Vadakkan Pattukal {or Ballads of 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...

} is a collection of Malayalam Ballad

Ballad

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...

s of medieval origin. These present saga of heroes like Aromal Chekavar

Aromal Chekavar

Aromal Chekavar was a legendary hero who is believed to have lived during 16th century in northern Kerala, India. He was a warrior figure of Vadakkan Pattukal . He is the brother of Unniarcha, another legendary warrior figure of the same ballads. The songs and chronicles have to this day kept the...

, 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...

, Kannappa Chekavar, Aromalunni and heroines like
Unniarcha. These northern ballads exemplify the heights of folk-poetry. These ballads are also sometimes associated with deities. Almost all these ballads show strong connections with Kalaripayattu. The oldest compositions do not date earlier than 16th century but their idiom and vocabulary seems older.