Unniyarcha
Encyclopedia
Unniyarcha is a popular legendary woman warrior mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal, the old ballads of North Malabar
. She is a popular character in Kerala
n folklore
. She is believed to have lived in northern part of Kerala
, India
during 16th century.
(Thiyya) family of Malabar. She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar
and Unnikannan (another legendary warrior). She was trained in the arts of the kalari
, and an expert at wielding the urumi
, a flexible sword used in kalaripayat. She saved the women of her village from being forcibly kidnapped by a rival community. Unniyarcha spurned Chandu (or Chanthu) Chekavar's love for her, which led to the murder of her brother Aromal by Chanthu. Later, Aromalunni, the son of Unniyarcha, took revenge against Chanthu. Unniyarcha is praised for her bravery and beauty in Vadakkan Pattukal. She is considered as a heroine and symbol of female ability in Malayalee woman. Songs and chronicles have to this day kept the legend alive. The legend of Unniyarcha has been made into films such as Unniyarcha
(1961), starring Prem Nazir
and Ragini
, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
(1989), and Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha
(2002).
North Malabar
North Malabar , is a historic as well as geographic distinction in India used to refer the area covering; present Kasaragod and Kannur Districts, Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad District and Koyilandy & Vatakara taluks of Kozhikode District in modern Kerala and the entire Mahé sub-Division of...
. She is a popular character 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....
n folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
. She is believed to have lived in northern part of 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....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during 16th century.
History
According to folklore, Attummanammel Unniyarcha was from the famous Puthooram Veedu a ChekavarChekavar
The Chekavar are a caste with origins in southern India, including Sri Lanka, Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu...
(Thiyya) family of Malabar. She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar
Aromal Chekavar
Aromal Chekavar was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in northern Kerala, India. He was a warrior figure of Vadakkan Pattukal . He is the brother of Unniarcha, another legendary warrior figure of the same ballads. The songs and chronicles have to this day kept the...
and Unnikannan (another legendary warrior). She was trained in the arts of the kalari
Kalari
The word Kalari means battle ground in Tamil and translates as "threshing floor" or "battlefield" in Malayalam. Training for Kalarippayattu, a martial art of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is traditionally done inside the Kalari....
, and an expert at wielding the urumi
Urumi
The urumi is a long sword made of flexible steel, sharp enough to cut into flesh, but flexible enough to be rolled into a tight coil. Originating in South India, it was most popular in the North Malabar Coast of Kerala and is often mentioned in the ballads of the region.In kalaripayat, the urumi...
, a flexible sword used in kalaripayat. She saved the women of her village from being forcibly kidnapped by a rival community. Unniyarcha spurned Chandu (or Chanthu) Chekavar's love for her, which led to the murder of her brother Aromal by Chanthu. Later, Aromalunni, the son of Unniyarcha, took revenge against Chanthu. Unniyarcha is praised for her bravery and beauty in Vadakkan Pattukal. She is considered as a heroine and symbol of female ability in Malayalee woman. Songs and chronicles have to this day kept the legend alive. The legend of Unniyarcha has been made into films such as Unniyarcha
Unniyarcha (1961 film)
Unniyarcha is a 1961 Malayalam language martial arts film directed by Kunchacko. It stars Prem Nazeer and Ragini in the lead roles. Unniyarcha was the first Vadakkan Pattu film in Malayalam. Inspired by its success, a series of similar productions came out in the following decades....
(1961), starring Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...
and Ragini
Ragini (actress)
Ragini was a South Indian danseuse and actress. She was the youngest of the famed Travancore Sisters: Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini. With sister Padmini, she started her acting career in the mid 1950s and has acted in movies of different Indian languages including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu...
, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha, and Captain Raju.The film is based on a legend about the famous Chekavar warriors of present day northern Kerala...
(1989), and Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha
Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha
Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha is a 2002 Malayalam film directed by P. G. Viswambharan. Based on the Vadakkanpattu, the folklore of North Malabar, which are ballads extolling the brave and valiant chekavars, it stars Vani Viswanath, Devan, Siddique, Captain Raju and Kunchacko Boban in major roles...
(2002).