An elegant little hamlet located in a blissful strip of land on the banks of the Kunthipuzha river; yet a destination of great artistic and cultural relevance in the history of Kerala – Vellinezhi village is much more than a first-impression wonder. Some of Kerala’s traditional art forms, especially Kathakali, owe a lot to the contributions of this relatively small village, which is located 25 km away from Ottapalam.
It is said that every family in this village has produced at least one Kathakali artist. Vellinezhi has also given birth to various percussionists who have made it big in the field of classical Carnatic music. The village has recently been developed into a 'Kalagramam’ or art village owing to its artistic exuberance. There are several temples in and around Vellinezhi, all of which have contributed to this. However one of the most noteworthy patrons of art have been the “Namboothiris” of Olappamanna Mana, a centuries-old brahmin household that once ruled the region.
Vellinezhi is also known for the famous “Adakkaputhur Mirror” which has been widely noted for its unique craftsmanship. These splendid mirrors are mostly made by traditional craftsmen belonging to the “Moosari” community, who are also known to make ornaments and utensils in bronze or brass.
