While 15-year-old Ramdinthara prevented two people from being electrocuted, 13-year-old Rakeshbhai Shanabhai Patel saved a boy from drowning in a 20-foot-deep well, and Aromal SM saved two women from drowning in a deep pond.
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Aringodar encourage Chanthu to make a defective sword for Aromal. During the fight between Aromal and Aringodar, the sword of Aromal brakes into two pieces. Aromal requests Chanthu to give his sword but Chanthu lie that he has not taken one. Then Aromal throws the broken sword piece at Aringodar which cuts his head off.
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Unnikonar, in turn, invites Aromal to represent him. Chandu is now caught in a dilemma, when his uncle requests him to play second hand to Aromal in the angam against his teacher Aringodar. Unniyarcha also appears and offers to live with Chandu if he assists Aromal to win against Aringodar. A tempted Chandu, decides to second Aromal.
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Unniyarcha marries Kunjiraman in spite of Chanthu's objection. Chanthu leaves Puthuram Tharavadu and goes to Tulunadu. Now Aromal has to fight with Aringodar who is an experienced fighter . Aromal's father, Kannappan Chekavar calls back Chanthu as second for Aromal for the fight even though it was objectied by Aromal and Unniyarcha.
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Aromal blames Chandu of cheating, by treating the swords to make them brittle, and attacks him. Aromal kills himself in an accident by falling over a lamp. As people gather, Aromal breathes out his last words: "Chandu betrayed us!". The ill-fated Chandu escapes the mob and finds the blacksmith, who informs that he was bribed by Kunji.
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As Chandu placates an attacking Aringodar, seeking time to replace the weapon, Aringodar obliges. Then wily Aromal throws his broken sword and kills an unguarded Aringodar. Aromal is declared winner. As he retires to his resting place, Chandu follows him to tend to his injuries.
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Hearing of the developments in Archa's life and sympathising with her, Aromal decides to intervene on behalf of her and her tribal husband. Aromal's family is however, wary of any further exchanges with Archa and discourage him. As such, Aromal plays a double game of confounding both his family and Archa's and end up playing security in her own house. On the auspicious night that Archa expects her husband, Aromal enters her bed, overpowers her and has sex with her forcefully.
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Thumbolarcha also reveals how she witnessed Chandu strangling the baby, which is now revealed to be his own, born of a dalliance between him and Kunjunnooli when she was his student of Kalari for a brief period. Chandu is shunned is everyone and summarily defeated by Aromal, who pardon's his life at the behest of Kannappa Chekavar. Aromal lives happily ever after with his two wives Thumbolarcha and Kunjunnooli.
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Fighting his way through the entire contingent of guards, Chandu storms into Aringodar's household seeking Kunji. To add to his list of regrets, he finds Kunji has committed suicide by hanging herself. Chandu returns to Puthooram Veedu and is greeted by a raging Unniyarcha, who vows her sons will avenge her brother’s death. Years later, Aromal Unni and Kannapan Unni (sons of Unniyarcha and Aromal Chekavar respectively) come to the kalari of Arangodar seeking revenge.
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Renuka Girijan's daughter Smitha is married to famous music director Deepak Dev. She was married, but it ended in divorce. She has a son, Aromal. She currently resides at Thrippunithura, Kochi.
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This leads to him taking part as Aromal's helper in a duel ("Ankam") with Aringodar Chekavar. Chandu chekavar allies with Aringodar chekavar and sabotages Aromal's sword by replacing the metal rivets holding the blade to the hilt with wooden ones. During the duel the blade get separated but Aromal picks up the blade and throws it at Aringoder killing him. After that Aromal won, Chandu takes matters into his own hands and unexpectedly stabs his cousin to death.
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The traumatised Archa is devastated that she couldn't keep herself together for her husband, but is delighted when her tribal youth appears before her to reveal that he was none other than Aromal himself. Together, they arrange a plan to sort things together. However, Aromal is later removed from the house by Archa's family on CHandu's suspicion, and he is unable to rally help for an all-out attack from his family. Meanwhile Archa realises that she is pregnant with Aromal's child, and delivers her baby within the confines of her home.
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Again Chandu, who is still in awe of Archa's beauty, demands that the baby be killed so that he marries her. On a fateful night when the baby is thrown in water and Archa out to save it, Aromal reaches them in time and takes his wife and child home to Puthooram family. The developments infuriate Chandu and Archa's family, who conclude that Aromal was responsible for both the babies involved, launch an all-out attack on Puthooram family. Before the final showdown, Kunjunnooli reveals that she was the mother of the child delivered earlier at Mikacheril and that Chandu was the father.
