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Tamil Theatre's 'Boys' Companies' Nurtured Cinema's Legends
16 Nov
Summary
- Young actors, 6-16 years old, were vital to 20th-century Tamil theatre
- Troupes like MGR and Sivaji Ganesan's launched illustrious careers
- Talkies led to the decline of these commercial theatre companies
In the early 20th century, Tamil theatre experienced a renaissance, fueled in part by the rise of 'boys' companies' - troupes of young actors aged 6 to 16. These commercial ventures, though demanding and isolating, played a vital role in nurturing the talents of future cinema legends like MGR and Sivaji Ganesan.
The 'boys' companies' provided rigorous training and performance opportunities for their young stars, who would go on to shape the golden age of Tamil cinema. Despite the challenges they faced, these troupes managed to hone the skills of their performers, many of whom would later achieve immense success on the silver screen.
However, the advent of talkies in the 1930s eventually led to the decline of the 'boys' companies.' As the film industry grew, these commercial theatre groups found it increasingly difficult to compete. But not before they had left an indelible mark on Tamil culture, enriching the cinematic landscape with a wealth of talent across various artistic fields.
