Kollywood

Kollywood is the Tamil film industry, based in Kodambakkam, a neighborhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It produces Tamil-language feature films for domestic and international audiences and forms a major part of Indian cinema. The term combines Kodambakkam and Hollywood, reflecting the industry's entertainment orientation and its central location in the city.

The industry's roots go back to the early days of Tamil cinema, with sound films emerging in the 1930s and a rapid expansion of studios and production infrastructure in the mid-20th century. Historic studios such as AVM Productions and Gemini Studios helped establish a studio-driven workflow, while star-led narratives and musical performances became hallmarks of Kollywood.

Kollywood has produced widely known figures who achieved national and international fame, including actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, and directors such as Mani Ratnam and Shankar. Composers like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman have contributed to Tamil cinema's distinct musical style. The industry has reshaped itself with new formats, budgets, and storytelling approaches while maintaining traditional elements of romance, action, and social themes.

In recent decades Kollywood has gained a global footprint through widespread distribution, digital platforms, and co-productions. Tamil films are released with subtitles or dubbing in other languages, and Tamil content is accessible on streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Sun NXT. It has received recognition at national awards and continues to influence other Indian film industries.