Rajah Rama Varma was a weak ruler during whose reign the Ettuveetil Pillamar, the Ettara Yogam and other nobles had more power than the King himself, as had been the case since the middle of the 17th century.
However, on the advice of Marthanda Varma, the Rajah signed a treaty of subordination with the Madurai Nayak dynasty and secured a Vatuka force in Venad.
The Rajah Rama Varma had married a princess known as Abhirami alias Shrimathi Avirama Kochamma from whom he had issue, two sons, Padmanabhan and Raman Thampi, known as the Kunju Thampimar and a daughter Ummini Thankachi.
On their instigation, the Thampi brothers proceeded to Trichonopoly and succeeded in making the nayak government there believe that Marthanda Varma was a usurper and that they were the rightful heirs to the throne of Venad.
The Madurai nayak Government deputed a Commander known as Azhagappa Mudaliar to install the Kunju Thampimar in Venad and punish Marthanda Varma.