Thekkeppuram, a region within Kozhikode city that holds a significant position in the cultural history of Malabar, is set to tell its story to the whole world, through a documentary film.
The documentary, being directed by Suno Varghese with guidance from academicians such as M.G.S. Narayanan and N.P. Hafiz Muhammed, will feature the ancient households of Thekkeppuram, its culture and food, and its role in nurturing communal harmony right from the times of the Zamorins.
Thekkeppuram is the region west of the railway line that passes through the city, near Valiyangadi.
The ancient families here still follow the matriarchal system of succession. The region had warmly welcomed various communities into the fold, including Baramis and Boras besides Gujarathis and Jains. This could be the only area place that houses 24 mosques and a church and a Jain temple. Travellers such as Ibn Battuta, Fa Hien and Xuan Zang have recorded the importance of Thekkeppuram in history. The region was crucial in nurturing the trade during the Zamorin’s era. The people here are still active tradesmen. The cemetery in Thekkepuram houses the mortal remains of many an illustrious person, including freedom fighters Muhammed Abdurahman, E. Moidu Moulavi and N.P. Abu. Thottulippadam that became famous through the novel ‘ Oru Deshathinte Katha’ by S.K. Pottekkat is in Thekkeppuram.
The region has been mentioned in N.P. Muhammed’s Ennappadam and P.A. Muhammed Koya’s Sulthan Veedu .
A number of noted voluntary and charitable organisations were born here. The switch on function of the 90-minute documentary will be held at Hotel Paramount Tower at 6 p.m. on Saturday by M.K. Raghavan, MP.
