TALES FROM THE CAPITAL CITY – 159

 The Travancore Photograph That Wasn’t the First

Travancore history enthusiasts and scholars of the history of photography would be familiar with this image of Maharajah Ayilyam Tirunal Rama Varma (r.1860-1880) of Travancore with his consort, Panapillai Kalyanikutty Ammachi of Nagercoil Ammaveedu (d.1909), a poet and renowned beauty of her time. The photograph is frequently circulated on social media with an absurd caption that typically reads along the following lines: “The first photo captured in Kerala in 1865 features Maharaja Ayilyam Tirunal of Travancore and his wife, Kalyanikutty Ammachi. In exchange for this historic picture, he rewarded the photographer with 2,001 gold coins, 500 quintals of black pepper, 100 quintals of cardamom, and 100 quintals of dried ginger!”

The comments section is often flooded not only with unkind remarks focusing on the erstwhile ruler’s physique and his supposedly ‘common man’ appearance, but also with responses from individuals who, unfortunately, accept without fact-checking the claim that such an extravagant payment was made to the photographer in cash and in kind.

As someone who has researched the history of photography in the Travancore court, I can state with confidence that this is certainly not the first photograph from Kerala. Nor does it stand any chance of being the first photograph taken of a member of the Travancore royal family. The distinction of being the first Travancore ruler to be photographed belongs to Ayilyam Tirunal’s uncle, Rajah Uthram Tirunal Martanda Varma (r.1847-1860), the younger brother of Rajah Swathi Tirunal Rama Varma.

Although it is not known with certainty who photographed the king, a record dated 1037 M.E. (1862) notes the sum of Rs. 440 issued by Maharajah Ayilyam Tirunal for the purchase of twelve photographs, among which was included a photograph of his late uncle, Uthram Tirunal. On another occasion in the same year (1037 M.E.), the Maharajah paid Rs. 310 to Arbuthnot & Co. for a photograph taken of him during a visit to ‘Chennapattanam’. Therefore, before accepting the misinformation circulating on social media, I hope readers will take note of these documented facts.

For further insights into the early history of photography at the Travancore court, including rare photographs of Rajah Uthram Tirunal Marthanda Varma and early Government Photographers such as Zacharias D’Cruz and J. B. D’Cruz, look out for my forthcoming book, The Forgotten Atelier.

25.02.2026