Indian Movie News (IMN)
Inaugural Excellence Award For Journalism / New Media
Shaw (Brothers) Organisation (Shaws) is the largest film related company established in the 1920s to cater for the production, distribution and exhibition of films in Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
In the 1950s Shaws wanted to publish their own entertainment magazines to publicize their movies to the filmgoers instead of advertising through the usual media of newspapers. Hence, they commenced the publications of Indian Movie News (Indian), Movie News (English), Southern Star (Chinese) and Majalah Filem for Malay fans in 1952.
IMN has contributed significantly in the spreading of Tamil language, arts and culture for more than 68 years and it is sheer jubilation to know that a cinema magazine has contributed its part in the uplifting of the Tamil language in Malaysia and Singapore from the 50s onwards.
Today, IMN stands on the threshold of its 68th year of publication which is unparalleled in the history of magazine publishing in the world. It’s monumental in that no Tamil cinema publication has ever reached the status of being the longest serving Tamil movie magazine in the world, yes, in the world!
FOUR GENERATIONS OF READERS
IMN has long been well accepted by its readers and its longstanding reputation is the manifestation of its goodwill among them. IMN has four generations of readers tirelessly lending their support in keeping the IMN flag flying high. Yes, IMN has enjoyed decades of service in the field of film journalism and years of continued patronage from the readers’ unwavering support. Young
Readers of the fourth generation have joined the ranks in order to keep the magazine going on a steady keel for future generations.
CHANGES IN BASIC POLICY & IMPROVEMENTS
To see the most widely read Tamil cinema magazine in the world still in circulation is sheer jubilation and exultation to one and all. During SA Nathanji’s (editor of this book) tenure (1987 -2014) as the managing editor/publisher of the magazine, he has changed the basic editorial policy of IMN. Nathanji was the first bi-lingual (English & Tamil) editor of IMN.
The magazine contains two sections, one half in English and the other half in Tamil. The English section used to carry only the Bollywood news and the Tamil section, the Tamil film news. Nathanji changed the concept to include Tamil film news in addition to Bollywood news in the English section to cater to the needs of the growing English educated readers who were very much interested in Tamil movies but who were not fluent in the Tamil language. The other significant changes were to convert the black & white ordinary paper into full colour high quality art paper in addition to many other changes over the years.
The association with IMN gave Nathanji the edge to be closer with many of the top stars of the Tamil film world. The stars gave and continue to give their support and co-operation in accepting IMN’s invitation to come and adorn the many concerts that has been organized over the years.
On 25th August 1960, readers of IMN (led by Nathanji) formed the Indian Movie News Readers Club in Singapore (first readers’ club for any magazine in this part of the world). This gave readers a platform to meet and exchange ideas for a better IMN. They also indulged in organising many social and cultural events with the support of IMN management (Shaws). These events include stage plays, social gatherings, film shows, picnics & excursions, sports activities, multi- cultural shows and charity events. The club’s activities were prominently published in the IMN and this, in turn, generated great interest and paved the way for more readers to join the club in droves. Many more readers’ clubs were formed in various parts of Malaysia and the popularity of IMN had skyrocketed.
Sales of IMN too had seen a high rise and the Shaws were generous in their support for the readers’ club activities. They allowed the readers’ club to function from their former Shaw Chambers at 116 Robinson Road and V M Shaw, director of Shaw Organisation (now Chairman) became the Patron of the club. The club was able to organize many events in which the readers and the general public were able to intermingle. IMN Readers’ club became the leading Indian youth social & cultural club of its time.
THE EDITORS
The past editors of IMN were, Koshy Tharian (English), SS Sarma (Tamil), MK Menon alias Vilasini, who was, to a great extent responsible for making IMN as the household name in South East Asia in the 1950’s, Arman (P M Raman), who was the former journalist of Malay Mail in Singapore, S K Battacharje, and IS Menon.
Publisher/managing editor and first bi-lingual editor, SA Nathan (Nathanji), and Pamela Nathan were greatly responsible to rekindle the readers’ interest in IMN again in the late 1980s with their innovative ideas for the magazine once again to rise to the pinnacle of readership. Nathanji has always enjoyed serving this great magazine for more than 27 years, from 1987 — 2014). He has seen difficult and challenging times during the long passage of time as the managing editor and publisher but has also had a memorable and fulfilling time, giving him instant recognition near and far and among the stars of the Indian cinema.
Nathanji has handed over the ownership of IMN to Silver Screen International since 2014 and retired from the magazine business.