Vellinezhi is a small but culturally crucial village located in Palakkad district of Kerala in southern India.
[citation needed] The sylvan, rugged land is located on the banks of the Kunti, a slender rivulet that forms tributary to the broad, west-flowing Bharatapuzha that criss-crosses central Kerala in southern India.
It is famous for the huge number of Kathakali and traditional Kerala percussion artistes it has churned out over a period of decades and centuries[1]—in a hoary way in its feudal past, and at a relatively slower place in today's liberal-economy world.
It all started with the publication of a series of articles about Vellinezhi, under the title Kaliyarangite Paitrukam (The Tradition of Kathakali Theatre) in the Malayalam Daily Malayala Manorama during July 9–14, 2012.Malayala Manorama’s regional writers were immensely enriched by the invaluable insights into diverse art forms shared by Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad, a visionary steward of Olappamanna Mana.
Growing up in this renowned center of Kathakali and other art forms, Damodaran possessed an unparalleled ability to articulate their intricacies.
This Seminar kindled interest and awareness in public and many Subsequently, the matter was put up to higher governmental authorities.
Cultural Organisations, Artistes and connoisseurs unanimously supported the project put forward by Malayala Manorama.
Sri P. N. Suresh, honorary vice-chancellor, Kalamandalam The Deemed University of Arts drafted a detailed plan for execution to bring the dream to reality.
Vellinezhi is one of the 14 desams (small duchy-like territories), and is home to Olappamanna Mana, one of the centuries-old feudal Namboothiri (Kerala Brahmin) mansions (Illam).
Once a vibrant hub, Olappamanna Mana now functions as a trust, ensuring its continued vitality through hosting public events, film shoots, and performing arts classes.
Established in 1990 by Sri Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad to preserve the mana's rich cultural heritage, the Deviprasadam Trust oversees its operations.
In the early 20th century, it was in Olappamanna Mana that the legendary Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon redefined the aesthetics of the Kalluvazhi tradition of Kathakali.
[2] By the end of the 15th century CE, Nedunganad came under the leadership of the Zamorin of Calicut, who was also the main ruler of South Malabar region.
[2] Revolving around the cultural patronage of the Olappamanna Mana and the locally famous temples like Sri *Kanthalloor kshethram and Chenginikottu Kavu, Vellinezhi has grown in stature as the homestead of a few classical Kerala art forms.
It is his set of disciples, along with the playback musicians, percussionists, make-up (chutti), costumes (petti) artistes that he groomed who later made Vellinezhi proud.
The village, critically, has a house named Kothavil that has specialised in the craft of designing and making Kathakali costumes.
Kerala-style percussion ensembles like chenda melam, thayambaka and panchavadyam too have enriched from a flurry of artistes that Vellinezhi has produced over the years.
In fact, the house of Kunjukkutan, the protagonist in the movie (played by Mohanlal), had been the residence of the late Kathakali guru Padma Shri Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair.
Yet, even among the growing culture of planting rubber estates, it manages to produce young artistes belonging to a traditional, ethnic art—largely Kathakali and Kerala's percussion concerts like chenda melam and panchavadyam.