Award Winning Documentary 'Saga of Benevolence' to Premiere in UAE
Media Release
UAE, Jan 10: The first-ever GCC premiere of an out-of-the-box award winning documentary cinema, ‘The Saga of Benevolence,’ with entrepreneurs Dr B R Shetty and Y Sudhir Shetty in the lead roles, is all set to be screened in the UAE.
The premieres of the docu-cinema in the UAE will be in both Abu Dhabi, on Monday January 14, and Dubai on Tuesday January 15 at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm (two shows on each day) at the National Theatre and Dubai Women’s College Auditorium, Higher College of Technology, Al Qusais respectively.
The documentary offers rare glimpses into the royal dynasty of Travancore, an erstwhile south Indian kingdom, and is a 1 hour 45 minute gripping historical journey through the life and times of the Kings of Travancore. The docu-film was adjudged as the Best Documentary of 2011 at the Kerala State Film Awards.
The highlights of the historical docu-cinema produced and directed by Kerala-based photojournalist B Jayachandran, include cast members from the royal family, who lend a touch of originality to the film in addition to lead roles essayed by UAE-based corporate honchos, Dr B R Shetty, MD and CEO of NMC Group of Companies and Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty, COO, Global Operations, UAE Exchange.
An interesting photo exhibition is planned in relation to the screening, featuring inspiring photos reflecting the glory of Travancore dynasty taken by B Jayachandran. The photo exhibition will be held in Abu Dhabi on Friday January 11 and Saturday January 12, at Mini Hall 1, India Social & Cultural Centre, from 10 am to 10 pm, and in Dubai on Tuesday January 15 and Wednesday January 16, at Lotus Downtown Metro Hotel, Deira, from 3 pmto 10 pm.
Addressing a media gathering, the director of the movie said the docu-cinema was a chronicle based on factual compilations of information on the Travancore dynasty (in the state of Kerala now), till India became independent in 1947.
“The film gives insights into the dramatic lives of the kings of Travancore with candid capturing of history on celluloid for posterity,” Jayachandran said, adding that the conceptualization and production of the film came after arduous research and references so that historical facts remain sacrosanct. The docu-cinema is penned by Kerala-based writer Madambu Kunjukuttan, drawing inspiration from Mathilakam records – reference papers that tell the story of the Travancore royal dynasty.
Interestingly, the film has a cast who in normal circumstances would not be part of a celluloid production. In ‘The Saga of Benevolence,’ Dr B R Shetty enacts Dharmaraja, the king of Travancore from 1758-1790 while Y Sudhir Kumar Shetty portrays Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the King of Travancore from 1729-1758.
The film’s introduction is done by Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma - the current titular Maharaja of Travancore while 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 portrayed roles of their ancestors in the film.
English narration in the movie is done by prominent media personality Sashi Kumar and Malayalam by Prof. Aliyar who heads the Malayalam department of the University of Kerala. The making of the docu-cinema was under the supervision of the renowned film director Shaji N Karun. Popular playback singers of South India K S Chithra and G Venugopal rendered their voice for the composition made by music director Kavalam Sreekumar.