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Raghu and Pushpa Palat return with the untold saga of Rama Varma IX, better known as the legendary Shakthan Thampuran. The kingdom of Cochin was at its nadir, teetering on the brink of collapse and annexation, when 18-year-old Kunjipilla was entrusted with its governance. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the fragile state transformed into a rich and prosperous kingdom under Kunjipilla’s able leadership. He entered into alliances, built towns, advanced trade relations and consolidated power, breaking the nexus between priests and the Nair nobility.

Drawing on meticulous archival research and employing gripping narrative flair, the Palats breathe life into a forgotten giant of Indian history. This is more than a novelised biography – it is the resurrection of a reign that shaped the soul of Kerala.

Wajid Ali Shah, the erstwhile ruler of Awadh, is embedded in popular imagination as the ill-fated king who lost his throne to the British and sought solace in music and dance. This obtuse narrative barely scratches the surface of a figure whose extraordinary...

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