Tamil cinema, which is also known as Kollywood, has a rich history of making grand and memorable movies. Even before the arrival of modern VFX, CG and large production companies, some filmmakers dared to spend a very big price and bring epic stories into life.
And those movies were not only high-budget for their time but also changed the way Tamil films were usually made. Let’s take a look at five old Tamil movies that were really made with huge budgets and left a strong mark on the Tamil film industry.
- Sivaji Ganesan’s Thiruvilayadal (1965)
A movie which will perish forever is Thiruvilaiyadal, this particular movie was a mythological masterpiece and starred the legendary aactor Sivaji Ganesan as Lord Shiva.
Directed by a legend A. P. Nagarajan, the movie Thiruvilayadal was made with a big budget at that time. The film had grand sets, detailed costumes, and a very top-quality music. (Some Sources says, that thiruvilayadal made with 10 lakh budget. which is very very huge in those days)
The “Dharumi” scene, where Sivaji delivers a powerful dialogue, is still remembered by Tamil movie lovers. The movie proved that even spiritual stories could be made in a larger-than-life manner.
- MGR’s Adimai Penn (1969)
M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), the man who not only ruled the tamil cinema, but also the tamil nadu. He is one of Tamil Nadu’s most loved actors and leaders.
Always believed in giving his audience a pure visual treat. And his movie Adimai Penn was one such movie. Released in 1969, the movie was made with 50 lakh of budget and earned around 2.5 crore’s. which is now literally around 350 crores.
Shot partly in foreign locations and with extravagant sets and costumes, this film was considered one of the most expensive Tamil films at the time. It was a huge success and showed that spending more on production could bring great rewards.
- Ulagam Sutrum Valiban (1973)
This film was another MGR classic and was even more ambitious at that time. It was shot in several countries like Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand—something very rare for Tamil cinema during the early 70s.
The movie had action, science fiction elements, and rich visuals. Released in 1973, some sources says that the movie made with a huge budget of 4.4 crores. Even today in this digital, creators can make a normal with that budget.
- Sankarabharanam (1980)
Though technically a Telugu movie, Sankarabharanam was widely released and celebrated in Tamil as well. Directed by K. Viswanath, the movie dealt with classical music and Indian traditions.
The producers didn’t hold back on spending for authentic locations, musical arrangements, and costumes. While the film didn’t seem grand in a visual sense, its emotional richness and production values made it a high-investment project.
- Nayakan (1987)
Directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, Nayakan was a game-changer in Tamil cinema. Inspired by real-life events, it followed the story of an underworld don.
The film was made with a big budget, including shooting in busy city streets, complex fight sequences, and stylish cinematography by P. C. Sreeram. Kamal’s performance and the movie’s raw and powerful style made it a timeless classic.
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