7 months ago
Kerala Recognizes Valmutty as First Music Village
In a small village called Valmutty in Kerala, music is a big part of everyday life.
The people there, mostly from a community called the Paanars, have been singing traditional songs for over 2,200 years.
These songs, called Thuyilunarthu Paattu, are sung to wake up the gods and are passed down through generations without any written notes.
The village has been officially recognized as Kerala's first 'Music Village' because of its rich musical history.
The Paanars have always been musicians, traveling and performing in ancient times.
Today, Valmutty is a place where everyone sings, and music brings the community together.
The recognition is a big deal because it helps preserve their culture and might bring more support for the village's musicians.
Valmutty, a village in Kerala, has been declared the state's first 'Pattu Gramam' or Music Village by the Chittur–Thathamangalam Municipality.
The village is home to the Paanars, a community with a 2,200-year-old musical heritage mentioned in ancient Sangam literature.
Traditional Thuyilunarthu Paattu songs are passed down through generations without formal training or written notes.
Notable figures like Thathamma and Deivanai, State Award-winning folk singers, have contributed significantly to the village's musical tradition.
The recognition aims to preserve the community's cultural heritage and address social and economic barriers faced by the musicians.
- Who
- The Paanars, a community in Valmutty, Kerala
- What
- Valmutty has been declared Kerala's first 'Pattu Gramam' or Music Village
- Where
- Valmutty, a small village in Palakkad district, Kerala
- When
- The recognition was officially granted by the Chittur–Thathamangalam Municipality
- Why
- To acknowledge the village's 2,200-year-old musical heritage and the community's dedication to preserving traditional music
Key facts
- Location
- Valmutty, Palakkad district, Kerala
- Community
- Paanars
- Musical Tradition
- Thuyilunarthu Paattu (devotional wake-up songs)
- Recognition
- First 'Pattu Gramam' (Music Village) in Kerala
- Ancestry
- 2,200-year-old musical heritage mentioned in Sangam literature
- Notable Figures
- Thathamma and Deivanai (State Award-winning folk singers)
- Current Population
- 54 households
- Instruments
- Yaazh, Kuzhal, guitars, drums
Quotes
Bhaktavatsala Bharathi
Anthropologist and author of Paanar Ethnography
“The Paanars were the communicators of early Tamil society. They preserved tradition, transmitted news and shaped cultural memory. They travelled across ancient Tamil kingdoms, performing in royal courts, narrating stories, praising kings, describing landscapes and singing devotional hymns.”
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“They carried culture at a time when there were no newspapers, no social media and no documentation — just voices and instruments. What we see in Valmutty today is a living continuation of this heritage.”
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Thathamma
72-year-old State Award-winning folk singer
“Everyone here is a musician. Our ancestors earned their living by singing these sacred songs during temple festivals. Watching them perform inspired us to follow in their footsteps. We simply carry on what they built. We learnt it, lived it and continue to live with it.”
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Deivanai
75-year-old folk singer and 2020 State Award recipient
“I never went to a music class in my life. But from the time I was 10, singing became part of who I am. I’ve been singing for over 60 years.”
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Sajina
Music teacher and sister of Megha
“Becoming a music teacher has always been my dream. Growing up in a home filled with song and music gave me the confidence to choose this path.”
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Sivakumar
Vice Chairman of Chittur–Thathamangalam Municipality
“This village has many state award winners, trained singers, folk musicians and even people who have sung in films. Yet they continued to face social and economic barriers. Declaring them Kerala’s first ‘Pattu Gramam’ is our way of lifting them up.”
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Nitheesh
Local musician and bank employee
“We have talent. Our village has won state awards and we’ve had small opportunities in cinema. But we lacked instruments, training spaces and financial support. With this recognition, we hope the Government and private groups will help us grow.”
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