- Marthandavarma (novel)
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This article is about the historical novel in Malayalam . For other uses, see Marthanda Varma (disambiguation).
Marthandavarma Author(s) C.V. Raman Pillai Original title മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമ്മ Translator B. K. Menon (1936)
R. Leela Devi (1979)Country India Language Malayalam Genre(s) Historical Novel
Historical RomancePublisher Messrs. Addison & Co. (1891)
Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (from 1973)
D. C. Books (from 1992)
Kerala Sahithya Academy(1999)Publication date 1891 Published in
English1936 (Kamalalaya Book Depot)
1979 (Sterling Publishers)
1998 (Sahitya Akademi)Media type Print (Paperback) ISBN ISBN 81-7690-0001
ISBN 81-7130-130-4Followed by Dharmaraja, Ramarajabahadur Marthandavarma ( Malayalam: മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമ്മ, Māṟttāṇḍavaṟmma ? [mɑːṟt̪t̪ɑːɳɖaʋaṟmma] ) is a novel by C.V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It is presented as a historical romance[1][2] recounting the history of Venad (Travancore) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma. The action of story takes place in Kollavarsham 901-906 (Gregorian calendar: 1727-1732). The story revolves around the main protagonists, Ananthapadmanabhan, Subhadra, Mangoikkal Kurrup who are trying to secure the title character from the plans of Padmanabhan Thampi & Ettu Veetil Pillamar to oust him from the throne of Travancore.
This novel initiated the historical romance genre[2] in Malayalam literature by being the first[3][4] historical novel published in Malayalam language. The story of Travancore was continued in Dharmaraja and Ramarajabahadur. These three novels are together known as CV’s Historical Narratives (Malayalam: സിവിയുടെ ചരിത്രാഖ്യായികകൾ).
Marthandavarma is often considered as a classic[5] blend[3] of historical fiction and romance in Malayalam literature.
Contents
Title
The title of the novel is a single word Marthandavarma[6] (മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമ്മ). There is no space between the words Marthanda and Varma unlike the translated name of historical character Marthanda Varma[1][4], the Maharaja of Travancore.
The authorship credit is C. V. Ramanpilla (സി. വി. രാമൻപിള്ള)[6] in Malayalam literals where as its English counterpart is C. V. Raman Pillai.
Characters
- Marthanda Varma
- Ananthapadmanabhan / Brandan Chanan / Shamsudeen
- Subhadra / Chembakam Akka
- Shri Rayi Padmanabhan Thampi / Pappu Thampi
- Parvathi Amma / Parvathi Pilla / Parukutty / Thankam
- Shri Raman Thampi
- Mangoyikkal Kuruppu / Iraviperuman Kandan Kumaran Kuruppu
- Parameswaran Pilla
- Velukuruppu
- Sundrayyan
- Thirumukhathu Pilla
- Chulliyil Chatachi Marthandan Pilla
- Anantham
- Kodanki
- Kaalakutty
- Sivakami
- Abhirama
- Kudaman Pilla
- Ramanam Madathil Pilla
- Kazhakoottathu Pilla
- Chembazhanthi Pilla
- Marthandan Thirumadathil Pilla
- Venganoor Pilla
- Pallichal Pilla
- Thevan Vikraman Pilla
- Shanku Ashan
- Karthiyani Amma / Karthiyani Pilla
- Chembakasserry Mootha Pilla
- Beeram Khan
- Fathima
- Sulaikha
- Nuradeen
- Hakim
- Usman Khan
- Kochu Velu Thampi
- Krishna Kuruppu
- Narayanan
- Komaran
- Kochannan
- Kittan
- Karthika Thirunnal Ramavarma
- Raja Rama Varma
- Arumukham Pilla (Dalawa)
- Ramayyan (Rayasakkaran)
- Shankunni Menon (Diwan)
- Iravikutty Pilla
- Marthandan Pilla (Karyakkar)
- Ramayyan (Dalawa)
- Ayyappan (Dalawa)
- Marthandan Pilla (Dalawa)
- Shankarachar
- Pappu
- Kutti Pilla
- Pappanachar
- Chatayan Pilla
- Ooli Nayar
- Parappan Nayar
- Ozhukkan
- Koppilan
- Podiyan
- Nandan
- Rakithan
- Ponnan
- Poothaththaan
Chapter Summary
Chapter 1 : First chapter opens in Pancahvankadu where a young man (Ananthapadmanabhan) is found to be lying down with wounds and blood all over body. He tries to utter something and falls unconscious. Later two merchants (Beeram Khan and Hakim) with servants came along that way and takes away the young man.
Allusion to real history and geography
Marthanda Varma
Further information: Marthanda VarmaMarthanda Varma was the powerful king belonging to the Travancore Royal family who ruled the southernmost parts of Kerala in the 18th century. The novel is based on the power struggle between King Marthandavarma and Ettuveetil Pillamar the powerful Nair feudal lords who tried to assassinate the would be king at 1725 AD.
The Ettuveetil Pillamar
Further information: Ettuveetil PillamarMarthanda Varma had been adopted from the Kolathiri Kingdom of the North Kerala as an heir to the Travancore throne under the Matriarchal tradition. The Ettuveetil Pillamar (The lords from eight houses) were local feudal chiefs who supported the claims of Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi sons the previous king to a North Indian lady called Abhirami. In the medieval Kerala starting from 14th century Matriarchy was practised. Though Patriarchy was practised by the earlier Tamil Chera kings it was replaced by Matriarchy around 14th century when new Naga dynasties started ruling Kerala. In the Matriarchal system which existed in Kerala in the 18th century the sons of the former king do not become heir to the throne but the nephew (son of eldest sister) of the King is the legal heir. In this situation the Ettveetil Pillamar supported Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi the sons of former king in the power struggle for throne simulating Patrilineal descendency.
Adaptations
Film
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- 1933: Marthanda Varma (film) – a silent black & white film directed by P. V Rao
- 1997: Kulam - a loose adaptation directed by Lenin Rajendran
See also
- C.V. Raman Pillai
- Marthanda Varma
- Venad
- Thampi
- Ettara Yogam
- Kolathunadu
- Marumakkathayam
- Padmanabhapuram
- Ettuveetil Pillamar
- Dalawa
References
- ^ a b Pillai, C.V. Raman; Menon, B.K (1936). MARTHANDA VARMA (First ed.). Trivandrum: Kamalalaya Book Depot. "A Historical Romance"
- ^ a b Nair, E.S.Guptan (1992). "Foreword". C.V.Raman Pillai (First ed.). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 7201-273-X.
- ^ a b "Novel and Short Story to the Present Day". History of Malayalam Literature. http://www.malayalamresourcecentre.org/Mrc/literature/novel.html.
- ^ a b Pillai, C.V. Raman; Devi, R. Leela (1979). MARTHANDA VARMA (1984 ed.). New Delhi: Sterling Paperbacks. "A Historical Novel"
- ^ "Malayalam Literature". Indianetzone.com. 2009.
- ^ a b Pillai, C.V. Raman (1891) (in Malayalam). Marthandavarma (1991 ed.). Kottayam: Sahitya Pravartaka Co-operative Society Ltd. p. 2.
Notes
- Valiathampi Kunjuthampi Kathaippadal
Categories:- Malayalam novels
- Works by C. V. Raman Pillai
- Historical novels
- Indian novels
- 1891 novels
- Kingdom of Travancore
- Indian historical novels
- Novels set in India
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