A Study on Vadakkan Pattu

The Vadakkan Pattu are folk ballads of North Kerala that embody a tradition of hero worship. Originating in the regions of North Malabar such as Kadathanad, Kolathunadu, and Wayanad—well known for their kalaripayattu training—these ballads narrate the lives of warriors from renowned families like Puthooram and Thacholi, celebrating their valor and achievements. Composed in the form of folk songs, the Vadakkan Pattu were spread across the land by the Panans (wandering bards), as the ballads themselves attest. Over the years, many Malayalam films have been produced based on the themes and stories of these heroic songs.