''Vanchippattu'' is a poetic form in
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...
composed entirely in the Dravidian metre ''Nathonnata''. It is originated from
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
, a state in
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
.
History
This poetic form was created by
Ramapurathu Warrier, a poet in Malayalam lived in
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. A ...
(later became a part of Kerala) during the reign of the king
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma. It is believed that it was created during a boat travel of Ramapurathu Warrier along with the King Marthanda Varma. Warrier recited his poem to the king. This poem was later became the famous poetic collection ''
Kuchelavritham Vanchippattu
Kuchelavritham Vanchippattu is a famous Vanchippattu written by Ramapurathu Warrier in Malayalam. It has great popularity in Malayalam literature and culture.
Period
It is not known exactly when the Kuchelavritham was written. The historians ...
.''
Etymology
The word Vanchippattu is a combination of two words ''vanchi'' means
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, or its ability to carry boats.
Small boats are typically found on i ...
and ''pattu'' means song. This poetic form has a rhythm similar to that of rowing the boat. Hence it got this name, according to historians.
List of some famous Vanchippattu
*
Kuchelavritham
* Lakshmanopadesham
* Parthasarathi Varnana
* Bheeshmaparvam
* Santhanagopalam
* Banayudham
Famous Vanchippattu poets
* Vaaladisseri Sankaranarayanan Achari
* Champakulam Puthenpurayil Joseph
*
I. C. Chacko
Illiparambil Corah Chacko (1875–1966) was a geologist, philologist, writer and grammarian of Kerala, India.
He was born in Pulinkunnu in Kuttanad in Alappuzha, Kerala. After graduation from Maharajas College in Ernakulam, he went to London, and ...
* Chirayinkeezhu Govindan Pillai
* Nedumprayar Gopalapilla Vaidyan
See also
*
Ramapurathu Warrier
References
Malayalam-language literature
{{india-lit-stub