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Chandu Chekavar

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Chandu Chekavar (Chathiyan Chanthu, also known as Chandu Panicker[1]), was a sixteenth-century chekavar of the Chekavar family from Kerala folklore,[2] mentioned in the folk songs of Northern Kerala called Vadakkan Pattukal.

Biography

Chandu grew up alongside his cousins Unniyarcha and Aromal Chevakar in the Puthooram family's house in northern Kerala. While there he learnt Kalaripayattu under the tutelage of many experts, most notably his uncle, Kannappa Chekavar. Chandu, Aromal and Unniyarcha slowly became the greatest Kalaripayattu practitioners of their time.[3] In his youth, Chandu acted as a fake bridegroom to Unniyarcha in a mock marriage ceremony, called a Kettu Kalyanam. Chandu mistook the ceremony for a wedding and believed that he and Unniyarcha would be wed.[3] This however did not come to pass, as Aromal and Unniyarcha both opposed the coupling. Instead, Unniyarcha was married to a Puthussery Kalaripayttu practitioner, Kunjiraman. From then on, Chandu resented Aromal for opposing his marriage to Unniyarcha.[3]

Chandu was offered the chance to enact his revenge when he was commanded by the Puthooram family to support Aromal in an upcoming duel against a Kalaripayattu fighter named Aringotar. Chandu was responsible for providing Aromal with the weapons he would use during the duel. He conspired with Aringotar to create a faulty sword for Aromal to use during the duel, which they presumed would allow for Aringotar to win.[4] Despite having a faulty sword, Aromal was able to slay Aringotar but sustained minor wounds. Not aware of Chandu's resentment, he began resting on Chandu's lap to recover from his wounds. Seizing the opportunity to enact revenge, Chandu then stabbed into Aromal's wounds with a vilakku.[5]

Aromal on his deathbed revealed Chandu's betrayal to the Puthooram family and then died from the wounds inflicted on him by Chandu. Henceforth Chandu was referred to as Chathiyan Chanthu, in English "Chandu the disloyal". Chandu later married the daughter of Aringotar and inherited Aringotar's estate.[3]

Many years later Unniyarcha's son Aromalunni Chekavar, beheaded Chandu in an ankam to avenge his uncle, Aromal's murder.[3]

See also

References

  1. P. Balakrishnan, C.V Govindan Nair Gurukkal (1995). Kalarippayatt an ancient martial arts in Kerala. C.V Govindan Nair Gurukkal. p. 29.
  2. Nisha, P. R. (12 June 2020). Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-099207-1. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. Menon, A. Sreedhara (4 March 2011). Kerala History and its Makers. D C Books. ISBN 978-81-264-3782-5.
  4. Kurup, Pushpa (13 September 2021). Power Women: A Journey into Hindu Mythology, Folklore and History. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-93-5435-076-4.
  5. Nārāyaṇappaṇikkar, Kāvālaṃ (1991). Folklore of Kerala. National Book Trust, India. ISBN 978-81-237-2593-2.
  6. "Suresh Gopi shares a rare throwback picture from 'Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. Nagarajan, Saraswathy (16 August 2021). "50 years of Mammootty: Why the superstar shows no signs of slowing down". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  8. "Is it really Kunal Kapoor in Veeram still? This pic will leave you awestruck". The Indian Express. 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  9. "Watch: Kunal Kapoor's Veeram song 'We Will Rise' will give you chills". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.