Too often when we think of Kerala, we are actually thinking of only a small portion of the Malayali’s heritage. In reality, there is a much longer origin story for the Kerala we know today, linked to its place as “Malanadu” in ancient Tamilakam.
Join Manu S Pillai as he discovers this lost world–with a rather different language, traditions, food habits and much else–in a conversation with acclaimed writer and academic Manoj Kuroor.
This is the final episode in the SAGA series. Thank you for being part of this journey.
English subtitles are available and can be turned on.
Credits:
Creative Director & DoP: Yadu Krishna
Voice over: Manu S Pillai
Music: Charu Hariharan
Cameras: Yadu Krishna, Varunraj CR
Editing: Yadu Krishna, Varunraj CR
Logistics: Sravan Warrier, Amrutha M
Executive Producer: Sruthin Lal
00:00 Introduction
02:27 The Parasurama Legend and Kerala’s Historical Narrative
04:12 Kerala as Malanadu: Geography and Early Inhabitants
06:12 What Ancient Texts Reveal About Brahmin Traditions
07:40 Kerala Within Ancient Tamilakam
09:54 How Malayalam Emerged from Old Tamil
11:40 Pattu and Manipravalam: Two Literary Traditions
12:50 The Rise of Caste and Temple Hierarchies
15:02 Buddhism and Jainism in Kerala’s Religious Heritage
17:19 Ezhimala Nannan and the Story of Massani Amman
20:15 Why Kerala’s Tamil Roots Matter
20:56 Tamil Influences in Kerala’s Music and Performing Arts
23:23 Malayalam’s Classical Status and Its Tamil Heritage
24:02 Can There Be a “Pure” Malayalam?
26:12 Building the Future of Malayalam
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It will be great to have English subtitles on this. Good research, but I couldn't understand much of the content, even though I'm fond of the language.
WHAT A WONDERFUL EFFORT! THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO
I wrote this reply on Quora about Tamil's historical continuity in Kerala and its relationship with Malayalam; I hope the creators of this video and readers here find it useful
I never said Malayalam is not a language today; my point is that without its Tamil foundation it would be little more than Sanskrit words added to an older structure. The claim that Malayalam simply split from Middle Tamil 800–1000 years ago and now has no connection with present-day Tamil ignores a much longer shared history. This is not about claiming anyone else's heritage but acknowledging our common roots. Chera history and Kerala's own records testify to the deep presence of Tamil on this soil
ANTIQUITY: Sangam literature existed by the early centuries CE; its refined grammar and poetry imply a spoken tradition reaching further back. Tamil's presence in Kerala's history, from early Chera times into the 18th century, spans roughly 2,000 years
COPPER PLATES(9th–14th c): Prof K S Madhavan studied Kerala's land, labour and village records and highlighted their Tamil documentary tradition. Consider the Thiruvalla copper plates, terms such as purayidam and paattam, and place names ending in oor. The older landscape and administration are full of Tamil linguistic evidence
RAMACHARITAM(12th c): Often celebrated as early Malayalam literature, its language is overwhelmingly Tamil in my reading, including poetic rules such as edukai and monai. “Narasimha vadivam aanan” uses Tamil-style grammar, unlike today's “Narasimha roopamaayi aayi”; likewise “Venthanai piranthaan” differs from modern “Raajaavaayi janichu”. How can one describe that literary period as having no connection to Tamil?
