Veluthambi Dalawa (film)

Veluthampi Dalawa is a 1962 Malayalam historical film based on the life of Velu Thampi Dalawa, the Dewan of Travancore during the first decade of 19th century, was one of the first to rebel against the British East India Company's supremacy. The film, directed by G. Viswanath and written by Jagathy N. K. Achary was shot in Newton Studios. Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, Prem Nawas, Adoor Bhasi, G. K. Pillai, Ragini, Ambika Sukumaran and Sukumari portrayed prominent roles. The dances were choreographed by Chinni and Sampath along with Kalamandalam Madhavan.[1] The film was a box office success.[2]

Veluthampi Dalawa
Film poster
Directed byG. Viswanath
Produced byP. K. Satyapal
Screenplay byJagathy N. K. Achary
Starring
Music byV. Dakshinamoorthy
CinematographyP. K. Madhavan Nair
Edited byK. D. George
Production
company
Oriental Movies
Distributed byChandrathara
Release date
  • 22 February 1962 (1962-02-22) (Kerala)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Plot

The story begins during the tyrannical regime of Jayanthan Namboodiri (Thikkkurissi Sukumaran Nair), the 'Dalawa' of Travancore. The country was plagued by corruption and mismanagement at all levels. Veluthampi (Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair) who was in royal service succeeded in exposing the tyranny of Jayanthan Namboodiri and rose to the position of Dalawa. Jayanthan Namboodiri’s ears were cut as punishment and he was banished from Travancore.

Veluthampi resorted to harsh punishments in order to improve the law and order of the kingdom. His overbearing conduct created resentment among his colleagues. The corrupt revenue officer Mallan Pillai (Adoor Bhasi) was punished and terminated from service. The powerful cabinet official Kunju Neelan Pillai (G. K. Pillai) and his group were supporters of the British East India Company. They leaked the defence secrets of the country to the Resident British Officer Macaulay (Satyapal). Veluthampi was vigilant and in his landmark 'Kundara Proclamation' urged the people to fight against the British. This made him popular among the states of Cochin and Kozhikode and they offered their support to him in his fight against the British.

Jagadambika (Ragini) was in love with Veluthampi and supported him in his plans against the British. She entered Macaulay’s bungalow in disguise and managed to recover the defence files, but was shot dead. Before she died, Jagadambika handed over the files to Veluthampi. He took an oath to drive away the British from the country.

The British succeeded in invading and bringing under their control several towns and villages surrounding Thiruvananthapuram. Veluthampi requested the king to release more arms and ammunition including rifles to fight against the British. Kunju Neelan Pillai alleged that it was Veluthampi who provoked the British against Travancore. The king believes the allegation and Veluthampi quit his post as Dalawa. After conducting the marriage of his niece Seethalakshmi (Ambika) and Unni Namboodiri (Prem Nawaz), Veluthampi left to take refuge in the sanctum sanctorum of Mannadi Temple along with his brother Padmanabhan Thampi. The British surrounded the temple, but Veluthampi killed himself before they could enter; Padmanabhan decapitated Veluthampi.

Cast

Soundtrack

The music was composed by V. Dakshinamoorthy and Parthasarathy and lyrics were written by Abhayadev. The tracks "Innu Nalla Luckaa", "Viral Onnillenkilum", "Enthinu Moham", and "Kaathu Kolka Njangale" were popular during those times.[1]

No.SongSingers
1"Aakasathilirikkum"Shantha P. Nair
2"Enthinnu Moham"P. Leela
3"Innu Nalla laakkaa"K. Rani, K. P. Udayabhanu
4"Kaathukolka Nangale"P. Leela
5"Kappalileri Kadal Kadannu"P. Leela
6"Poojari Vannille"P. Leela, T. S. Kumaresh
7"Pushpaanjalikal"K. J. Yesudas
8"Thankachilanka Kilukki"P. Leela]
9"Viralonnillenkilum"A. P. Komala, K. P. Udayabhanu

Legacy

The film's success and the performance of Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair as Veluthampi Dalawa prompted Udaya Studio and director Kunchacko to cast him as Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja in their historical film Pazhassi Raja (1964), but it did not perform well at the box office.[2]

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References
  1. Vijayakumar, B. (17 January 2016). "Veluthampi Dalawa: 1962". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  2. B. Vijayakumar (14 December 2009). "Pazhassi Raja 1964". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
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