Marthanda Varma (film)
| Marthanda Varma | |
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| Malayalam | മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമ്മ |
| Directed by | P.V.Rao |
| Produced by | R.Sunder Raj |
| Written by | P.V.Rao (screenplay) C. V. Raman Pillai (novel) |
| Starring | Jaidev A.V.P. Menon Devaki Padmini |
| Cinematography | Pandurang. E. Naik |
| Distributed by | Shri Rajeshwari Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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118 mins. |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam Silent film English and Malayalam intertitles |
Marthanda Varma is a 1933 black and white Indian 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.
Based on the novel Marthandavarma, 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.
A short list of artists who acted in the movie
The casting credits of the above artists variably contradict in the sources. The character Marthanda Varma is attributed to the actor Jaidev in IMDB whereas 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 whereas A.V.P.Menon and V.Naik did the roles of Anantha Padmanaban and Padmanabhan Thampi respectively.
A short list of crew behind the film
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. The film also featured with a seven-minute actual newsreel footage of temple procession of the late Sri. Chithira Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore.
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