Thacholi Chandu was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in North Malabar

North Malabar

North Malabar , is a historic as well as geographic distinction in India used to refer the area covering; present Kasaragod and Kannur Districts, Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad District and Koyilandy & Vatakara taluks of Kozhikode District in modern Kerala and the entire Mahé sub-Division of...

 region of Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. He is praised about in Vadakkan Pattukal (ballads of North Malabar). He is the nephew of legendary Thacholi Othenan

Thacholi Othenan

Thacholi Meppayil Kunjhu Othenan or Mepayil Tacholi Manikoth Kovilakathu Kunji Othena Kurup or more popularly Thacholi Othenan was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in North Malabar region of Kerala, India...

. Chandu was married to Thayattu Madathu Mattu Kutti.

Story of Thulunadan fort

Kandar Menon was the owner of the Thulunadan fort. Kandar Menon was an expert in martial arts. No one could conquer his fort because he had one lakh soldiers and 17,789 weapons. Even the legendary Thacholi Othenan

Thacholi Othenan

Thacholi Meppayil Kunjhu Othenan or Mepayil Tacholi Manikoth Kovilakathu Kunji Othena Kurup or more popularly Thacholi Othenan was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in North Malabar region of Kerala, India...

 could not conquer the Thulunadan fort. One day Chandu's wife Mattu Kutty was going to Omaloor Kavu temple. Kandar Menon saw her beauty and kidnapped her. Chandu heard this news and disguised as sage and went to the fort. Kandar Menon was kind to sages and let him in. At the night he managed killed all the soldiers. When Kandar Menon got up, he saw blood shed. Chandu came in his original form and set a angam (war) with Kandar Menon. Chandu used ullivettu to kill Kandar Menon.

Chandus in Vattakan pattu

There are three persons (characters) named Chandu in Vadakkan Pattukal. They are Chandu Chekavar (Chadiyan Chandu), Payampvali Chandu Chekavar, and Thacholi Chandu.

Popular culture

Thacholi Chandu's character has been depicted in several Malayalam films, including Thacholi Marumakan Chandu and Thacholi Othenan

Thacholi Othenan (film)

Thacholi Othenan is a 1964 Malayalam language film. The film is about the story of Thacholi Othenan. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.-Cast:*Thacholi Othenan - Sathyan* Unnichara - Sukumari*Chindan Nambiar - Premji...

. The movie Thacholi Marumakan Chandu, directed by P. Bhaskaran

P. Bhaskaran

Pulloottupadathu Bhaskara Menon , better known as P. Bhaskaran, was a famous Malayalam poet and lyricist of Malayalam film songs. He penned more than 3000 songs for about 250 films. He also directed 44 Malayalam feature films and 3 documentaries, produced 6 feature films and acted in several movies...

, was about the life of Thacholi Chandu.