It was the time when the Malayalam film industry was taking its baby steps. Though it evoked curiosity, the medium that is called cinema was not quite so popular in those days and it did not much enjoy the moral support of the public. That is the reason why, the crew mostly formed people from the lower-middle class.
But the film 'Nirmala,' (1948) broke the convention by casting members of the upper class as its main characters. The film produced by P.J. Cheriyan, featured his newlywed son and daughter-in-law in lead roles. The film didn't see much success and it was followed by another film, 'Vellinakshatram', which was historic in the annals of Malayalam film history on several accounts. It was directed by a German national, Felix J.H. Beyse, and it was by providence that Felix happened to direct the film, the first to be helmed by an expatriate, probably in India.
In search of a technical knowhow
The film 'Vellinakatram' released in 1949 was not a success, but what evoked curiosity is the mystery that surrounded the director, Beyse. Nothing much was known about him before or after. No lineage of the dubious personality could be traced out either in the later years.
The most authentic version about Felix comes from the book 'Malayala Cinema Charithram Vichitram' by Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan, a noted journalist and author who had associated with Alappuzha Vincent, one of the pioneers in the industry, to pursue film ventures.
Quoting from books by Chellangatt Gopalakrishnan, his son Radhakrishnan (Saju) says that "those were years when films made on freedom struggle reaped success at the national level. The film enthusiasts in Kerala were making preparations to set up a studio in the state. And that marked the beginning of Udaya Studios, which eventually produced several Malayalam movies. Kunchako who later took over the reins of this fledgling studio was not in picture at the time of its foundation."
"It was Vincent, TV Thomas and few others like Ramakrishna Pillai, Anandan Pillai and Raman Pillai who gathered to form the studio in an old building at Alappuzha Town. The group began to work on a film with subject on nationalism. Since Vincent had experience in films after his stint with the first Malayalam talkie 'Balan' in 1938, he was sent to Madras (now Chennai) to learn more about the technical knowhow of film shooting, studio set-up and so on," says Radhakrishnan.
A meeting by providence
As per the accounts by Chelangatt, Vincent was staying in a hotel in Egmore in Chennai as part of his pursuit of expertise in filmmaking. One morning when Vincent was shaking off water from his hands after washing his face, droplets fell on a foreigner who was standing near him. Vincent apologized to the the foreigner who also returned a courteous gesture. The fortuitous encounter kicked up a conversation between them and the meeting grew into friendship. The foreigner introduced himself as Felix J.H. Beyse from Germany.
Vincent learnt that the Felix had a camera with him and had acknowledged that he was a cinematographer. Vincent realised that he was the person he was looking for. Vincent thus brought Felix to Alappuzha and it was Felix who advised that if there was a camera and a studio floor, the cost of making a film would be half of what would be required in Madras for the same purpose.
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It was from the idea of the German national that Udaya studio took birth and 'Vellinakshatram' became the studio's first film venture. The film was shot accordingly. However the movie was a commercial dud. Though plans for the next film ensued, the founding partners of Udaya Studios entered into a legal tangle after Kunchacko entered into a deal. How Kunchacko gained the rights of the studios and what followed thereafter was altogether a different story.
Beyse, the Nazi Spy
It is doubted that Bayse was a Nazi spy. The matter was revealed to Gopalakrishnan by Vincent when the duo was in Kochi after they set up the Ajantha Studios. Anyway, Vincent had cautioned Chelangatt that the matter should be disclosed to the outside only after the former's death.
The claim is substantiated by the historical accounts that Hitler's close associate Joseph Goebbels had been sending spies around the globe and that Madras port was a corridor for the Nazi spies to make their forward journey to East Asian countries like Malaya, Singapore and so on, where revolt against the British was the fiercest.
Thus it is strongly suspected that Felix was sent by Goebbels with a camera to shoot in and around the Madras port. Vincent used to tell Chelangatt that Felix seemed restless whenever the news about Nuremberg trials, held for bringing Nazi war criminals to justice, appeared in news.
It was not clear whether it was the crisis in the studios or the Nuremberg trials and its aftermath that made Felix grouse. Anyway, Felix and his wife disappeared one night and nothing was heard of him ever after. There were rumours that he lived in Australia or in some remote villages in Europe. Nevertheless, no concrete evidence remains, to shed light on the ever-elusive German 'director' of the Malayalam film, anywhere in the world.
The mystery behind Felix
Interstingly, there is no solid document that can shed light on the mysterious figure like Felix. Almost all Malayalam film historians rely on books by Chelangatt for any account on the German.
Referring to the hotel incident in Madras, renowned script writer John Paul says, "there is no concrete evidence to prove the accounts on the German national who directed the film 'Vellinakshatram'". All we know about him is from the accounts as communicated by Alleppey Vincent to his close friend and associate Chellangatt Gopalakrishnan."
However, John Paul says one cannot complete rely on Chelangatt. "Though he was pure at heart, Chelangatt was a person who was never able to achieve any remarkable feats in the film industry. So there are chances that he might have expressed his opinions on others with prejudice," he says.
'Vellinakshatram' and the aftermath
Rumours that were rife at that time even said that Byse and his partner were eliminated in Kerala itself, though few can throw light on them now. However, the days the that followed the release of the film 'Vellinakshatram' witnessed huge crises for Udaya Studios as Kunchacko and other partners got embroiled in a tussle for its ownership. The studio was locked down for some time and there was even uncertainty over its re-opening.
'Vellinakshatram' released in early 1949, had marked several milestones in Malayalam film industry. The film introduced several artists who later became known names in Malayalam cinema. Music director B.A. Chidmabaranath, lyricist Abhayadev, editor K.D. George, actress Baby Girija, Miss Kumari are some among them.
Apart fromVincent, Gayaka Peethambaram, Cherai Ambujam, Lalitha Devi etc. essayed prominent roles in the film. Kuttanadu Ramakrishna Pillai had penned the story and the dialogues. The song, 'Thrikkodi Thrikkodi' in the film rendered by Cherai Ambujam was a superhit song of the time.