NAMBIAR TAMIL(14th–17th c): Traditional Koothu storytelling preserved the very name “Nambiar Tamil”; the link did not suddenly vanish
DUTCH PERIOD(18th c): Kerala State Archives describes Matilakam records in Tamil, Malayalam and Malayalam-Tamil. Travancore's Marthanda Varma era still used Vattezhuthu and Tamil-influenced documents in dealings with the Dutch. Even “Malabari Tamil olai” appears in descriptions of palm-leaf manuscripts. The documentary continuity deserves recognition
THE LINK IS ALIVE TODAY: Malayalam is a distinct modern language, but its basic vocabulary, suffixes and sentence patterns still show a profound relationship with Tamil. Take this cinema song “Vaalittezhuthiya Neelakkadakkannil”. Here are 48 words compared with Tamil; Malayalam/Tamil scripts are shown together, followed by meanings and roots
FACE & BEAUTY
Vaalittu(വാലിട്ട്/வால் இட்டு)=drawn long like a tail(Vaal+ittu)
Ezhuthiya(എഴുതിയ/எழுதிய)=drawn/written(Ezhuthu+iya)
Neela(നീല/நீல)=blue; compare Tamil Nīḷ
Kadakkannil(കടക്കണ്ണിൽ/கடைக்கண்ணில்)=corner of the eye(Kada+kan+il)
Meyyil(മെയ്യിൽ/மெய்யில்)=in the body(Mey+il)
Naanavum(നാണവും/நாணமும்)=modesty+and(Naanam+um)
Oomal(ഓമൽ/ஓமல்)=tender/darling
Penninte(പെണ്ണിന്റെ/பெண்ணின்)=of the girl(Pen+inte)
Praayavum(പ്രായവും/பிராயமும்)=age+and(Praayam+um)
Yauvanavum(യൗവനവും/யௌவனവും)=youth+and(Yauvana+um)
NATURE & BIRDS
Meeno(മീനോ/மீனோ)=is it a fish?(Meen+o)
Ilam(ഇളം/இள)=young/tender
Maano(മാനോ/மானோ)=is it a deer?(Maan+o)
Olanjaali(ഓലഞ്ഞാലി/ஓலைஞாலி)=leaf-hanging bird
Kuruviyo(കുരുവിയോ/குருவியோ)=is it a bird?(Kuruvi+o)
Koodu(കൂട്/கூடு)=nest
Thumbi(തുമ്പി/தும்பி)=dragonfly/bee
Ilakal(ഇലകൾ/இலைகள்)=leaves(Ila+kal)
Peeli(പീലി/பீலி)=peacock feather; old Tamil usage
Maamayilo(മാമയിലോ/மாமயிலோ)=great peacock?(Maa+mayil+o)
Kili(കിളി/கிளி)=parrot/bird
HOUSEHOLD & CUSTOMS
Illam(ഇല്ലം/இல்லம்)=home
Nira(നിറ/நிறை)=full/heaped
Vallam(വല്ലം/வல்லம்)=grain basket
Para(പറ/பறை)=grain measure
Ponnum(പൊന്നും/பொன்னும்)=gold+and(Pon+um)
Kula(കുല/குலை)=bunch/cluster
Vellithira(വെള്ളിത്തിര/வெள்ளித்திரை)=silver screen(Velli+thira)
Thakiladi(തകിലടി/தகிலடி)=drum beat(Thakil+adi)
Thaalappoli(താലപ്പൊലി/தாலப்பொலி)=auspicious offering
Naalunila(നാലുനില/நாலுநிலை)=four storeys
Panthalil(പന്തലിൽ/பந்தலில்)=in the canopy(Panthal+il)
Thaali(താലി/தாலி)=marital thread
Aadhyaraavin(ആദ്യരാവിൻ/ஆத்ய இரவின்)=of first night(Aadya+Raavu+in)
VERBS & GRAMMAR
Koottum(കൂട്ടും/கூட்டும்)=will join/build
Veeshiyaadum(വീശിയാടും/வீசியாடும்)=fanning/dancing
Chollum(ചൊല്ലും/சொல்லும்)=will say
Pinni(പിന്നി/பின்னி)=having braided
Thunnumo(തുന്നുമോ/துன்னுமோ)=will it stitch?(Thunnu+o)
Naalthorum(നാൾതോറും/நாள்தோறும்)=day by day
Maatterum(മാറ്റേറും/மாற்றேறும்)=rising in purity/standard
Pothinjorunguvan(പൊതിഞ്ഞൊരുങ്ങുവാൻ/பொதிந்து ஒருங்குவான்)=wrap and prepare
Kettum(കെട്ടും/கட்டும்)=will tie
Velayil(വേളയിൽ/வேளையில்)=at the time(Vela+il)
Ninnullil(നിന്നുള്ളിൽ/நின்னுள்ளில்)=inside you
Njaan thedum(ഞാൻ തേടും/நான் தேடும்)=I will seek
Thudakkinaakkalum(തുടക്കിനാക്കളും/தொடக்கக் கனாக்களும்)=early dreams
Pulakamo(പുളകമോ/புளகமோ)=is it a thrill?(Pulaka+o)
SURVIVAL TODAY: By my comparison, 46 of these 48 words remain recognisable in modern Tamil, including regional or traditional usage, roughly 96%. Thumbi and Vallam survive in the south and Eelam; Para in grain measurement and Maattru in gold-purity vocabulary. The shared lexicon did not disappear 1,000 years ago; everyday and poetic vocabulary connect both languages even now
SANSKRIT WITH DRAVIDIAN GRAMMAR: Sanskrit influence does not automatically make Malayalam's grammatical foundation Sanskrit. Watch how its borrowed roots take endings also familiar from Tamil
Yauvanavum: Sanskrit Yauvana(youth) becomes Yauvanam then takes -um meaning “and youth”
Praayavum: Sanskrit Praaya(age) becomes Praayam then takes -um meaning “and age”; compare Tamil Piraayamum
Pulakamo: Sanskrit Pulaka(thrill) becomes Pulakam then takes the question ending -o meaning “is it a thrill?”; compare Tamil -o rather than Sanskrit kim
The -am formations, conjunctive -um and interrogative -o show Sanskrit nouns operating within a Dravidian grammatical framework closely related to Tamil. Sanskrit supplied words, but did not erase that structure
Scholars such as A R Rajaraja Varma(the Kerala Panini) and Prof Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai studied this history. My analogy: Malayalam is a renovated old Tamil building. Sanskrit influence and Grantha-related script changes are new doors and windows; much of the foundation and load-bearing structure remains Tamil
We need not insult Tamils or deny our own historical roots to take pride in modern Malayalam and Kerala. Recognising a shared foundation does not diminish our distinctive identity; it honours our ancestors and the history of our soil
DECENT DEBATES ARE WELCOME
Nagas and Yakshis were Kashmir folk/forest religion practices that got absorbed into types of Madhyamika Buddhism and Kashmir Shaivism I believe. The former reached Kerala; but as evidenced from other studies; it seems like currents from the latter too did.
