Post Release of Vigathakumaran
Vigathakumaran was exhibited in Trivandrum at the Capitol Theatre on 7 November 1928. Despite being the very first film made in Kerala and having a socially significant message, it faced the wrath of certain orthodox sections in the society due to the presence of a woman in the film. Rosie, who played the role of the female protagonist, was disbarred from entering the theatre, as caste Hindus, outraged that a converted dalit played the role of a nair woman in the film, created a ruckus. At that time, due to the social orthodoxy and lack of public awareness of the cinema medium, acting in films were considered an act at par with prostitution. During the screening, stones were pelt on the screen, damaging it. The film did moderate business at the box office but the collections were way below the production cost.
The movie was also screened in Alleppey at the Star Theatre. Since it was a silent movie, there was an announcer at the theatre who would explain the story and the situation. Alleppey being one of the most important port towns in Kerala during that time, the audience were more liberal. They received the movie with excitement. There was a minor glitch once, when the screen faded and the audience booed. After the announcer explained that since this was the first Malayalam movie some minor problems might happen, the audience welcomed his statement with applause.
It is said that J.C.Daniel himself came to Alleppey with the film box, since there was only one print.
The first Malayalam actress was a daily wage labourer named Rosie from a place called Thaikkat near Trivandrum. She used to carry her lunch with her, act in the movie and later go for her work in the evening. Since acting at that time was considered a profession at par with prostitution, some members of the orthodox society burned down her hut. She fled to Tamil Nadu where she got married and spent the rest of her life in obscurity.
Vigathakumaran was also screened at Quilon, Trichur, Tellichery and Nagercoil.
Daniel suffered from debts as the movie not a commercial success. To pay his debtors, he had to sell his equipments and close down the studio. That was the end of the film career of J.C Daniel, the first protagonist of the Malayalam Cinema industry.
Daniel spent the rest of his life as a dentist at Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu. He descended into poverty towards the end of his life, spent at Agastheeswaram. Though he applied for pension under the scheme for ailing artists, the Government rejected it since he was born in Tamil Nadu state. In his books and articles, noted film journalist Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan originally established that Vigathakumaran was the first Malayalam Cinema and J. C. Daniel was its architect as Director, Producer, Cinematographer and Hero. He described the story of Vigathakumaran in articles published since 1960, but Kerala Government initially rejected his crusade citing Daniel was not a Malayalee. The Government version was that if Daniel want Pension or financial assistance, he has to apply it for Tamil Nadu Government, because he was living at Agastheeswaram in Kanyakumari district. The crusade of Chelangattu Gopalakrishnan against this negative attitude was finally successful. Kerala government approved Daniel as a Keralite and decided to honour him as the Father of Malayalam Cinema.
J.C Daniel died in April 1975, penurious and forgotten by all.
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