[1] They formed the landowning nobility as well as the landed gentry of the region in colonial times,[2] and the majority of the estates and feudal properties were owned by this community.
The Koothali Moopil Nair family held at least 47,000 acres, likely more, as they had transferred significant land, including the Changaroth estate, to their Vengayil daughter as a wedding gift.
The exact acreage controlled by the Paliam swaroopam is unknown, but a 1956 partition suit allocated over 100,000 rupees to 213 family members, with additional funds reserved for administration and temple maintenance.
Hindu-Muslim clashes occurred in 1766 and 1789, during which many Hindus, especially Nairs, were captured or killed by the forces of Tipu Sultan.
In 1940, peasants there under the leadership of communists rose against the two local Jenmis, Nambiar of Kalliat and the Nayanar of Karakkatt Edam.
[14] Mattannur Incident: Mattanur witnessed large scale communal riots between the Moplah tenants and their Nair landlords during 1852.
The riots started when an armed band of 200 Moplahs entered the house of the local landlord, Kalathil Kesavan Thangal, and massacred his entire family of 18 members.
However, their plans were somehow leaked and the landlord fled with his family, leaving his nephew Kalliat Kammaran Nambiar to defend the land.
The Malabar Special Police force arrested the volunteers, including K P Kunhikkannan, the leader of the "Karshaka Sangham", upon the request of the landlord.
The police started firing on the procession, and this resulted in the death of a harijan youth named Pokkan, who became the first martyr in Payyanur Farka during the 1948 movement.