Biography

Tiruchengodu Ramalingam "T. R." Sundaram (16 July 1907 – 30 August 1963) was an Indian film actor, director, and producer. He is the founder of the Salem-based movie production company The Modern Theatres Ltd. Mr.T.R.Sundaram was born in 1907 in Coimbatore to a wealthy textile merchant and had his studies in India and in Leeds, England, where he graduated in textile engineering. On returning to India, Mr.T.R.Sundaram managed his family business. After the production of the first Tamil talkie Kalidas in 1931, the movie industry emerged as a profitable means of investment. Sundaram set up Angel Pictures in Salem and produced movies along with S. S. Velayutham. Mr.T.R.Sundaram split with Velayutham after a few years and set up his own production company The Modern Theatres Ltd. The first film produced under the banner of Modern Theatres was Sathi Ahalya in 1937. The next year in 1938, Mr.T.R.Sundaram produced the Malayalam talkie Balan. He was instrumental in giving MGR his first major solo box office hit in Manthirikumari. It catapulted MGR to greater name and fame.They followed it up with Sarvadhikari which became highest grosser in 1951.