Swathi Thirunal (1987)

 ●  Malayalam ● 2 hrs 13 mins

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Biographical fantasy about Swathi Thirunal, best-known of the 19th C. Travancore kings. The British treaty (1795) established Travancore as an independent state figureheaded by its royalty. As with e.g. the Mysore state and other capitals of former rulers reduced to ceremonial function, this period saw a major revival of classical music and performing arts. However, Swathi Thirunal’s reign has received special attention, as a relatively uncomplicated era preceding Travancore’s decline into the 20th- C. rule of the despotic Diwan C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyer against whom the 1940s communist uprising was directed. The big-budget CinemaScope film, by a director noted for his CPI(M) sympathies, appropriates what it presents as a ‘golden age’ in Travancore history. Its resemblance to G.V. Iyer’s Hamsa Geethe (1975) in this regard is further heightened by the presence of leading man Nag, whose naturalist underplaying of the king contrasts with the elaborate period decor. After establishing the king’s credentials as lover and patron of art and music, and as staunch antiimperialist, the film devolves into a love story with the Tanjore dancer Sugandhavalli (Srividya). The escalating political crisis is represented by the arrival of a new general, and ends with the king’s death.

Cast: Anant Nag

Crew: Lenin Rajendran (Director), Madhu Ambat (Director of Photography)

Genres: Drama

Release Dates: 01 Jan 1987 (India)

Malayalam Name: സ്വതി തിരുനാള്‍

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as King Swathi Thirunal
as Narayani Panam Pillai Amma Kochamma
as Subba Row-Dewan / Prime Minister
as Narayani's Thozhi
as Shadkala Govinda Marar
as Iraiyamman Tampi
as Sugandhavalli
as Singer
as Gowri Parvati Bayi

Direction

Director

Production

Production Company

Writers

Screenplay Writer
Story Writer

Camera and Electrical

Director of Photography

Art

Art Director
Film Type:
Feature
Language:
Malayalam
Colour Info:
Color
Frame Rate:
24 fps
Aspect Ratio:
2.35:1
Stereoscopy:
No
03:40

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: Arundhathi B
05:05

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: Arundhathi B
01:15

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: KJ Yesudas, KS Chithra
02:58

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: KJ Yesudas
04:29

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
03:50

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: Neyyattinkara Vasudevan
02:37

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: SP Balasubramaniam
06:01

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: KJ Yesudas
03:04

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: Neyyattinkara Vasudevan
03:19

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: KS Chithra
01:38

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: S Janaki
03:16

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: S Janaki
01:08

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: Arundhathi B
03:16

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: Arundhathi B
01:41

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
00:41

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan
Playback Singer: KJ Yesudas

Music Director: MB Sreenivasan