Madan, Jamshedji Framji (1856-1923), also spelled Jamsedjee Framjee, ran one of the earliest Indian motion-picture studios and distribution chains. He was one of the earliest exhibitors of movies in India, and he quickly built up a chain of movie theaters in the first decades of the 1900’s. Based in Calcutta (now Kolkata), his company was also involved in motion-picture production, both of documentaries and feature films. A number of his company’s movies were adaptations of Bengali literature, such as the writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterji (see Chatterji, Bankim Chandra ).
Jamshedji Framji Madan was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), to a Parsee family. He started his life in the theater as an actor. He became a theatrical producer in the 1890’s, when he purchased two theater companies. When movies first became popular in India, Madan began converting playhouses he owned into movie theaters. His company eventually became Madan Theatres, and at one point controlled almost half of India’s movie distribution. Madan Theatres’ cinemas were usually in cities and catered largely to a European audience, showing mostly British and American films. After Madan’s death, his son J. J. Madan took over the company. Madan Theatres closed in the late 1930’s largely because of the advent of sound films.
