KOCHI: Gone are the days when generations of Brahmin matrilineal families lived together in traditional homes called illam/mana. Now only a few illams are intact as many of them are disintegrated or demolished. Adding to the name is Ezhumavil Illam, which has much historical significance. The illam will be demolished in a week’s time.Ezhumavil Illam is believed to have been designed by Ravi Varma in the naalukettu model for Neelakandan Bhattathirippad. One can see a Ravi Varma touch in the nook and cranny of the illam. “No effort has been taken by the government or archeological department to conserve the illam and we could not afford the maintenance too,” said Krishnan Namboothiri,one of the members of the Ezhumavil family.Rare wooden sculptures of deities, wooden laminated walls and 125-years-old clock are some of the rare antiques that could be seen in the illam which has attracted many number of tourists from all over Kerala. “There was a painting of Ravi Varma’s father supposed to be done by the great artist himself but somehow it is missing now,” he said. The Ezhumavil Illam situated in a 15 acre plot near Ambalapara in Padamukal is one of the best examples of Kerala’s traditional architecture. The rectangular structured illam had a central courtyard in the middle. The four halls adjoining the courtyard were named as kizhakkini, vadakkini, thekkini and padinjaattini. Two pathayapuras (granery) were also there in the nalukettu. The illam was also a favourite location for film folks. It was given for shooting of Malayalam serials like ‘Aayillyam kaavu’ and films like ‘Vayal’. But the money got from the shooting was not enough for the maintenance work. The present owners - Harinarayanan and Satheesh Kumar - decided to demolish the illam only after getting permission from all the members of the Ezhumavil family. But the demolition of an illam which was designed by the renowned painter is unfair.
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