B R Shetty, Sudhir Shetty Feature in Award Winning Documentary Cinema

Media Release

Dubai, Jul 21: The glory of the Kerala State Film Awards, announced on Thursday, spreads to the people in the Middle East too, as Travancore: a Saga of Benevolence was chosen as the best documentary cinema of 2011. The venture directed and produced by the famous Photojournalist B. Jayachandran, features Dr. B. R. Shetty – MD & CEO, NMC Group of Companies and Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, COO – Global Operations,
UAE Exchange in the lead roles, along with the ancestors of the Royal House of Travancore.

In this historical docu-cinema, Dr. B. R. Shetty enacts Dharmaraja – the King of Travancore from 1758-98, and Sudhir Kumar Shetty figures as Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the King of Travancore from 1929-1958. “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 Jayachandran and his team, in terms of the research and efforts they had put in.”, said Dr. B. R. Shetty.

Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty said “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. We will ensure that the docu-cinema will be screened to the audience of Middle East, very soon”

The docu-cinema was penned by 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.

K. S. Chithra and Mr. G. Venugopal, the popular playback singers of South India, sang for the composition made by the music director, Kavalam Sreekumar.

The narration is voiced by 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, and was first screened in Thiruvananthapuram, three weeks ago.