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Chandu plainly tells them about their mistakes in the duel and skillfully explains the possible strategies they have up their sleeve. Aromal Unni announces himself, "I, son of Unniyarcha, will die or go back with your head." Chandu realises the madness in the youngsters and appears to relent to their provocations, turns his back to them as if to pray in preparation for the duel. But knowing that no one will ever be able to win against him, and reminded that Aromal is Kannappan Chekavar's grandson, he commits one final act of valour: Chandu stabs himself with his sword.
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The film tells the story Unniyarcha, the valiant heroine of the Vadakkanpattu (Ballads of North Malabar or Songs of the North), though a member of the fairer sex, she masters martial arts and proves herself as an equal to her brother Aromal Chekavar and cousin Chanthu Chekavar, both renowned warriors. Unniyarcha is portrayed as the embodiment of all virtues. The film also narrates how jealousy takes its roots in the mind of Chanthu, and how he grows hostile to Aromal, consequently betraying him during a duel. Chanthu always attracted to Unniyarcha who always hated him for his cheating behavior.
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"You would have been my son," he tells Aromal Unni reminiscing bitterly on what could have been. He reaches out to the statue of his deity and dies. There ends life of a valiant but misunderstood man, the greatest warrior of his age.
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Attummanammel Unniyarcha was from the famous Puthooram Veedu of North Malabar. Unniyarcha was married to Attumanammel Kunjiraman. Attummanammel Kunjiraman had a Kalari known as Puthussery Kalari which is still there at Kannur district of Kerala. She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar and Unnikannan.
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Back home, Aromal himself is sympathetic at first though the overwhelming public opinion and misogynist scandal all over the place influence him to summarily reject Thumbolarcha, his love for long, shocking her to the core. Furthermore, Aromal's family quickly finds him another alliance and he is compelled to marry soon. Watching from her balcony, Archa is shocked to realise that Aromal's bride Kunjunnooli (Srividya) is none other than the lady who delivered the baby at her house earlier. She decides against making a revealation fearing for Kunjunnooli's life and reputation, while Kunjunnooli herself is upset to see Archa and later devastated to know from Aromal of their past affair.
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Henceforth, the word Chathiyan, meaning "Betrayer", is added to his name to indicate his infamy. Unniyarcha, herself a warrior and Aromal's sister, vows revenge for her brother's life. Revenge is finally achieved when her son Aromal Unni Chekavar challenges Chandu to a duel and kills him.
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Unniyarcha spurned Chandu Chekavar (or Chanthu)love for her, which led to the murder of her brother Aromal by Chanthu chekavar. Later, Aromalunni, the son of Unniyarcha, took revenge against Chanthu. Unniyarcha is praised for her bravery and beauty and chronicles have to this day kept the legend alive.
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This movie depicts an episode in the youth of Puthooram Aromal Chekavar and cousin Chandu before the infamous fatal duel described in the film Unniyarcha (1961). Thumbolarcha(Sheela), the fair warrior maiden of Mikavil Mikacheri family is a fiancee by cross-cousinage of Aromal Chekavar(Prem Nazir) and they both wish to marry. However, as fate would have it, Archa's life is turned upside down when one night, a distraught father with his pregnant daughter(Sreevidya) in labour appear at their doorstep confounded by weather. The magnanimous Archa take them in and offer them the best hospitality and service in the absence of her family, and the lady gives birth to a boy safely.
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He even deceives Chandu by usurping and marrying Kunjinooli (Chithra), who was in love with Chandu. The heartbroken Chandu moves ahead and continues to master the art of Kalari Payattu from Aringodar. On wedding day of Aromal, Unniyarcha invites Chandu to her room. However Unniyarcha's husband, the eunuch Kunjiraman sees them.
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Chandu takes on the task of revitalizing Aromal's swords by providing them for treatment to the blacksmith. However, Kunji, Aringodar’s daughter, bribes the blacksmith and makes them brittle. On the day of the duel, Aromal, though highly skilled, is no match for the master Aringodar. To add to the misery, Aromal's sword breaks in two.
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As they grow up Chandu is betrothed to Chekavar's daughter, Unniyarcha. Several events unfold where in Chandu finds himself being pushed to the corner by his cousin. He flees to the kalari under the guidance of Tulunadan expert and master Chekavar, Aringodar. Chandu has to recount only losses in his life, as Aromal ensures his sister is not married to Chandu.
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Vadakkan Pattukal (Ballads of North Malabar or Songs of the North) is a collection of Malayalam Ballads of medieval origin. The songs present sagas of heroes such as Aromal Chekavar and Thacholi Othenan, and heroines like Unniyarcha. They exemplify the heights of folk-poetry and are also sometimes associated with deities. Almost all these ballads show strong connections with Kalaripayattu.
