What happened to MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the first Tamil cinema superstar?

Bhagavathar, one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars at the time, was arrested and jailed in 1944 in connection with the murder of journalist CN Lakshmikanthan, before being released in 1947 after being judged innocent.

Why is there controversy surrounding these new film projects?

The filmmakers may not have secured permission from the families of Bhagavathar and NS Krishnan, the other actor arrested in the case, to accurately depict the real-life characters, leading to concerns that the films may only be loosely based on the events.

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Tamil Cinema's Darkest Hour: The Rise and Fall of a Superstar Retold on the Big Screen

Q: What new films are being made about the Lakshmikanthan murder case?

Three new films - Kaantha, Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku, and The Madras Mystery - Fall of a Superstar - are reportedly inspired by the infamous 1944 scandal involving the murder of journalist CN Lakshmikanthan.

10 Nov

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Summary

Journalist CN Lakshmikanthan's 1944 murder led to the arrest of Tamil cinema's first superstar, MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Three new films inspired by the infamous scandal are in the works, exploring the case's twists and turns
Controversy surrounds the projects as filmmakers may not have permission to depict the real-life characters

Tamil Cinema's Darkest Hour: The Rise and Fall of a Superstar Retold on the Big Screen

In 2025, Tamil cinema lovers and cinephiles are eagerly anticipating the release of several films inspired by a notorious incident from the industry's past. The 1944 murder of film journalist CN Lakshmikanthan and the criminal trial that followed, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar - considered Tamil cinema's first superstar - is a controversial chapter that has long captured the public's imagination.

Now, 81 years after the scandal, three projects - Kaantha, Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku, and The Madras Mystery - Fall of a Superstar - are reportedly inspired by this infamous episode. While Kaantha and Lakshmikanthan Kolai Vazhakku aim to give a fictional spin on the events, The Madras Mystery is set to explore the case in a long-format web series.