Certain Bhagavathi temples show evidence of the migration of Trika Shaivism (to whom the Nagas and Yakshis) are central too.
On this point, I don't agree. Because Occam's razor dictates it was a direct transmission of Trika Shaivism back to Kerala; in an astonishing reversal of the current (Kashmir Shaivism actually started and came from Tamizhagam).
The guest is great; but definitely has a sub-altern bent of mind. Painting the priest as the devil.
Sir Kerala history, folklores continue cheyynne, enikku history and culture bayankara isttamulla koottathilla.
സനാതന ഹിന്ദുയിസം ബ്രാഹ്മണ മതം തകർത്തതാണ് ബുദ്ധിസത്തെ ബുദ്ധിസത്തെ തകർത്താണ് ഈ വിനായകൻ തുടങ്ങിയ ഇറക്കുമതി ദൈവങ്ങളെ കൊണ്ടുവന്ന് ബുദ്ധമതത്തെയും ബുദ്ധ ദൈവങ്ങളുടെ സ്ഥാനത്തും പ്രതിഷ്ഠിച്ചത്. ഇത് മലയാളത്തേക്കാൾ കൂടുതൽ കൃത്യമായി തമിഴ്നാട്ടിൽ ദ്രാവിഡ വിഭാഗങ്ങൾ കൃത്യമായ അടയാളപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ആ ചരിത്രങ്ങൾ പറയുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നുണ്ട്. വടക്കേ ഇന്ത്യയിൽ നിന്ന് ജാതിവ്യവസ്ഥ ഉണ്ടാക്കി പഴയ യഥാർത്ഥ ഹിന്ദുമതത്തെ വിശാലമായ ഹിന്ദുമതത്തെ ബ്രാഹ്മണിസം കവർന്നപ്പോൾ ആ ബ്രാഹ്മണിസം ബുദ്ധമതത്തെ തകർത്താണ് ഇവിടെ ഈ ഹിംസാത്മക ഹിന്ദുത്വ വർഗീയത ഉള്ള ഹിന്ദുമതത്തെ അതായത് സനാതന ജാതി വ്യവസ്ഥ ഉള്ള ഹിന്ദുമതത്തെ അടിച്ചേൽപ്പിച്ചത്.
അപ്പോൾ അശോകന്റെ edicts 'keralaputho' /keralaputra എന്ന് കാണുന്നുണ്ടല്ലോ? മലനാട് എന്നല്ല കാണുന്നത്, Why?
Malyalis? We call Malayalam – Karun Tamizh and Tamizh as Sen Tamizh
Good Conversation. Interesting and Informative 👏🏻 ❤
Malyalam is not different from tamil …. It is a vast land of tamil people speaking tamil in different slang
I feel like when tamilian from tamil nadu claim a lot of Malayali culture…it's not factually right since tamil was spoken in kerala too…but it became lost with time so kerala doesn't hold claim still to tamil language. But pride is still there. Similarly kalaripayattu is also something upheld in kerala…so kerala shud hold claim since tamil nadu lost that.
Yet another video looking for tamil centric things as if everything in south India evolved from tamil, Take a break.
I have seen Nithin90 giving a large number of comments. I am not exactly sure what he is trying to say. I thing that the conversation in the participants of this video is that the Tamil aspects of current day Malayalee culture is simply not recognized. Nithin probably wants to say that Malayalam descended from the original South Indian. My own take is that Tamil is just a standardized version of ancient south Indian speech and has undergone many changes itself (i.e standardized Tamil / Cen Tamil). When I say "standardized", I mean to say "with grammatical rules". Today, the witten Tamil follows the Nannool grammar.
