Producer Aruna Guhan recalls phenomenal run of 1945 Tamil film ‘Sri Valli’

Chennai, July 11 (IANS)) Young producer Aruna Guhan, who also happens to be one of the Creative Directors of AVM Productions – one of Tamil film industry’s oldest and most respected production houses – has disclosed details of how a Tamil film directed by her great grandfather A.V Meiyappan and A.T. Krishnasamy ran for over a year in 1945 and how theatre owners couldn’t remove it from theatres even after a year as it was making more money than new films!Taking to Instagram, Aruna wrote, “‘Sri Valli’, the movie that ran for over a year!’Sri Valli’ released on Tamil New Year, 1945. Directed by Periyathatha Shri A V. Meiyappan and A.T. Krishnaswamy, it was screened for over a year in Madurai Central Theatre and the box office collections were really good. The rule in those days was that a movie that made a certain minimum collection every day could not be taken out of cinema theatres.”A year later, Sri Valli was still making the highest collection and theatre owners were unable to release any other movie because of this.”They met Periyathatha in person to express their concerns, and he told them to stop our movie and start showing other movies.”In those days, theatre owners first got the consent of the producer before removing a movie from their theatres, even when it was doing very well and bringing in profits. As narrated by my thatha M. Saravanan.”–IANSmani–