CHENNAI: As a child, I remember gawking at the huge rotating globe in Vadapalani, asking my father what the place was. Little did I know then how integral cinema is to Tamil Nadu, and how the iconic AVM Studios, a founding pillar of Tamil cinema, occupies a place of great pride in the state and its residents. Though this 75-year-old institution has introduced many legends of the industry, including Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, SS Rajendran, Rajkumar, and Vyjayanthimala, not many from the recent generation might be aware of its legacy. Perhaps this was the reason that S Guhan—who is bridging the older cohort represented by his father, AVM Saravanan, and the revolution of the new generation, headed by his daughters Aruna and Aparna— decided to set up the AVM Heritage Museum.
Revelling in past
His daughter, Aruna Guhan, also the producer of AVM Studios, says that work on the museum has been underway for four years now. “It was my father’s idea to set up an accessible space for all to witness these artefacts. He has always been passionate about restoring and collecting vintage cars. We have also preserved a lot of shooting equipment, which people always wanted to see when they visited our office,” she shares.
One of AVM Productions’ biggest successes, Sivaji: The Boss (2007), was made to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of AV Meiyappan. Fittingly, one of the chief attractions of the museum is AV Meiyappan’s vintage Vauxhall 14 car right next to a stylish statue of Rajinikanth from Sivaji, and a palanquin with a signboard that reads, “Used in the song ‘Vaaji Vaaji’ from Sivaji.” Rajini fans or otherwise, it’s impossible not to gape at such historical paraphernalia in the museum.
Reels on wheels
The AVM Heritage Museum is home to 40-odd vintage cars and 25 motorbikes that have been used in numerous films backed by the production. On the other side of the Sivaji statue, there’s the Dodge Kingsway used by legendary actor-politician MG Ramachandran. Among the well-maintained, timeless, and glistening cars with their archaic number plates, are older versions of Ambassadors and Jeeps that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Young visitors of the museum may be interested in the convertibles that have been featured in many old films.
We soon reach the crown jewel of the museum: the shooting equipment. A huge air blower, various light filters, and vertical editing machines that look like DJ consoles, catch the eye. While reflecting on the utility of such equipment, it’s also hard not to realise how far we have come in terms of technology. Imagine taking a hi-resolution selfie on a handheld smartphone in front of all the huge cameras that shot full-length feature films like Murattu Kaalai, Sakalakala Vallavan, and Samsaram Athu Minsaram.
Gleaming memories
Before we can catch our breath after taking in all the technological advancements spread over a few decades, we witness the massive posters of all the 177 films produced by AVM so far. While our eyes take in the details of each poster, we are distracted by a glistening golden gleam emanating from the Parasakthi Memorial. Inaugurated by AVM’s premier foster child Kamal Haasan, the memorial marks the location from where the legendary Sivaji Ganesan gave his first ‘success’ shot in front of the camera for the iconic Parasakthi.
When asked about the work that goes behind conserving such important articles with care, Aruna explains, “We have them stored and preserved in vaults and cold storage, as required. Very stringently, we have been preserving equipment, costumes, and other film-related materials... a practice that continues. Special credit goes to our publicity team, which has been with us from the beginning, meticulously documenting and archiving every detail.”
Even if the museum feels small, the wealth of treasure inside is enough reason for a visit. The place is well worth a good 30-minute walk in a temperature-controlled hall that is a good jog back in time. It might not be an exaggeration to suggest that it shows early potential to be our own version of Universal Studios, if perhaps AVM adds more features? Walking out, ten years after I was first charmed by that huge globe in Vadapalani, I understood that wistful look on my father’s face when I first asked him about this building.