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Unniyarcha
| Puthooram Veetil Unniyarcha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unniyarcha 16th century Kadathanad |
| Other names | Puthooram Putri |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Style | Kalaripayattu |
| Children | Aromalunni |
| Notable relatives | Aromal Chekavar, Chekavar of Ambadi Koloth, Chandu Chekavar |
Unniyarcha (sometimes spelled Unniarcha) is a legendary warrior and heroine mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal, a set of ballads from Kerala, a state in southwestern India. She was a member of a Thiyyar family of Puthooram Veed in Kadathanad.[1]Her father's name was Kannappa Chekavar.[2][3] She is believed to have lived in the northern part of Kerala during the 16th century.[4][5] She is a popular character in Kerala's folklore, and is remembered for her valour and skills in Kerala's native martial art, Kalaripayattu. According to legend, Unniyarcha was most known for her deadly skill with the whip-like Urumi, a unique type of sword that is native to Kerala . Like most traditional Kalaripayattu practitioners, she began training at the kalari at the age of seven.[6]
History
Attummanammel Unniyarcha was from the famous Puthooram Veedu of Kadathanad, a region in northern Kerala.[5][4] Unniyarcha was married to Attumanammel Kunjiraman.[7] Many Thiyyar families today trace their roots to this Chekavar lineage, and to mythological fighters such as Unniyarcha and her brother, Aromal Chekavar.[8] Attummanammel Kunjiraman had a kalari known as Puthussery Kalari, which remains in the Kannur district of Kerala to this day. She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar and Unnikannan. Unniyarcha rejected the romantic advances of Chandu Chekavar (also known as Chanthu Chekavar), which led to the murder of her brother Aromal. Aromalunni, the son of Unniyarcha, later took revenge against Chanthu to avenge his uncle.[9] Unniyarcha is revered in Kerala, especially among Kalaripayattu practitioners, for her martial skill, courage and beauty.
Unniyarcha is perhaps the most exceptional of all the 'heroines' of North Malabar. Also known as Archa, she became the icon of the empowered independent women in Kerala. Her name became a symbol of beauty, bravery and fierce independence among Keralite women.
Unniyarcha is believed to have lived in the 16th century, and grew up practising Kalaripayattu with her brothers Aromal and Unnikannan, as well as her cousin Chanthu. When she came of age, Archa married Kalari Asan Kunhiraman.
In popular culture
The legend of Unniyarcha has been made into films such as:
- Unniyarcha (1961)
- Aromalunni (1972)
- Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989)
- Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha (2002).
- A television serial titled Unniyarcha was aired on Asianet (2006).
- Her character was also shown in Veeram (2016)
See also
References
- ↑ North Africa To North Malabar: AN ANCESTRAL JOURNEY - N.C.SHYAMALAN M.D. - Google Books Africa To North Malabar:AN ANCESTRAL JOURNEY-N.C SHYAMALAN M.D-Google Books
- ↑ Kurup, Pushpa (28 November 2017). "What MT did to Unniyarcha". Deccan Chronicle.
- ↑ Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus - Nisha P.R. - Google Books and Jumping Devils
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "History of Malayalam Literature: Folk literature". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Meet Padma Shri Meenakshi Gurukkal, the grand old dame of Kalaripayattu - The 75-year-old Padma winner is perhaps the oldest Kalaripayattu exponent in the country".
- ↑ "What MT did to Unniyarcha - Deccan Chronicle". Dailyhunt. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ↑ Gangadharan, Dr. Thikkurissi (1984). Puthariyankam. DCBooks. p. 148.
- ↑ Ullekh.N.p, Kannur:inside India's Bloodiest Revenge Politics google books. P.201
- ↑ Ayyappapanicker, K. (2000). Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. p. 316. ISBN 81-260-0365-0.