Abu Dhabi: Dr. B.R. Shetty & Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty shine at Saga of Benevolence documentary show

By Alphonse Mendonca
Bellevision Media Network

Abu Dhabi, 16 January 2013:  National Theatre Abu Dhabi was brimming with joy and happiness to witness the great leaders of Indian Community over here featuring in a best awarded documentary “ A Saga of Benevolence “.  A large audience along with the distinguished guests mainly HE Mr. M.K. Lokesh, Ambassador of India to U.A.E was present at the premier of the documentary.  The first show was screened at 7:30pm and the second show was held at 9:30pm.

 

Prior to the screening of first show a brief intro on documentary was given by the MC of the day and the inauguration was held with lighting of traditional lamp led by H E M K Lokesh, Ambassador, Embassy of India (Chief Guest) followed by distinguished guests namely; HH Marthanda Varma, Guest of Honour, the representative of the Royal Family of Travancore, Mr. Jayachandran, the leading photojournalist and Director of the Docu-Film,  Padmashree Dr. B. R. Shetty, Managing Director and CEO, NMC, Mr. Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty- COO- Global Operations of UAE Exchange, Mr. G. Rajmohan- former Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Latex, and former Chairman of Kerala State Pollution Control Board and a prominent member of Shri. Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma Foundation and Mr. Rajesh Kumar – Office bearer of Shri.Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma Foundation.  All the distinguished guests were honoured with floral bouquets and shawls by Dr. B.R. Shetty.  On behalf of Travancore Royal family HH Marthanda Varma honoured the director of docu-film Mr. B. Jayachandran and other team of the documentary.

 

HE M.K. Lokesh spoke on the occasion and said that he recently visited Kerala and marveled at the beauty of the Kerala and he believed it is truly a God’s own stage.  He also had the opportunity to meet the Royal family of Travancore and was briefed on their dynasty and wished some one will take a project to film on Mysore Royal family and feature Dr. B.R. Shetty and Sudhir Kumar Shetty as he is from Mysore state which is now Karnataka.  HH Marthanda Varma also addressed the audience and thanked Dr. B.R. Shetty and Sudhir Kumar Shetty for their willingness to act and role in the documentary and also was grateful to Mr. B. Jayachandran the leading Photo-journalist of Malayalam Manorama for taking up this project and worked tirelessly to complete it and most importantly was recognized by Kerala Government as the Best Documentary Film of the year 2012. 

 

Mr. G. Rajmohan, read out the message of thanking and in gratitude to Dr. B.R. Shetty and Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty for their role in the documentary and most importantly for organizing shows in U.A.E. from Shri Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the current titular Maharaja of Travancore as he could not attend due to his illness.

 

The leading Director Mr. B. Jayachandran also spoke and thanked the current Royal family for their support to work on this documentary and Dr. B.R. Shetty and Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty for their willingness to act on this film without hesitation and more over for organizing the show here in U.A.E and the great hospitality given to him over here in U.A.E.

 

 

On conclusion of the stage program a one and half hour documentary was shown to the large audience wherein complete history from the 17th Century to the current day was beautifully presented.  The main roles in this historical docu-cinema,  were played by Dr. B. R. Shetty enacts Dharmaraja – the King of Travancore from 1758- 1790, and Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty figures as Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the King of Travancore from 1729-1758.  It was indeed a fitting role played by these two great stalwarts of Indian community of U.A.E. and received a huge round of applause at the end of the documentary for their perfect acting as the great Travancore kings of 18th century.  The documentary also narrates the all out development of art, culture, education, judiciary by all the Royal families from the beginning.  It tells of the immense contribution done by these great kings to Kerala in various cultural, traditional, poetry, painting, scientific grown, military system, and irrigation.  It also highlights a few wars taken during their period and how these royal kings and their military fought bravely and won the battles esp. against Dutch and Tippu Sultan who wanted to conquer their lands.  Over all it is a most knowledge filled documentary wherein painstaking efforts are made by Director Mr. B. Jayachandran and team to project the achievements Travancore Royal families as close as possible and as detailed as possible going the complete history of the Travancore Royal Dynasty.  It is indeed a Saga of Benevolence… a must see for all people of India.

 

The show was concluded at about 9:30pm.  Many distinguished guests, community leaders, ambassadors of U.A.E, representatives of U.A.E government, business men enjoyed the most wonderful documentary and praised the efforts of Dr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty especially for organizing this show and praised heap of appreciation on both leaders and the team worked behind this project.

 

A brief on documentary/ a few press releases upon getting the Best Docu-film award in 2012 by Kerala Government.

 

Travancore a Saga of Benevolence was chosen as the best documentary cinema of 2011. The venture directed and produced by the famous Photojournalist Mr. B. Jayachandran, features Dr. B. R. Shetty and Mr. Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty in the lead roles, along with the ancestors of the Royal House of Travancore. The docu-cinema was penned by Mr. Madambu Kunjukuttan, based on the famous Mathilakam records, which tells the story of the entire Royal House of Travancore. Shri. Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma - the current titular Maharaja of Travancore gives the film an appropriate introduction.  Other members of the royal family including Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathy Bhai, Ashwathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bhai, Ashwathy Thirunal Rama Varma and Avittom Thirunal Aadithya Varma have also portrayed roles of their ancestors in the film.  Mrs. K. S. Chithra and Mr. G. Venugopal, the popular playback singers of South India, sang for the composition made by the music director, Mr. Kavalam Sreekumar. The docu-cinema was made under the supervision of the renowned film maker Shaji N Karun.

 

In this historical docu-cinema, Dr. B. R. Shetty enacts Dharmaraja – the King of Travancore from 1758- 1790, and Mr. Sudhir Kumar Shetty figures as Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the King of Travancore from 1729-1758. “It was a mere coincidence that I became a part of the venture and I am very happy to learn that it was selected as the best docu-cinema of the year. It was quite a deserving one for Mr. Jayachandran and his team, in terms of the research and efforts they had put in.”, said Dr. B. R. Shetty.

 

 

Mr. Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty said “Mr. Jayachandran and his crew surely deserved this round of applause not only for their dedication, but also for the courage to take up such a subject with high historical value. It’s the first time that Dr. Shetty and I, becoming a part of such an initiative and we are extremely happy that it came out to be the best docu-cinema of 2011 in Kerala. We will ensure that the docu-cinema will be screened to the audience of Middle East, very soon”

 

The narration is voiced by Mr. Sashi Kumar – prominent media person and Chairman of the Asian College of Journalism, in English and Prof. Aliyar, HOD of Malayalam Department in University College, Kerala, in Malayalam. The 98 minute long docu-cinema was made under the supervision of the renowned film maker Shaji N Karun.

 

The Travancore Royal Family is a Hindu dynasty that ruled over the Indian princely state of Travancore until 1947.The family descended from the Venad line of the Chera kings and holds the dignity of being Samantha Kshatriya. The Royal family is alternatively known as the Kupaka Swapooram, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc.It has its seat today at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. The last ruling Maharaja was Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was the last Queen Regent of Travancore. The present head of the family is Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma.

 

Umayamma Rani who reigned towards the end of the 17th century was a prominent ruler. Marthanda Varma, the "maker of modern Travancore" and Dharma Raja were powerful rulers who reestablished the power of monarchy in the state and destroyed that of the nobles. By the early 19th century the kingdom became a princely state under the British. Swathi Thirunal was one of the most popular rulers of the 19th century. The regency of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was a time which heralded many new reforms which were continued by Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.

 

Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma 1729–1758
Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja) 1758–1798