Marthanda varma(Malayalam Movie 1931)

Marthanda Varma was a 1933 black & white silent film directed by P.V.Rao based on the 1891 Malayalam novel by C. V. Raman Pillai. This was the first film based on a Malayalam literature and the second malayalam film after Vigathakumaran.^[1]

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.^[2]

THE CAST

Jaidev, Andi, A.V.P. Menon, V.Naik, Padmini, Devaki, V.C.Kutty, S.V.Nath, Sundaram Iyer, Sunder Raj, Kesava Menon, Thilakam

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.

§ Producer - R. Sundar Raj

§ Screenplay, Direction – P. V. Rao

§ Cinematography – Pandurang E. Naik

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.

The movie was released thru Shri Rajeswari Films in 1933 at Capitol theatre, Thiruvananthapuram of Thiruvithaankoor. 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copyright problems during its release with the publishers of the novel in that period, Kamalalaya Book Depot and was withdrawn from screenings after its opening day following a court order marking the first copyright case in film industry and literature publishing of Kerala.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.

It was the only silent film made in south india that could survive.

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.