The forthcoming film L2: Empuraan, featuring Mohanlal, is being recognized as the first major pan-India production from the Malayalam film sector. The concept of pan-India films emerged about ten years ago, following the remarkable success of Baahubali. This trend has been further amplified by the achievements of films like RRR, KGF, and Pushpa. However, it is important to note that Baahubali was neither the inaugural pan-India film nor the most commercially successful one. In fact, just a year after India gained independence, the first 'pan-India' film achieved unprecedented financial success.

The first pan-India film

In 1943, Tarachand Barjatya was working as a film distributor and had not yet founded Rajshri Productions. In search of ways to expand his business, he approached SS Vasan of Gemini Pictures, a prominent figure in Tamil cinema. Vasan was in the process of creating an ambitious historical drama titled Chandralekha.

Barjatya persuaded him to produce the film in Hindi simultaneously. Sooraj Barjatya recently shared with Mid-Day, “The makers of Chandralekha dubbed and even reshot certain scenes with actors to synchronize the lip movements. When the dubbed version was ready for release, Mr. Vasan asked my grandfather to meet him to discuss ‘business’."

Ultimately, Vasan granted Barjatya the all-India distribution rights for the film, marking the first time a Tamil film was released nationwide. Chandralekha premiered in 1948 in two languages and was later dubbed into additional languages, establishing it as a genuine pan-India sensation.

The sensation that was Chandralekha

Sooraj Barjatya remarked, “Chandralekha was the Baahubali of its era,” emphasizing its monumental impact by stating, "It achieved a level of success comparable to today's Pushpa." Upon its release, Chandralekha shattered all previous box office records. With a production budget of ₹30 lakh, it was the most costly Tamil film of its time.

Interestingly, despite its success in the Tamil market, the film did not recoup its costs. However, its performance in the Hindi market was remarkable. Chandralekha earned ₹1.55 crore, surpassing Kismet to become the highest-grossing Indian film at that time. This record was eventually eclipsed by Barsaat the following year. Nevertheless, for many years, Chandralekha remained the only South Indian film to hold this distinction until Baahubali 2 achieved unprecedented success in 2017.

Chandralekha's legacy

Directed by Vasan, Chandralekha featured performances by TR Rajakumari, MK Radha, and Ranjan. The film is inspired by a chapter from George W. M. Reynolds' novel, Robert Macaire: or, The French bandit in England, and narrates the story of two brothers, Veerasimhan and Sasankan, who vie for control of their father's kingdom and the affection of a village dancer named Chandralekha. The film's triumph established Vasan as one of the most in-demand directors in the industry.

The success of Chandralekha also paved the way for Tamil films to penetrate the northern market, enabling future stars to gain recognition in the Hindi-speaking regions. Numerous scenes from the film were later reimagined in period dramas. Additionally, it popularized the use of ensemble casts and elaborate sets, concepts that were later adopted by classics such as Mughal-e-Azam.

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