Mohanlal dedicates Marakkar’s National award to the Indian Navy

The National film award for 2019 got announced last day and the Malayalam film, ‘Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham’ bagged the award for Best Feature Film. It is only the 12th time that a Malayalam film has won this prestigious award. Directed by Priyadarshan, ‘Marakkar’ is an action-epic made on a massive scale. As per the makers, ‘Marakkar’ is basically a patriotic film about how Kunjali Marakkar IV fought against the Portuguese army. Superstar Mohanlal plays the titular role and the cast also includes several well-known actors from various languages. The makers have dedicated the film’s National award win to the Indian Navy.

Mohanlal’s Facebook post reads,

Hearty congratulations to all the National Award winners.

Happy and elated to hear the fantastic news…. ” Marakkar – Arabikadalinte Simham” (Marakkar – Lion of the Arabian Sea) has bagged the National Award for best feature film. My Congratulations to “Team Marakkar” and the Captain of the ship Priyadarshan for this honour. My sincere thanks also to all who supported us on this labour of love. I join Aashirvad Cinemas in celebrating this award and dedicate it to the glory of the Indian Navy.

Kunjali Marakkars are the hereditary chiefs of the Navy of the Zamorin of Kozhikode in the 16th century. The Marakkars organised the Malabar seamen to fight the Portuguese in several battles between 1500 and 1600. The honorific title of Kunjali was bestowed by the Zamorin on the Commandants of his Naval force in recognition of their prowess in maritime warfare. There were four successive Kunjali Marakkars between the period 1500 and 1600 AD.

In the film, Mohanlal will be seen playing the lead role of Kunjali Marakkar IV. He is regarded as India’s first naval chieftain. There is a separate chapter about Kunjali Marakkars in the Navy and the film has been made as a tribute to them.