Home / Arts and Entertainment / Tamil Cinema's Darkest Hour: The Rise and Fall of a Superstar Retold on the Big Screen
Tamil Cinema's Darkest Hour: The Rise and Fall of a Superstar Retold on the Big Screen
10 Nov
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
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.
However, the filmmakers may face challenges in accurately depicting the real-life characters involved. Actor-film historian Mohan Raman notes that before the COVID-19 pandemic, a renowned pan-Indian filmmaker had approached Bhagavathar's family for permission, but the project was ultimately dropped. It remains unclear whether the current crop of filmmakers have secured the necessary approvals to represent the historical figures.
As the new films gear up for release, Tamil cinema enthusiasts eagerly await to see how the industry's darkest hour will be retold on the big screen.
