Thacholi Othenan

For the Malayalam-language film, see Thacholi Othenan (film).

Thacholi Meppayil Kunjhu Othenan or Mepayil Tacholi Manikoth Kovilakathu Kunji Othena Kurup (Udayana Kurup of Thacholi Manikoth House) or more popularly Thacholi Othenan (Malayalam: തച്ചോളി ഒതേനന്‍) was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in North Malabar region of Kerala, India.^[1] He is praised about in Vadakkanpattu (ballads of North Malabar).

Othenan was born into the Royal Family of Manikoth Kovilakom, a Cheka Kurup (Sub division of Kurup of Nair Caste of Kiriyathil) in Thacholi near Vatakara. The Family is one of the 30 Koottams of Kurumbranad Royal Family called as Kurumbra Swaroopam or Kurumbiathiri. The Capital of the Kingdom was at Vatakara. (His father, Kotakkad Kovilakath Puthuppanathu Mooppil Vazhunnor was a Desavazhi of a small fiefdom) a small town in Kerala.^[2] He practised Kalarippayattu (ancient martial art form of kerala) from a very young age and grew up to be an extraordinarily brave and skilled warrior. Legends portray him as being a merciless opponent to enemies and a friend to the helpless. Even the powerful Zamorin of Calicut respected him. Mathiloor Gurukkal was his trainer, while Kandachery Chappan was his best companion.The legendary Thacholi Chandu was his nephew. A famous temple in Vatakra named Lokanarkavu_Temple is considered to be the family temple of Othenan.

Othenan beheaded Chindan Nambiar, who was regarded at that time as the best warrior in entire North Malabar, with the help of a martial art technique known as Poozhikkadakan learned from his colleague Payyamvelli Chanthu. He also killed a number of other very prominent warriors such as Punnora Kelappan and Puramala Nambi Kurup. He defeated Kadhirur Gurukkal in ankam (duel/war) and killed him. But one of the Gurukkal’s disciples (Parunthunkal Emman Panicker) arranged a Moplah mercenary (Mayin Kutty) who killed Othenan through treachery at the young age of 32. The legend says that Othenan was shot while he was walking home through a rice field.

The Northern Ballads or the Vadakkan Pattukal extol the adventures of brave men and women, set against a feudal and medieval background, the stories celebrate the valour and skills of the renowned characters. The Vadakkan Pattukal reflect the peak of Kerala folk-poetry. These ballads are associated with North Malabar. The movie Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha capitalised on the popularity of these stories.

Thacholi Ambadi, another renowned martial arts expert, is Othenan's son.

See also

• Kalarippayattu
• Nairs
• Kannur
• Vatakara
• Kurup

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=BRX1GN9njyMC&pg=PA497
2. ^ "In the land of Othenan". The Hindu. 11 June 2005. http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/06/11/stories/2005061101700300.htm. Retrieved 25 September 2010. 

This article about a fictional character is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Hindu warriors Malayalam literature People from Kerala Malayali people People from Kozhikode Fictional character stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Ohio Statehouse Chapel Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador Look at other dictionaries: Vatakara — Infobox Indian Jurisdiction native name = Vadakara | type = city | latd = | longd = state name = Kerala district = Kozhikode leader title = leader name = altitude = population as of = 2001 population total = 75,740| population density = area… …   Wikipedia Kurumbranad — (Kurumbuzhai Nadu or Kurumbiathiri Swaroopam) was a former Nair Hindu feudal kingdom in present day Kerala state, South India, on the Malabar Coast. Once a powerful kingdom capitalized at Mapayil, Puthuppanam, Vadakara. The area borded from sea… …   Wikipedia Lokanarkavu Temple — [ [http://lokanarkavu.blogetery.com lokanarkavu ] ] Lokanarkavu Temple is situated 5 km from Vatakara, a small town in Kerala state of south India. Lokanarkavu is a short form of Lokamalayarkavu which means lokam (world) made of mala (mountain),… …   Wikipedia Kozhikode — Infobox Indian Jurisdiction native name = Kozhikode | type = city | latd = 11.25 | longd = 75.77 locator position = right | state name = Kerala district = Kozhikode leader title = Mayor leader name = M. Bhaskaran altitude = 1 population as of =… …   Wikipedia Vadakkan Pattukal — is a collection of Malayalam Ballads of medieval origin. These present saga of heroes like Aromal Chekavar, Thacholi Othenan, Kannappa Chekavar, Aromalunni and heroines like Unniarcha. The oldest compositions do not date earlier than 16nth… …   Wikipedia Memunda — Memunda,മേമുണ്ട website   village   …   Wikipedia Mohanlal filmography — Mohanlal Born Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair May 21, 1960 (1960 05 21) (age 51) Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India …   Wikipedia List of Nairs — This list of Nairs contains prominent members of the ancient Nair community of southern India. Some of them also have the name Nair . Contents 1 Spiritual leaders 2 Freedom fighters 3 Senior political leaders – post independence …   Wikipedia Kalari — is the Malayalam word for the kind of gymnasium where Kalarippayattu, a martial art from Kerala, is practiced. Kalari translates as threshing floor or battlefield . [http://www.anandfoundation.com/kalari.asp] Every Kalari has a Poothara… …   Wikipedia P. Bhaskaran — Born 21 April 1924(1924 04 21) Kodungallur, Thrissur, Kerala, India Died 25 February 2007(2007 02 25) (aged 82) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India Occupation poet, lyricist, film director, actor, Jo …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”