Cultural history

Punnayoorkkulam gave birth to several renowned writers and cultural activists. Nalappat House is the hub of Malayalam literature. Nalapat Narayana Menon, Balamani Amma, Kamala Surayya who was born in Punnayoorkkulam and contributed immensely to literary and cultural fields, spread the fame of the village across the globe. Nalapat Narayana Menon translated Victor Hugo's world-famous novel Les Misérables to Malayalam. The mother of Malayalam literature Balamani Amma was conferred with Padma Bhushan. Her daughter Madhavikutty or Kamala Das wrote stories and poems and spread the fame of Punnayoorkkulam and Malayalam across the globe. Jnanpith awardee M. T. Vasudevan Nair has a deep connection with the village. Ritualistic art form Sangam Kali is popular in Punnayoorkkulam. The popularity of Sangam Kali started to decrease with the transformation of the Namboodiri community and its arenas ceased to exist.

Cherai Panikkanmar's Kalari centre was famous in North Malabar. Thacholi Othenan spent two years at Cherai Kalari to take forward the martial arts that he learned at his native place. Thacholi Othenan came here to learn some unique tricks. This itself is proof that the Cherai Kalari was famous in North Malabar for the ages. The remains of the Kalari can be still seen in Cherai.Muhammedunni Gurukkal was a renowned Kalari exponent at Mavinchuvadu in Punnayoorkkulam. Under his stewardship, the Mavinchuvadu Kalari centre was in existence. A lot of people, even from foreign countries, used to come here to learn about Kalaripayattu from him. Valiyangottu Kovilakam at the panchayat was a centre of arts. Kathakali and Chakyar Koothu used to be staged here in style. Guru Kunchu Kurup and Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon were among the renowned artists who came to Kovilakam to stage Kathakali. Pulluvanpattu, a form of Naga worship, was prevalent in the village. It is doubtful where this art form is still in existence. The village was also the centre of Thiruvathirakkali. Ancient art forms such as Arabanamuttu and Kolkali are still in existence in the panchayat.

Kamala Suraiyya Memorial Building

Kamala Suraiyya Memorial Building is situated in 30 cents of land owned by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. When Nalappat, the ancestral house of the world-famous writer Kamala Suraiyya was partitioned, she donated 17 cents of her share to the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, and a neighbour named K. B. Sukumaran gifted 13 cents of his land from the adjacent plot. A kaavu and a pond that stood close to the building have been preserved. The compound also has the writer's favourite tree – the three-leaved caper (Neermathalam).

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Social workers

K G Karunakara Menon
K G Karunakara Menon, born to Thiruthipully Payyathu Govinda Menon, was fondly known as Appunni Menon by the people in his village. He was a Congress worker and carried out his services without any caste, class and party differences. He played a significant role in establishing the Vanneri high school and was also the school manager. Karunakara Menon was also the Panchayat board President from 1940 – 1952. He served as an MLA and Deputy Speaker. The famous poet and doctor Suvarna Nalapat is his daughter. Kamala Surayya was his niece.

Rama Panikkar
Rama Panikkar aka Ramutti Panikkar was born in 1902 to Cherai Padinjakkara Kunjikrishna Panikkar and Lakshmi amma. In 1930, he formed a group known as Bharatha Seva Sangham with his friends. The group functioned with Rama Panikkar as the President with the aim to abolish untouchability and the use of alcohol. He was arrested for participating in Salt Satyagraha and was imprisoned in Kannur jail for two years. Ramutti Panikkar served his people without any caste-religion-party differences. For about 19 years, he served as the president for the Kadikkad panchayat board and also for the Punnayoorkkulam panchayat board when Kadikkad joined with Punnayoorkkulam village. He died in 1982.

Arakkal Kunjahammed
Arakkal Kunjahammed, born to Chemmannoor Arakkal Babu Saheb, was the first IAS officer in Punnayoorkkulam. After completing his BA, he joined as a magistrate and served many posts over the years. During the war, the efficiency with which he managed the shortage of rice, sugar, kerosene and other necessary items is commendable. He died due to blood pressure when he served as the Thiruvananthapuram collector.

M V Idris Haji
M V Idris Haji was born to Ahmed Sahib and Iyathukutty Umma in 1928. He studied in Punnayoorkkulam higher elementary school and Malappuram government school. In 1947, he joined the Indian National Congress and served as the Panchayat president from 1952 – 1962. He was also a member of KPCC. He contested from the Ponnani constituency and was elected as the MLA in 1970. He died in March 18, 1987.

V Bappu
V Bappu was born to Thekkoottayil Ahmed and Variyathethil Thithikutti in 1914. After completing his schooling at Punnayoorkkulam School, he did teachers training from Malappuram government training school and was soon appointed in Malabar district board service. Along with teaching, he also wrote poetry. Besides poems, he had published significant literary works. Muthumala, Shwasikkunna Shavangal, Ghoshayathra, Malaysiayilek oru Yathra are a few of his works. He died on a trip to Malaysia in 1974.