For a filmmaker setting out to do a documentary on famous personalities who lived centuries back, information can be the first roadblock. It becomes quite a task, sifting facts from myths, which might have got blended over a period of time. Shiny Jacob Benjamin also had a similar dilemma when she set out to do a documentary on Veluthampi Dalawa.
A few months ago, R.C. Suresh, believed to be a descendant of the Dalawa, approached her with the idea of a film on him. The first thing which came to her mind was the Villadichan Pattu in southern Travancore, which included stories of the Dalawa. These were again myths, so she went looking for historical records.
“Visually too, I had a challenge, as there were only the sword of the Dalawa, now kept in the Napier Museum, and the statue in front of the Secretariat to show,” she says.
The documentary The Sword of Liberty , which was premiered in the city on Monday, shows Devaki, a descendant of the Dalawa and a researcher, going back in time, in search of the Dalawa’s story. The story is told through various art forms – Villadichan Pattu, Tholpavakoothu, and Thullal.
“We approached the Tholpavakoothu artistes with the stories and images of the Dalawa. The performance was specially composed for the film, as they did not have anything based on Dalawa yet,” says Shiny.
A haunting question
The documentary chalks out his early days, the quick rise as a leader and his fight against those who were a negative influence on the ruler, and later against the British. “A question which bothered me was how such a brave man could commit suicide. But then, there are many versions of how his end came about. Whether he committed suicide or whether he was murdered is still not clear,” she says.
The documentary film won the National Award for the Best Historical Film and Best Music in the non-features category this year.
