What is bench talkies the first bench?

"Talkies" is a term used to describe a type of cinema where sound and visual elements are combined to create a full, immersive experience for the viewers. Bench talkies is a colloquial Indian term that refers to films that are shot on a small budget with limited resources, typically with a single location—such as a park bench—as the backdrop, and featuring a small number of characters who engage in conversations.

The first bench talkies are believed to have originated in the Tamil film industry in the early 2000s. The genre quickly gained popularity due to its low production costs and the emphasis on dialogue-heavy scripts. Many bench talkies have gone on to become box office hits and have launched the careers of several actors and directors.

The success of bench talkies has also led to the emergence of similar genres in other regional film industries in India, such as "Coffee with D" in Marathi cinema and "Chai Pe Charcha" in Hindi cinema. These films retain the same aesthetic of featuring a small cast and a single location, but they explore different themes and genres.

Overall, bench talkies represent a unique and innovative approach to filmmaking, allowing filmmakers to create engaging, thought-provoking stories with limited resources.