-coimbatore/article5784880.ece |access-date=19 June 2018 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> However, in {{Circa|1912-14}}, [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu]] had already established Gaiety Theatre on [[Mount Road]], as the first ever permanent cinema theatre in [[Chennai|Madras]] and all of [[South India]].<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>
Samikannu Vincent had 4 wives with whom he had four sons and two daughters. As per his family members, vincent married 4 wives as each one died in quick succession due to illness. He was lovable father his among all children.
He never took his children along for Long trips. one of his son Selvaraj, who studied both at St. Michaels in coimbatore and [[St Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli|St. Joseph's College]] in Tiruchi, stopped with intermediate (Class XII now), because his father wanted them look after his business. According to his family, his father was a good magician, for which he was dubbed evil, and refused communion by the church. “So, he had to perform in front of the church members, to prove that those were only tricks that came from his robe with innumerable pockets”
<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/down-memory-lane/article2252632.ece|title=Down memory lane|date=30 Aug 2007|work=The Hindu|accessdate=19 Jun 2018}}</ref>


In 1916, he established a printing press near his theatre to print handbills. Called an electric printing works, he used the cinema house's power plant to power the machinery for the press.<ref name="FL" /> In 1919, he established the first power-driven rice and flour mill in Coimbatore.<ref name="SV2" /> In 1922, with the aid of [[C. P. Ramaswami Iyer|C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyer]], then member of the Governor's Executive Council of the Government of Madras, Samikannu brought an [[electric generator]] to set up a power house and lighted up the Variety Hall road in Coimbatore.<ref name="SV3" /><ref name="NM">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/tracing-coimbatore-s-rich-heritage-through-cinema-and-industry-93371|title=Tracing Coimbatore’s rich heritage through cinema and industry|newspaper=News Minute|date=14 December 2018|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
==Development==
[[File:டிலைட் திரையரங்கம் (வெரைட்டி ஹால்).jpg|thumb|right|250px|<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">Variety Hall ( Delite Theatre) Coimbatore</div>]]
During 1905, electric carbons were used in motion picture [[projector]]. During the same year Samikannu Vincent established his first tent cinema at Madras called Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone on Esplanade. At that time it was a novelty to watch films in this tent theatre. The electrically lit tent drew large crowds. He travelled with his tent cinema to different parts of the world like [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]]. Aware of the advantages of brick and mortar cinema house, he built one in his home town in 1914 called Variety Hall.


In 1933, Samikannu along with [[East India Film Company|Pioneer film company]] in [[Calcutta]] co-produced [[:ta:வள்ளி திருமணம்|''Valli Thirumanam'']], based on the story of Hindu God [[Karthikeya|Murugan]].<ref name="NM" /> It was directed by [[P.V. Rao|P. V. Rao]] with [[T.P. Rajalakshmi]] in the lead role and went on to become a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Blast-from-the-past-Srivalli-1961/article15459707.ece|title=Blast from the past: Srivalli|date=26 February 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref> He also co-produced other Tamil movies such as ''Sampoorna Harichandra'' and [[Subhadra Parinayam|''Subhadra Parinayam'']] later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/subhadhra-parinayam-1935/article5128721.ece|title=Subhadhra Parinayam (1935)|last=Guy|first=Randor|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 September 2013|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="SV2" /> In 1935, when [[Central Studios]] was established in Coimbatore, Samikannu joined the studio as a director.<ref name="SV2" />
==Association with Cinema==
In 1933, Pioneer film company Calcutta and Samikannu Vincent co-produced "Valli". Since there was also a similar production was in progress in Bombay, the Calcutta version was named as Valli Thirumanam. It had [[T.P. Rajalakshmi]] playing the lead role and went on to become a huge hit. He also later co-produced "Sampoorna Harichandra" and "Subhadra Parinayam". When the historic [[Central Studios]] was inaugurated in 1935, Samikannu Vincent joined the team as one of the directors. Besides production he was also involved in equipment distribution and theatre management. He was also known for first introducing talkie equipment for his theatre in Coimbatore beating madras

==Other Notable Works==
By 1919, he established the first power-driven Rice and Flour Mill in the heart of the town. He managed all this by working as long as nine hours a day, until his sons took over. In 1922, the then Government of Madras gave him permission to supply electric power to the famous Stanes European High School. With the encouragement of Sir [[C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyer]], member of the Governor's Executive Council in charge of the Electricity portfolio, he was given enough support by the government. His application was approved and the licence to set up a power house was granted. The streets of Coimbatore and the residential buildings in the heart of the city had electric lights.

Realising the need for a printing press to produce quality handbills and other materials, he promoted the printing press (around 1916) that was located in a house near his theatre. He expanded the activities of the press by installing additional machinery, types and printing accessories in another building. Called Electric Printing Works, he used the cinema house's electric power plant to run the printing press too and created history of sorts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/cinema/a-way-of-life/article5189219.ece|title=A way of life|date=18 Oct 2013|work=Frontline|accessdate=19 Jun 2018}}</ref>

==Death==
Samikannu Vincent died in 22 April 1942.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/A-silent-revolution/article14957596.ece|title=A silent revolution|date=23 March 2011|work=The Hindu|accessdate=19 Jun 2018}}</ref>

==Association with J. P. Chandrababu==

Leading Comedian [[J. P. Chandrababu]] married grand daughter of Samikannu Vincent later which ended in Divorce.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/10/02/stories/2009100250670400.htm |title=A voice that mesmerised |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2 October 2009 |author=Guy, Randor |accessdate=2011-03-26}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Samikannu's birthday is celebrated as [[Cinema Theater Day]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/calling-film-lovers-out-to-the-theatres/article5806680.ece|title=Calling film lovers out to theatres|date=20 March 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref> A Tamil [[Documentary film|documentary]] ''Pezhamozi'' (Silent Language) based on Samikannu's life was released in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 January 2016|title=From the shadows into the limelight|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/From-the-shadows-into-the-limelight/article14027204.ece|access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref>

His birthday is celebrated as [[Cinema Theater Day|Cinema theatre day]].

