Legacy of boys companies: They shaped Tamil theatre's legacy; Talent nurtured amidst hard times and strict discipline

Tamil theatre's 'boys' companies,' troupes of young actors aged 6-16, were vital to the early 20th-century renaissance. These commercial ventures, though demanding and isolating, honed future stars like MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. The advent of talkies eventually led to their decline, but not before enriching Tamil cinema with immense talent across various artistic fields.