Chanthu Chekavar

Chanthu Chekavar, also known as Chadhiyan Chanthu, is a character in Kerala folklore. He is an ignoble warrior figure of the Vadakkan Pattukal (Northern Ballads) who supposedly lived in the 16th century in North Kerala, in South India.

According to the ballads, Chanthu was a Chekavan (warrior), like his cousin Aromal Chekavar and Aromal's sister Unniyarcha. Chanthu secretly hates Aromal's family because his love for Unniyarcha was spurned. This leads to him taking part as Aromal's helper in a duel ("Ankam") between Aromal and another chekavan. Seeing that Aromal won, Chanthu takes matters into his own hands and unexpectedly stabs his cousin to death. Henceforth, the word Chadhiyan, meaning "deceiver", is added to his name to indicate his infamy. Aromal's sister Unniyarcha, herself a warrior, vows revenge for her brother's life. Revenge is finally achieved when her son Aromalunni challenges Chanthu to a duel and kills him.^[1]

See also

• Unniyarcha
• Thacholi Othenan
• Chekavar
• Vadakkan Pattukal
• Kalarippayattu
• North Malabar

References

1. ^ History of Malayalam Literature: Folk literature