THGPPL Chairperson Nirmala Lakshman and THGPPL Director N. Ram launching S. Krishnaswamy’s book ‘Voyages Retraced: India’s Influence in East Asia’ in Chennai on February 7, 2025. With them are Mr. Krishnaswamy, research collaborator Mohana Krishnaswamy, and daughter Latha Krishna.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU
Acclaimed documentary and television filmmaker S. Krishnaswamy’s book Voyages Retraced: India’s Influence in East Asia, brought out by The Hindu Group of Publications, was launched in Chennai on Friday (February 7, 2025).
The book gives an insight into ancient India’s impact on southeast Asian countries, and a phase in history when Indian sailors travelled to countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, and became conduits for spreading Indian culture, architecture and fine arts to these countries over centuries. It is a narrative of the author’s travels between 2005 and 2010.
Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited (THGPPL), and N. Ram, Director THGPPL, launched the book. Author and chairman of Krishnaswamy Associates, Krishnaswamy, and research collaborator Mohana Krishnaswamy received a copy of the book.
Tracing Mr. Krishnaswamy’s journey as a documentary filmmaker, Mr. Ram said he co-authored the book Indian film with his professor at Columbia University, Erik Barnouw. While his father and director K. Subrahmanyam was a iconic figure in Tamil cinema, he embarked on a path with purposeful message, and founded Krishnaswamy Associates to make non-fiction films.
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Besides his “powerful film” Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi, he produced films on a variety of themes, including on complex problems of Sri Lanka and Punjab, and forgotten freedom fighters, Mr. Ram said. “The book reflects the author and filmmaker’s writerly skills, and the event is a celebration of his body of works, he said.
Earlier, Suresh Nambath, Editor, The Hindu, said it was a compelling compilation on southeast Asian countries with photographs by cinematographer Madhu Ambat.
Mr. Krishnaswamy recalled his initial days when journalistically independent, non-fiction films did not enjoy much market. Recounting the challenges in depicting the “real history” of India, he spoke about his four-hour film on Indian history – ‘Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi’ – that ran into controversy, and other films such as biographies on Rajaji and Kamaraj, and on the role of Tamils in freedom struggle.
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On his book, Mr. Krishnaswamy said he learnt fascinating facets about ancient India and Southeast Asian countries during his research for a documentary film. “Indian history cannot be isolated, and is intertwined with the history of Asia,” he said.
Latha Krishna, his daughter and filmmaker, was present. The book is priced at ₹499 as a special launch offer till February 14, and is available at https://publications.thehindugroup.com/bookstore.
QR code to purchase ‘Voyages Retraced: India’s Influence in East Asia’ book online.
Published – February 07, 2025 09:19 pm IST