Pazhassi Raja
Pazhassi Raja is a movie about an epic battle between the protagonist Pazhassi raja and the British armed forces. Even before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 was organized, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam family was irked by the unpopular revenue policy used by English East India Company in Malabar. They threatened to cut down all the pepper wines if the company stuck to collecting revenue. A determined attempt but in vain, was made by the British to capture the Pazhassi Raja in April 1976. Subsequently a proclaimation was forwarded for banning people from extending their cooperation to Raja by snatching away their properties if they went against their orders. In January 1797 the Rajas men launched an attack on the security personnel posted at Pazhassi. In an intense battle fought over duration of over three days, Rajas men used swords, spears, bows and arrows, as their means of resorting to violent means in an attempt to overpower British forces. For time being Britishers had to call for temporary halt. But when occupying forces broke the terms of the truce, Raja revolted again but this time Britishers gained control over almost entire south. The Raja then fled with his wife in jungles. In 1804 the Rajas properties were seized and a reward was declared on his head. Towards the end of 1805, Raja was surrounded and shot dead by the side of a stream.
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