''Pazhassi Raja'' is a 1964 Malayalam biographical film, directed and produced by Kunchako. It is written by well known playwright Thikkodiyan and is based on the life of warrior king

Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja Pazhassi Raja () (3 January 1753 – 30 November 1805) was known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah. He was a warrior Hindu prince and de facto head of the kingdom of Kottayam, otherwise known as Cotiote, in ...

. It stars

Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair N. Sreedharan Nair (11 September 1922 – 19 October 1986), popularly known as Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair or just Kottarakkara, was an Indian actor who appeared Malayalam movies. He hailed from Kottarakkara in Kollam district of Kerala. Sre ...

in the title role, with Prem Nazir, Sathyan, Satyapal, S. P. Pillai, Rajashree and Pankajavalli in other important roles. ''Pazhassi Raja'' is the second historical film in Malayalam, the first one was ''Veluthamby Dalava'' (1962) by the same director. ''Pazhassi Raja'' was completely filmed from Kunchako's Udaya Studios, which resulted in the lack of technical perfection and eventually lead to the commercial failure of the film. Its music is composed by R. K. Shekhar, who debuted as a music director through this film.

Plot

The story is set at a time when the East India Company was trying to establish its control, and most of the city states in Kerala had surrendered to the company. Sankara Varma (Nanukuttan), king of Kurumbranad, had also surrendered. Kerala Varma (Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair), king of Pazhassi and nephew of Sankara Varma, fought against the company. Sankara Varma's niece Ammu Thampuratty (Rajasree, Gracy in the title cards) and nephew Unni (Boban) escape and seek refuge in Pazhassi Raja's palace. Tipu Sultan invades Malabar in an attempt to bring the city states that surrendered to the Company under his control. Unable to fight with the ferocious troops of Tipu Sultan, the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...

(EIC) decide to have a treaty with Pazhassi Raja with whose support they hoped to defeat Tipu Sultan. Pazhassi's guerrilla warfare succeeds, and the EIC manage to free all the city states captured by Tipu Sultan. Pazhassi's crafty uncle convinces the Company authorities to allow him to collect the taxes in Kottayam. He goes on to declare that he is the real heir to the dynasty. Pazhassi Raja opposes this move. The EIC officer Wellesley (Satyapal) invites Pazhassi Raja to his bungalow to discuss the issue. Ammu Thampuratti and Unni, who reach the bungalow in disguise, inform Pazhassi about the treacherous plans of the EIC. When Pazhassi defies the EIC, they attempt to arrest him. The Kurichya

archer Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In m ...

s of Pazhassi defeat this ploy and rescue their king. The

troops A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troo ...

capture Pazhassi Raja's palace. The Raja and his military commandants and attendants, Kaitheri Ambu (Dr. Chandraguptan), Kannavathu Nambiar (Prem Nazir), Unni Moosa (Sankaradi) and the Kurichya leader Chandu ( Vincent Chacko), escape to the dense Puralimala forests from where they begin guerrilla warfare against the East India Company. An official of the company, Baber (Satyan), who reaches Pazhassi's hideout with the help of Pazhayam Veedan (Kottayam Chellappan), is beaten up and sent back with a warning. The EIC decide to go all out against Pazhassi. A bitter struggle ensues. Pazhassi manages to recapture his palace. In the meanwhile, Baber takes custody of Pazhassi's wife, Maakkam (Sreedevi) and his infant son (Ponnumol). The war intensifies. The East India Company try all nasty tricks to defeat the Raja. They even set his palace on fire. Finally, Pazhassi Raja's men are beaten. The 'Lion of Kerala', as Pazhassi was popularly known, swallows his diamond ring and commits suicide.

Cast

* Prem Nazir as Kannavathu Nambiar * Sathyan as Baber * Satyapal as Commandant Wellesley * Rajasree (Gracy) as Ammu Thampuratty * Boban as Unni * Pankajavalli * Dr. Chandraguptan as Kaitheri Ambu * Nanukuttan as Sankara Varma * Sreedevi as Maakkam * Kottayam Chellappan as Pazhayam Veedan * Vincent Chacko as Thalakkal Chanthu * Sankaradi as Unni Moosa * S. P. Pillai * Manavalan Joseph * Nellikkodu Bhaskaran

Soundtrack

The film features an acclaimed musical score and the soundtrack by R. K. Shekhar. It was his debut work, though he has worked in a lot of films as a conductor or as an uncredited music director. The songs became popular upon release and established a bright career for Shekhar. The soundtrack consists of 12 songs with lyrics by

Vayalar Ramavarma Vayalar Ramavarma (March 25, 1928 – October 27, 1975), also known as Vayalar, was an Indian poet and lyricist of Malayalam language. He was known for his poems which include ''Sargasangeetham'', ''Mulankaadu'', ''Padamudrakal'', ''Aayisha'' a ...

. "Chotta Muthal Chudala Vare" (by K. J. Yesudas), "Muthe Vaa Vaavo Muthu Kudame Vaa Vvaavo" (by

P. Susheela Pulapaka Susheela (born 13 November 1935), popularly known as P. Susheela, is an Indian playback singer associated with the South Indian cinema primarily from Andhra Pradesh for over six decades. She is one of the greatest and best-known playba ...

), "Saayippe Saayippe, Aslam Alaikkum" (by

P. Leela Porayathu Leela (19 May 1934 – 31 October 2005) was an Indian playback singer, Carnatic vocalist and a music director. She has recorded more than 5,000 songs in various Indian languages including Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, ...

and Mehboob), "Kannu Randum Thaamarappoo" (by P. Susheela) and "Paathira Poovukal Vaarmudikettil" (by P. Leela) are considered evergreen hits.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0234436, Pazhassi Raja 1964 films 1960s Malayalam-language films Indian biographical films Indian black-and-white films Films directed by Kunchacko Kalarippayattu films History of India on film History of Kerala on film 1960s biographical films