User:Ayyappas/South Indian Film Journalist

South Indian Film Journalist first were grouped under one organisation the South Indian Film Journalist Association based in Chennai. The city was then the main hub of all South Indian language films. It's founder President was Film News Anandan (ref: Mobile library of Tamil cinema- Chennaionline.com(archives.chennaionline.com/chennaicitizen/2002/anandan).It has many stalwarts like V Ramamurthy Editor of Cinema Express, Mathioli Shanmugham, Malee and Ramji of Makkal Kural as office bearers. film Journalists from all South Indian languages were it's members. The association conducted many memorable functions which saw the likes of Sivaji Ganesan- MGR as it's guests. The Association after a long span passed over the reins to V Ramamurthy and a new set of office bearers including the veterans. With the exit of V Ramamurthy from Cinema Express the organisation activities went into a pause mode. During this time a section of the Film publicists took the lead in getting the Tamil Film Producer's Council and Nadigar Sangham headed by Vijaykant to endorse the stance that not more than 30 media persons need to be invited and even published a list. This created a big outcry and saw the media getting together with protest marches and meetings. Sensing the mood of the media both the bodies backed out.This movement led to the formation of the Tamilnadu Film Journalist Association under the leadership of Ayyappa Prasad then South Bureau Chief of Screen. A registered body with young members it conducted the first critics award in Tamilnadu for Tamil films. As the organisation grew internal fissures grew and yet another organisation Chennai Film Press Club got formed. Now both the organisations are engaged in welfare of film journalists in Chennai.