Vellinezhi
title: "Vellinezhi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["kathakali", "villages-in-palakkad-district"] topic_path: "general/kathakali" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vellinezhi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Vellinezhi |
| settlement_type | village |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Kerala, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | State |
| subdivision_name1 | Kerala |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Palakkad |
| established_title | |
| leader_title | Chairman |
| leader_name | Position Empty |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Languages |
| demographics1_title1 | Official |
| demographics1_info1 | Malayalam, English |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | |
| postal_code | 679504 |
| :: |
| name = Vellinezhi | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = village | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Kerala | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Palakkad | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = | leader_title = Chairman | leader_name = Position Empty | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Malayalam, English | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = | postal_code =679504 | registration_plate = | website = | footnotes =
Vellinezhi is a village located in the Palakkad district of Kerala in southern India.
Geography
The land is located on the banks of the Kunti, a tributary to Bharatapuzha. Vellinezhi is located about 25 km north of Ottapalam in Palakkad district. The nearest small town is Cherpulassery, seven kilometres away.
Art and culture
It is famous for many Kathakali and traditional Kerala percussion artistes.
History
Vellinezhi is one of the fourteen desams (small duchy-like territories) and is home to Olappamanna Mana, a centuries-old feudal Namboothiri (Kerala Brahmin) mansion (Illam). Olappamanna Mana currently operates as a trust that facilitates public events, film productions, and performing arts classes. The trust, known as the Deviprasadam Trust, was established in 1990 by Sri Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad to preserve the cultural heritage of the mana.
The mana was historically associated with Kunjunni Nambudiripad, who received the title of Rao Bahadur from the British authorities. It was also the ancestral home of several notable scholars and literary figures, including the late O. M. C. Narayanan Nambudiripad (known for his Malayalam interpretation of the Rigveda), the poet Mahakavi Subrahmanian Nambudiripad (widely known by his pen name, Olappamanna), and author-scholar Dr. O. M. Anujan.
In the early twentieth century, Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon contributed to redefining the aesthetics of the Kalluvazhi tradition of Kathakali at Olappamanna Mana. Following the death of Sri O. M. C. Narayanan Nambudiripad, his son Sri Olappamanna Damodaran Nambudiripad undertook efforts to preserve the heritage of the mana and promote its cultural significance internationally until his death.
Political history
Vellinezhi was originally part of the Nedunganad Swaroopam dynasty, which ruled over large parts of present-day Pattambi and Ottapalam taluks. By the late fifteenth century CE, Nedunganad came under the control of the Zamorin of Calicut, the principal ruler of the South Malabar region. The Zamorin appointed a local chieftain based at Kavalappara Kovilakam to administer the area. During the British Raj, the region formed part of Walluvanad Taluk in the Malappuram Revenue Division of the Malabar District, with its administrative headquarters at Perinthalmanna.
Temples
Centred around the cultural patronage of the Olappamanna Mana and the locally known temples such as Kanthalloor Kshethram and Chenginikottu Kavu, Vellinezhi has developed a reputation as a hub for several classical Kerala art forms. Among these, the most prominent is the dance-drama Kathakali, whose technical precision and aesthetic refinement reached significant levels during the period of Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, who enhanced and systematised the Kalluvazhi style.
His disciples, along with playback musicians, percussionists, make-up (chutti) artists, and costume (petti) designers trained under him, contributed to establishing Vellinezhi’s artistic identity. The village also includes a residence named Kothavil, known for its expertise in designing and producing Kathakali costumes.
Notable people
- Vishnu Achutha Menon, Filmmaker, Author and Researcher
References
-
Vishnu Achutha Menon & Krishnanunni R (2019) The Voyage of vellinezhi by Economic and Political Weekly
-
S Rajendu (2012). Nedumangad Charithram, Kerala..
-
Vellinezhi Achuthankutty (2018). Valluvanadan kalakalum vellinezhi kalagramavum by Natakkam publishers. Kerala.
-
Logan (1887). Malabar (2 vols). Madras.
References
- (2020-12-24). "Vellinezhi and Olappamanna Mana {{!}} Heritage & Cultural Zone {{!}} Palakkad District {{!}} Malabar Districts in Kerala".
- Logan, William. (2010). "Malabar Manual (Volume-I)". Asian Educational Services.
- Webarchive. link. (17 December 2014)
- (18 January 2018). "Mohanlal's Vanaprastham's location Vellinezhi village makes a documentary debut - Times of India". The Times of India.
- (5 June 2015). "The Voyage of Vellinezhi". Economic and Political Weekly.
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