Master craftsman VV Suresh Kumar is at the forefront of reviving nettoor patti and other traditional wooden boxes that were once used extensively in Kerala

It was this out-of-the-box thinking that helped VV Suresh Kumar give new life to a variety of traditional wooden boxes made in Kerala.

Ari Patti (for storing grains), Arappu Patti (for storing spices for daily use), Kaal Patti, (for elders to keep their clothes and documents) and Kai Patti, a slim briefcase resembling a compartment with compartments The box, which is carried by the workstation (manager) of a wealthy landowner or merchant, is all takers. Marunnu Patti (medicine box) was a common fixture in Ayurveda dispensaries. With many drawers, it was used to store medicines, herbs and powders.

Instead of making them in teak or rosewood as before, Suresh now manufactures boxes in Jack, Wild Jack and Mahogany as well.

In the sixties and seventies, his father Viswanathan Acharya, a master craftsman, revived Nettur Peti from the brink of extinction. Suresh recalls that his father had organized training sessions for artisans to teach nettoor patti making as part of a Kerala government project.

Used by wealthy families and aristocrats to store valuables and jewellery, the nettur pati, also called the ada pati, commonly made of teak and rosewood, was ornamented with brass and contained compartments and secret chambers. However, the box became unusable due to the increasing use of metal cupboards and lockers.

Showing a Nettur box, which he believes is about 250 years old, he says the owner has given it to him to restore. “Once upon a time, it was covered with beautiful paintings which resembled the murals in Kerala. However, the one who polished it has erased most of the delicate work. It is in perfect working condition. I am trying to restore the painting and polish the brass carvings on it,” says Suresh.

Master craftsman VV Suresh Kumar with a nettoor thong which is believed to be more than 200 years old. Photo Credit: Sreejith R Kumar

Instead of copying the old fashioned way, Suresh has given it a facelift for today’s buyers. So, nettoor patti and atta patti come with painting in different color palette. “While some clients insist on maintaining the old look, others want it to be painted with mural-like work. Some want us to carve boxes. We customize it for them,” he explains.

Variations for Nettur Patti

Even in its construction, Nettur Patti has changed. Taking an old, discolored and unpolished box, he shows how the lid was made from a single piece of wood with no joints. The box is also made from a single piece of wood and the cartons are engraved inside, thus no joints are required. “These are difficult to make because the wood has to be hollowed out to make them. The labor and time spent on it will not be commensurate with the price we can get. So, we add four pieces of wood for the lid, which resembles the roof of traditional houses in Kerala,” he says. The price of boxes starts from ₹2,500.

‘Uppu Maravi’ was used to store salt crystals in the kitchen. Photo Credit: Sreejith R Kumar

However, Suresh is not sure how Nettoor Petty got its name. Nettur is present in Kannur in Ernakulam and Kannur districts and in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. “Once upon a time, many places in Tirunelveli were part of the then Travancore. My father is from Neyyattinkara, south of Thiruvananthapuram. Perhaps our ancestors came from Tirunelveli long ago.”

Another interesting creation is Cheppu (round or cylindrical container with lid) which is made from the root of trees. The thicker part of the root is taken and hollowed out to shape and then embellished with brass plates and carvings.

Master craftsman V.V. Suresh Kumar is working on the dough box, which was once used to store the costumes of Kathakali artists. Photo Credit: Sreejith R Kumar

In 2014, Suresh was commissioned to design a decorative box to carry the relics of Saint Chavara Curiakos Elias and Saint Euphrasia to Rome for redemption by Pope Francis at the Vatican. Special decorative boxes with glass all around were made for the occasion. “It was a proud moment for us!” he shares.

Presently, Suresh has an outlet at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village in Vellar, near Kovalam, which is managed by his brother VV Ramesh Kumar. Though the lockdown was a tough time for craftsmen, the government helped them with innovative schemes for gift-giving during Onam last year.

“Things are looking better now with the gradual opening up of the economy. We hope that the youth will learn the craft to perpetuate the legacy of our master artisans,” says Suresh.