Marthanda Varma (film)
Encyclopedia
Marthanda Varma is a 1933 black & white silent film
directed by P.V.Rao based on 1891 Malayalam novel
by C. V. Raman Pillai
. This was the first film based on a Malayalam literature
and next film of Malayalam film industry
after Vigathakumaran.
, the film recounts the adventures of the crown Prince, Marthandavarma on how he eliminates his arch rivals one by one, so as to ascend to the throne of Travancore.
The casting credits of the above artists variably contradict in the sources. The character Marthanda Varma is attributed to the actor Jaidev in IMDB where as in Weblokam (Malayalam Webdunia
) the same character is attributed to actor Andi, who is referred as Tamil
from Thalassery
. The possibility of name Jaidev being the screen alias of Andi conflicts with the information in Cini Diary, where both the names are listed separately under the artist credits of the movie.
Weblokam further states that Tamil actresses Pattamal and Devaki Bhai donned the roles of Subadra and Sulaikha respectively of which the former’s character credit brings up another contradiction as Cini Diary states Pattamal is Padmini or rather Pattamal’s screen alias is Padmini, who is attributed to the character Parukutty in IMDB.
The producer R. Sunder Raj has done the role of Bheeram Khan where as A.V.P.Menon and V.Naik did the roles of Anantha Padmanaban and Padmanabhan Thampi respectively.
The film had title cards in English and Malayalam, some of which were taken from the original text. A few of the title cards and actions make reference to the Swadeshi movement
. The film also featured with a seven-minute actual newsreel footage of temple procession of the late Sri. Chithira Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore.
. The movie ran into copyright problems during its release with the publishers of the novel in that period, Kamalalaya Book Depot and was withdrawn from screenings after its opening day following a court order marking the first copyright case in Indian film industry and literature publishing of Kerala. The print of film was under the custody of Kamalalaya Book Depot until 1974 when National Film Archive of India negotiated and acquired the same.
Apparently, this film also contain the first lip kiss of Indian Cinema.
A print of film, which is the only silent film of south India fully available as of now is preserved at the National Film Archive of India
(NFAI), Pune
. The film was reportedly shown in 1994 Film Festival of Kerala.In 2011 this film screened "Filka" International film festival in thiruvananthapuram
Recentely in 2011 this film screened "Filka" International film festival.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by P.V.Rao based on 1891 Malayalam novel
Marthandavarma (novel)
Marthandavarma is a novel by C.V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It is presented as a historical romance recounting the history of Venad during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma.The action of story takes place in Kollavarsham 901-906...
by C. V. Raman Pillai
C. V. Raman Pillai
Cannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai was one of the great Indian novelists and playwrights and the greatest novelist and pioneering playwright and journalist in Malayalam...
. This was the first film based on a Malayalam literature
Malayalam literature
The term Malayalam literature refers to Literature written in Malayalam language. Malayalam is the language spoken by around 35 million people, mainly the inhabitants of the state of Kerala and the union territory of Lakshadweep Islands in India. Malayalam is a Dravidian language and thus has close...
and next film of Malayalam film industry
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
after Vigathakumaran.
Plot
Based on the novel MarthandavarmaMarthandavarma (novel)
Marthandavarma is a novel by C.V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It is presented as a historical romance recounting the history of Venad during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma.The action of story takes place in Kollavarsham 901-906...
, the film recounts the adventures of the crown Prince, Marthandavarma on how he eliminates his arch rivals one by one, so as to ascend to the throne of Travancore.
Cast
A short list of artists who acted in the movie- Jaidev
- Andi
- A.V.P. Menon
- V.Naik
- Padmini
- Devaki
- V.C.Kutty
- S.V.Nath
- Sundaram Iyer
- Sunder Raj
- Kesava Menon
- Thilakam
The casting credits of the above artists variably contradict in the sources. The character Marthanda Varma is attributed to the actor Jaidev in IMDB where as in Weblokam (Malayalam Webdunia
Webdunia.com
Webdunia.com Pvt. Ltd. is an Indian Language Technology products and services company with portals running in 9 Indian Languages. Webdunia is assessed at SEI-CMMI Level 3...
) the same character is attributed to actor Andi, who is referred as Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
from Thalassery
Thalassery
Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
. The possibility of name Jaidev being the screen alias of Andi conflicts with the information in Cini Diary, where both the names are listed separately under the artist credits of the movie.
Weblokam further states that Tamil actresses Pattamal and Devaki Bhai donned the roles of Subadra and Sulaikha respectively of which the former’s character credit brings up another contradiction as Cini Diary states Pattamal is Padmini or rather Pattamal’s screen alias is Padmini, who is attributed to the character Parukutty in IMDB.
The producer R. Sunder Raj has done the role of Bheeram Khan where as A.V.P.Menon and V.Naik did the roles of Anantha Padmanaban and Padmanabhan Thampi respectively.
Crew
A short list of crew behind the film- Producer - R. Sundar Raj
- Screenplay, Direction – P. V. Rao
- Cinematography – Pandurang E. Naik
Production
The film was produced by R Sunder Raj under the banner of Shri Rajeswari Films and production of the film was started in 1931 during which the producer ignored the queries regarding the copyright of the novel related to adapting it to the film.The film had title cards in English and Malayalam, some of which were taken from the original text. A few of the title cards and actions make reference to the Swadeshi movement
Swadeshi movement
The Swadeshi movement, part of the Indian independence movement, was an economic strategy aimed at removing the British Empire from power and improving economic conditions in India by following the principles of swadeshi , which had some success...
. The film also featured with a seven-minute actual newsreel footage of temple procession of the late Sri. Chithira Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore.
Release
The movie was released thru Shri Rajeswari Films in 1933 at Capitol theatre, Thiruvananthapuram of ThiruvithaankoorTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. The movie ran into copyright problems during its release with the publishers of the novel in that period, Kamalalaya Book Depot and was withdrawn from screenings after its opening day following a court order marking the first copyright case in Indian film industry and literature publishing of Kerala. The print of film was under the custody of Kamalalaya Book Depot until 1974 when National Film Archive of India negotiated and acquired the same.
Apparently, this film also contain the first lip kiss of Indian Cinema.
A print of film, which is the only silent film of south India fully available as of now is preserved at the National Film Archive of India
National Film Archive of India
The National Film Archive of India was established as a media unit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in February 1964. Its three principal objectives are* To trace, acquire and preserve for posterity the heritage of Indian cinema;...
(NFAI), Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. The film was reportedly shown in 1994 Film Festival of Kerala.In 2011 this film screened "Filka" International film festival in thiruvananthapuram
See also
- MarthandavarmaMarthandavarma (novel)Marthandavarma is a novel by C.V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It is presented as a historical romance recounting the history of Venad during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma.The action of story takes place in Kollavarsham 901-906...
, a novel by C. V. Raman PillaiC. V. Raman PillaiCannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai was one of the great Indian novelists and playwrights and the greatest novelist and pioneering playwright and journalist in Malayalam...
Recentely in 2011 this film screened "Filka" International film festival.