| You are here now »» Kerala
Tourism home »» Kerala
Music »»VADAKKANPATTU
(NORTHERN BALLADS)
VADAKKANPATTU (NORTHERN BALLADS)
VADAKKANPATTU
(NORTHERN BALLADS)
Vadakkanpattu or Northern Ballads of kerala
tell the tales of valiant heroes of North Kerala of a bygone era,
composed in verse in a pure rustic style. They extol the chivalry
and valour of the Ankachekavars or warriors
who waged many a famous duel. Some of these ballads have survived
the passage of time in the form of work songs.
Though of not much literary merit, these ballads
are significant due to their historical relevance. The socio-political
situations of North Malabar during the 16th and 17th centuries were
clearly depicted in these songs.
The Samurai like heroes portrayed in these ballads
were masters of the martial arts of Kerala and their tales inspired
later generations to master the ingenuous art of `Kalarippayattu'.
Most of these ballads were based on the two ancestral
houses of Puthooram and Thacholi and the oft depicted
characters were 'Aromal Chekavar', 'Thacholi Othenan' and 'Unniyarcha'.
|