Mannadiar
Encyclopedia
Mannadiar is one of the subclan of the Nair
community among Keralites. The title "Mannadiar" was awarded by the Maharajah of Cochin to those Nairs who excelled in warrior skills. They are mostly found in the Central Kerala
region. The most famous of the Mannadiars might be Champattil Mannadiar, who gave the plot of land near the banks of the Shokanashini river to Thunjathu Ezhuthachan.
played the lead role as Narasimha Mannadiar. The film Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan, in which Mukesh played the lead role also featured the Mannadiar community. The dialogue by Narasimha Mannadiar in Dhruvam attained cult status in Kerala
:
has classified Mannadiar as a full fledged sub caste of Nair
, most of the Indian authors list Mannadiar merely as a subdivision within the Kiryathil Nair
subcaste.
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
community among Keralites. The title "Mannadiar" was awarded by the Maharajah of Cochin to those Nairs who excelled in warrior skills. They are mostly found in the Central Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
region. The most famous of the Mannadiars might be Champattil Mannadiar, who gave the plot of land near the banks of the Shokanashini river to Thunjathu Ezhuthachan.
In popular culture
The Mannadiar caste has been made famous by the Malayalam film Dhruvam, in which MammoottyMammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
played the lead role as Narasimha Mannadiar. The film Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan, in which Mukesh played the lead role also featured the Mannadiar community. The dialogue by Narasimha Mannadiar in Dhruvam attained cult status in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
:
Caste organisation
Although sociologists like LoganWilliam Logan (Malabar Manual)
William Logan was a Scottish officer of the Madras Civil Service under the British Government. Before his appointment as Collector of Malabar, he had served in the area for about twenty years in the capacity of Magistrate and Judge. He was conversant in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu...
has classified Mannadiar as a full fledged sub caste of Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
, most of the Indian authors list Mannadiar merely as a subdivision within the Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair
Kiryathil Nair or Kiriyathil Nair is a subcaste of the Nair community who traditionally lived in the region now known as Kerala, India. The 17th century Keralolpathi states them to be descendants of warrior Nāga tribes who came to Kerala from the north along the western coast...
subcaste.
Notables
- Ambat Sivarama MenonAmbat Sivarama MenonAmbat Sivarama Menon was the second of four children and only son of Ambat Ikkali Amma and Champathil Nanu Mannadiar. He was born in 1878.Graduating from Madras Law College, he practised at the Madras High Court and won acclaim as a brilliant advocate. His forceful arguments, ready replies to...
, the first elected minister of an Indian state - Champattil Mannadiar