Nithin is right lingustically. Because various non-standaized South Indian speech was in vogue in vast regions, we cannot say that Malayalam is an off shoot of "Tamil" but then it does appear that Malayalam and Tamil are very very similar except for the verbal endings.
Culturally and historically, the truth is that Aryan way of life got adopted in South India too. So Sanskritization of people's lives and languages are continuing even today.
All in all, I would venture to say that Tamil and Malayalam are very similar, the cutural backdrop also are very similar and history is also a shared history.
Excellent work. Keep it up
Best video i watched in a very long time.
Thank you so much for this, especially at this time when people mockingly call Tamilnadu as 'Claimnadu' just because they talk about their roots. We malayalis actually forget our roots and mock others who actually care about theirs. Btw, I request you to please pleaseeee continue what you're doing. These videos are so beautifully done and obviously so informative ♥️ Thank you once again! 🙏
മാസാണിയമ്മൻ കോവിൽ, പൊള്ളാച്ചി- ആനമല റോഡ്
People who understands “Senthamil” > “SangaThamil” aka “Ancient Tamil” can easily follow understand “Malayalam”
Modern Tamil only speaking people lack those knowledge.
https://youtu.be/oYtTj0bDgts?si=zrPrDBb20wZ9V-jj
Mrs balakrishnan ias speech
Lot of "vellalar" Community people today living in tamilnadu ❤
There was a movement in Kerala.. called as pacha malayalam.. don't know what happened to that. Tamilnadu went thru similar movement (thani tamil) to get rid of Sanskrit words but it was largely successful.
Prasuram story created by Aryans is another joke.
We tamils have always considered malayalis like kins. Esp in Kk dist every kkian has a malayali feel in culture, cuisine and language.
Dravidian cultures are interlaced. They must have born from a common point.
When Tamils and Malayalis hold hands and reunite, we can create a powerful, positive influence by strengthening our ancestral connections. Together, we will make a significant impact.
This nambhoodiri ID @Nithin90 is trying to deviate and confuse people in the comment section. Block or Report.
Malayalam can adapt Tamil kalaichotkal (technical terms) to create words for modern concepts instead of relying so heavily on Sanskrit derived vocabulary. This would also help preserve and develop the shared Dravidian linguistic heritage of the region.
🤍🍃✨😌
this is a special project the entir saga series , thank you guys for making it. @Manu S Pillai and @ARPO team kudos.
As far as I can see, Tamil has evolved further into Modern Tamil in the east (today’s Tamil Nadu), while Painthamizh, i.e., 1,000-year-old Tamil, has been retained in the west (Cheralam).
The culprit behind the division of Tamizhagam is Sanskritization after the Braminic Bakthi era, which went uncontrolled in the west (Cheralam). That is why Malayalam (a Tamil dialect) has evolved into a distinct language, yet it still retains strong Tamil roots, just like modern Tamil. Today Malayalis see Tamilians as different from themselves; that is what Sanskritization has contributed to the Tamil society, Which is why we oppose Sanskritization of Tamil in Tamil Nadu.
Not dravidian but Tamil roots. I accept everything about the Tamil roots but othe than that bunch of malarkey about the brahmins, cow meat, idols of non Hindu becoming Hindu. Leftist propaganda peak. Can't believe this is the land of Adi Shankara.
Modern day "Kerala" or Chera Naadu was historically a Tamil speaking region. The Tamils of central and eastern Tamil Nadu referred to that region as "malai+aaLam", which is a chenthamizh term for "land beyond mountains". Kerala was a hub for trade; there were settlers from the orient, middle east as well as Europe, but the actual locals were primarily of Dravidian stock.
When the Brahmin migration made it's way to the south in the southwestern area of India, they established their language (sanskrit) and vedic/tantric way of religion among the people. The locals spoke sangam (koodu) Tamil, or what is known as "chenthamizh". The script used for chenthamizh was none other than the "grantha" script. Evidence of this is found in a 14th century Catholic devotional publication known as "Thambiraan Vanakkam", which was published by the Portuguese in the Kerala town known as "Kollam". This was during the time when the Portuguese were forcing the Malankara Christians to become Roman Catholic. However, during that time, the hybridization of chenthamizh & sanskrit started to become stronger and more local. By the end of the 1500s, linguist and "father" of the modern day Malayalam language Thunchattu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan took strenuous efforts to formalize this hybrid language and in order for it to be printable and have it's own script, he used the "tigalari" script. This script was an offshoot from grantha to accommodate the sanskrit vowels and consonants. Eventually this hybrid language now referred to as "Malayalam" became a separate language and took on it's own identify, but interestingly enough, it still remains the closest language to modern day Tamil. Many modern day Malayalam linguists will take strenuous efforts to deny these simple facts. They renamed chenthamizh as "proto-Dravidian" because they hate to admit the truth.