SEVEN&HALF

SEVEN AND A HALF CHURCHES OF ST.THOMAS : PROF, M.M.NINAN
Villu Paatu ( 'Bow Songs’)- Villadichan pattu (Striking the bow songs)- is an ancient form of
musical story-telling where narration is interspersed with music, It is an art form of South Kerala.
This art form is popular among Nadar and Chettiyar caste of erstwhile Travancore Kingdom. The
main storyteller narrates the story striking the bow. The bow rests on a mud pot kept facing
downwards. A co-performer beats the pot while singing. There is usually another co-singer who
acts as active listener to the narration, uttering appropriate oral responses.
There are also Udukku, Kudam (mud pot), Thala, Kattai , which are used as supplementary
instruments in performances. Occasionally, the Villu Pattu team divides itself into two groups,
each trying to prove opposite points-of-view of a subject.
Ezharappallikal
Ezharappallikal or Seven and half Churches are the seven Churches or Christian communities
across western coast of India founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century. According to
Indian Christian traditions, the Apostle Thomas arrived in Kodungallur (presently in the Indian
state of Kerala) in AD 52, established the Eight Churches and evangelised in present-day Kerala
and Tamil Nadu. Many of these churches built near Jewish settlements.
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