Dharmaraja (novel)

Marthandavarma

Title page of the first edition
Author	C.V. Raman Pillai
Original title	മാർ‍ത്താണ്ഡവർ‍മ്മ
Translator	B. K. Menon (1936 – English) O. Krishna Pillai (1954 – Tamil) R. Leela Devi (1979 – English) Kunnukuzhy Krishnankutty (1990 – Hindi) P. Padmanabhan Thambi (2007 – Tamil)
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Genre	Historical Novel Historical Romance
Set in	Travancore (1727 – 1732)
Published	Malayalam : June 11, 1891 (Author) 1911 – 1925 (B. V. Book Depot) 1931 – 1971 (Kamalalaya Book Depot) 1973 onwards (Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham) 1983 onwards (Poorna Publications) 1992 onwards (D. C. Books) 1999 (Kerala Sahitya Akademi) English : 1936 (Kamalalaya Book Depot) 1979 (Sterling Publishers) 1998 (Sahitya Akademi) Tamil : 1954 (Kamalalaya Book Depot) 2007 (Sahitya Akademi) Hindi : 1990 (Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha)
Media type	Print (Paperback)
ISBN	(D. C. Books ed.)
Followed by	Dharmaraja, Ramarajabahadur
Original text	at Malayalam

Malayalam :

English :

Tamil :

Hindi :

Marthandavarma (Malayalam: മാർ‍ത്താണ്ഡവർ‍മ്മ, Māṟttāṇḍavaṟmma [mɑːṟt̪t̪ɑːɳɖaʋaṟmma]) is a historical romance novel by C. V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It recounts the history of Venad (Travancore) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma. Set in Kollavarsham 901–906 (Gregorian calendar: 1727–1732), the story revolves around three protagonists, Ananthapadmanabhan, Subhadra and Mangoikkal Kuruppu, who try to protect the title character from Padmanabhan Thambi and Ettu Veetil Pillamar who plan to oust him from the throne of Travancore. The novel utilizes rich allusions to the Indian subcontinent and Western, historical, cultural and literary traditions.

The historical plot is aided with the love story of one of the lead pairs, Ananthapadmanabhan and Parukutty, the chivalric actions of the former, and the aspects of romanticism in the longing of Parukutty for her lover as well as in the unrequited love of Zulaikha. The yesteryear politics of Venad is presented thru the council of Ettuveettil Pillas, the subsequent claim of throne for Padmanabhan Thambi, the coup attempt, the patriotic conduct of Subhadra, and finally to her tragedy following the suppression of revolt. The intertwined representation of history and romance is attained thru classic style of narration, which includes vernacular languages for various characters, rhetorical embellishments, and the blend of dramatic and archaic style of language suitably to the bygone period.