Mannadiar

Mannadiar is one of the subcastes of the Kshatriya Nair community among Keralites. The title "Mannadiar" was awarded by the Maharajah of Cochin to those Nairs who excelled in warrior skills. They are mostly found in the Central Kerala region. This subcaste should not be confused with Mannadiyar, a Tamil caste mostly concentrated along Palani Hills. The most famous of the Mannadiars might be Champattil Mannadiar, who gave the plot of land near the banks of the Sokanasini river to Thunjathu Ezhuthachan.

In popular culture

The Mannadiar caste has been made famous by the Malayalam film "Dhruvam", in which Mammootty played the lead role as Narasimha Mannadiar. The film "Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan", in which Mukesh played the lead role also featured the Mannadiar community. The dialogue by Narasimha Mannadiar in Dhruvam which attained cult status in Kerala is as follows:

"Marannum poruthum jeevikkan Mannadiar Shudrano Vyshyano Brahmanano onnum alla... Mannadiar Kshatriyan aanu.... Kshatriyan...."

"To forgive everything Mannadiar is not Shudra or Vaishya or Brahmin. Mannadiar is Kshatriya"

Caste Status

Although sociologists like Logan has classified Mannadiar as a full fledged sub caste of Nair, most of The INDIAN authors list Mannadiar merely as a subdivision within the Kiryathil Nair subcaste.

Famous Mannadiars

• Ambat Sivarama Menon - First Elected Minister of an Indian State
• Champattil Mannadiar

See also

• Nair
• Kiryathil Nair
• Madampi