Unniyachi Charitham is considered to be the oldest of the ancient Manipravala Champukas and the first Champukavya in the Malayalam language.[1] It is believed to be written in the 13th century during the Middle Malayalam period. The poem is about Unniyachi, a dancer of Tirumaruthur temple near Tirunelli.[2] Uyyiyachi Charitham has its place in various fields like language, literature, social and national history.[3] Thevar Chirikumaran is mentioned in the poem as its author. It is also mentioned in the poem that Rama Chirikumaran copied the poem in the Palm-leaf manuscript.[4]
The period of writing of the poem is believed to be between the beginning and the end of the 13th century.[5] From the references in this work itself, Ulloor postulates that the Unniachicharitam must have been written before 1346 AD.[6] The theme of Unniyachi Charitham is the infatuation of a Gandharvan with Unniyachi, the younger of the two daughters of Nangaiah's daughter Achiyar, who came from Atiyamanallur in Salem to Kolathunath and from there to Tirumaruthur in Purakizhanadu (present Kottayam).[7]