The Kingdom of Vettam, also known as the Kingdom of Tanur was a coastal city-state in south-western India comprising parts of the present dayTirur and Ponnanitehsils in the state of Kerala. One of the numerous similar Hindu principalities along the Malabar Coast at the time, Thanur was ruled by a line of Nair rulers claiming Kshatriya status. The Veṭṭathunāṭu rulers owed their allegiance to the kings of Calicut, a regional power on the Malabar coast. With the emergence of the Portuguese in India, the Veṭṭathunāṭu ruler sided with them against his overlord at Calicut. Believing the propositions put forward by the Portuguese missionaries and officials, the Raja converted to Christianity though only for a few months in 1548. He had earlier assisted the Portuguese in the construction of a fort at Chalium, a river island just south of Calicut. The Veṭṭathunāṭu ruling line became extinct on the death of their last Raja on 24 May 1793. Subsequently, the estate was handed over to the English East India Company. The temple of the ruling family was transferred to the Zamorin of Calicut in 1842. The Veṭṭathunāṭu rulers were noted patrons of arts and learning. A Veṭṭathunāṭu Raja is said to have introduced innovations in the art formKathakali, which has come to be known as the "Veṭṭathu Tradition".
Veṭṭathu Tradition (Kathakali)
The so-called "Veṭṭathu Tradition" or Veṭṭathu Sampradayam of the Kerala dance drama Kathakali is attributed to a Raja of Veṭṭathunāṭu. The Raja introduced several important developments into the presentation of Kathakali;
Introduction of two professional background singers
Introduction of chengilas to beat the tala
Introduction of chenda, a powerful drum played with sticks. Chendas were originally played in the outdoor temple ceremonies to accompany shadow puppets.
Two singers, the Ponnikkaran and the Sinkidikkaran, were introduced to add the Thiranukuu. Thiranukuu is a method of introducing the evil characters of the play to the audience from behind a large satin curtain, held up at the front of the stage.