A [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Documentary film|Documentary]] on Vincent's life, Pezhamozi (silent language) was also released.
<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/From-the-shadows-into-the-limelight/article14027204.ece|title=From the shadows into the limelight|date=13 Jan 2016|work=The Hindu|accessdate=19 Jun 2018}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}


[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian film people]]
[[Category:People from Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Tamil film producers]]
[[Category:Film exhibitors]]

Latest revision as of 16:19, 6 August 2024

Samikannu Vincent
Born(1883-04-18)18 April 1883
Kottaimedu, Coimbatore, Madras Presidency
Died22 April 1942(1942-04-22) (aged 59)
Coimbatore, Madras Presidency
OccupationFilm producer
Film maker
LanguageTamil
NationalityIndian

Samikannu Vincent (18 April 1883 – 22 April 1942) was a filmmaker and cinema exhibitor from Coimbatore, India. He was a pioneer in the movie business in South India. In 1905, he established tent cinemas where movies were projected in a makeshift tent in open spaces which were a precursor to modern day movie theaters. In 1914, he established Variety Hall in Coimbatore, which was one of the first permanent movie theatres in South India. He was later involved in the production and direction of Tamil movies.

Early life and family

[edit]

Samikannu Vincent was born on 18 April 1883 to Thambusamy in Coimbatore, Madras Presidency, India.[1][2] He worked as a draftsman-clerk with South Indian Railway at Ponmalai in Tiruchirappalli.[2] Samikannu had four wives with whom he had four sons and two daughters.[3] Samikannu died on 22 April 1942.[4] Tamil film actor J. P. Chandrababu was married to one of the granddaughters of Samikannu.[5]

Career

[edit]

During his career as a clerk with South Indian railway, Samikannu was exposed to short films exhibited by DuPont, a French film exhibitor.[6] In 1905, When DuPont wanted to return home, Samikannu raised money to buy the projector, accessories and films used by DuPont for ₹2,250 (US$27).[4] He resigned his job and set up business as a film exhibitor screening films across India, Afghanistan and Myanmar.[4] He established "tent cinemas" which were effectively make shift tents erected on open land close to a town or village, pioneering the cinema show business in South India.[7]

Samikannu established the first tent cinema at Madras called Edison's Grand Cinemamegaphone.[6] The electrically lit tents drew large crowds and quickly became popular. Buoyed by the success, Samikannu established a brick and mortar cinema house called "Variety Hall" in 1914, which was one of the first permanent movie theatres in South India.[8][9] The cinema hall initially screened silent films with commentary, later moving on to talkie films with the evolution of Indian cinema.[10] However, in c. 1912-14, Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu had already established Gaiety Theatre on Mount Road, as the first ever permanent cinema theatre in Madras and all of South India.[11]

In 1916, he established a printing press near his theatre to print handbills. Called an electric printing works, he used the cinema house's power plant to power the machinery for the press.[7] In 1919, he established the first power-driven rice and flour mill in Coimbatore.[6] In 1922, with the aid of C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyer, then member of the Governor's Executive Council of the Government of Madras, Samikannu brought an electric generator to set up a power house and lighted up the Variety Hall road in Coimbatore.[10][12]

In 1933, Samikannu along with Pioneer film company in Calcutta co-produced Valli Thirumanam, based on the story of Hindu God Murugan.[12] It was directed by P. V. Rao with T.P. Rajalakshmi in the lead role and went on to become a commercial success.[13] He also co-produced other Tamil movies such as Sampoorna Harichandra and Subhadra Parinayam later.[14][6] In 1935, when Central Studios was established in Coimbatore, Samikannu joined the studio as a director.[6]

Legacy

[edit]

Samikannu's birthday is celebrated as Cinema Theater Day.[15] A Tamil documentary Pezhamozi (Silent Language) based on Samikannu's life was released in 2016.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pioneering film production in Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "A movie theater that bound people". Time News. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Down memory lane". The Hindu. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Memories of Coimbatore: A silent revolution". The Hindu. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  5. ^ Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "A voice that mesmerised". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e "He brought cinema to South". The Hindu. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b "A way of life". Frontline. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Cinema and the city". The Hindu. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Farewell to old cinema halls". Times of India. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Born in Coimbatore". The Hindu. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  11. ^ "History of Birth and Growth of Telugu Cinema (Part 3)". CineGoer.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2007.
  12. ^ a b "Tracing Coimbatore's rich heritage through cinema and industry". News Minute. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Blast from the past: Srivalli". The Hindu. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  14. ^ Guy, Randor (14 September 2013). "Subhadhra Parinayam (1935)". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Calling film lovers out to theatres". The Hindu. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  16. ^ "From the shadows into the limelight". The Hindu. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
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