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Chandu Chekavar, also known as Chathiyan Chanthu (Chandu the betrayer), was a sixteenth-century warrior mentioned in the folk songs of Northern Kerala called Vadakkan Pattukal. He belongs to the Thiyyar community in Kadathanad North Malabar, South India. According to the ballads, Chandu was a Chekavar (warrior), like his cousins Aromal Chekavar and Unniyarcha. Chandu Chekavar secretly hated Aromal's family because his love for Unniyarcha was spurned.
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The film is set in 16th-century northern Kerala. The plot unfolds at Puthooram, the house of great Kannappan Chekavar. Kannappan Chekavar adopts the son of his estranged sister when the boy loses both his parents and brings him to Puthooram to live and learn with his cousins. The orphan boy, Chandu, a quick learner, earns the love and admiration of his uncle, while he is loathed by his cousin Aromal.
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Bala secretly marries her long-time lover Abhiram, without Podimol's knowledge. Later Bala's family reveals that Podimol is Bala's cousin and suddenly out of nowhere Bala suddenly starts caring for her, even though Podimol doesn't know that Bala is married to her dear. Bala accidentally promises Podimol to get her love. Aromal, Bala's cousin tries to convey the message to Podimol that Bala is already married to her love.
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Now at Puthuram Tharavadu, everyone sees a fatally wounded Aromal come out of the palanquin and tells that Chanthu had cheated by stabbing him while sleeping. Unniyarcha then pledges to take revenge for this betrayal; and till then, she never tie her hair. Now Unniyarcha trains his son Aromalunni who grow to become a brave warrior along with Aromal's son Kanappanunni. Now both the cousins are sent for a kalari.
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In the summer of 2000, Simhalan both choreographed for and performed in the award-winning production, Coming of Age, directed by Keith Khan. Simhalan's work in television and film includes Check by Amarjeeth Singh, and Away Game, a BBC production. Chathi (meaning cheat in Malayalam), her physical theatre choreography based on the warriors of Northern Ballads like Aromal Chekavar, Chathiyan channthu etc. of 16th-century in kerala, has toured in the United Kingdom and Europe.
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The prime martial caste of Kerala, Nairs, and some prominent Ezhava families made up the Chekavars (which literally means "those who are prepared to die" in the Malayalam language). Some prominent warriors who took part in such ankam (duels) were Thacholi Othenan, Unniarcha, Aromal Chekavar, whose legends are described in the Vadukkan Pattukal (Northern Ballads). The Mamankam Festival held by the Zamorin ruler in the kingdom of modern-day Kozhikode, was a ritual which glorified the martial traditions of warrior families in the Malabar. The ritual ended after the Zamorin was overthrown.
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During this period, there are records of frequent skirmishes between Kadathanad and the ruler of Kottayam as well as the foreign colonial powers of the British, based in Thalassery, and the French, based in Mahé. In legend, Vatakara is the birthplace of Unniyarcha, Aromal Chekavar, and Thacholi Othenan, the heroes of the Vadakkanpattu (ballads of North Malabar). The Thacholi family home, Thacholi Tharavadu, is still preserved and the anniversary of Thacholi Othenan's birth is celebrated in the Thacholi Manikkothu Kavu temple. Notable temples in the area include Lokanarkavu and Kottakkal Bhagavathi Temple, the second richest temple in North Malabar.
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Abhimanyu and Samyukta meet in an automobile accident and instantly hate each other, but conspire to help Abhimanyu's brother Harshan who has fallen in love with Samyukta's sister Sapthathi, although Sapthathi is engaged to a man called Ramesh Babu because of her parents' insistence. Sapthathi and Harshan fall in love after seeing each other at Sapthathi's cousin brother's wedding (Aromal) and Harshan's sister's wedding (Madhuri). Avanthika, who is Sapthathi's cousin and Aromal's sister gets jealous of this because she dislikes a poor girl like Sapthathi marrying a rich man like Harshan. Following a series of misunderstandings, Sapthathi's marriage to Ramesh Babu is called off and the new match proposed.
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However the father escapes with the daughter before dawn leaving the child at Mikacheri house, implying that this was an illegitimate pregnancy that nobody likes to acknowledge. Archa, though upset at the situation, refuses to dispose off the baby as her friends suggest and decides to bring the baby up herself. This, however, leads to speculations that the baby is her own, and even her own parents and uncle who return from a trip of many months from the North, fall suspicious of Archa's affection for the baby and start believing that she herself became pregnant and delivered during their absence. Aromal's parents Kannappa Chekavar(Thikkurissi) and wife(Adoor Pankajam), who arrived to formally decide the marriage of Aromal and Archa gets to witness the scandal firsthand and decide against the proposal.
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