Master craftsman VV Suresh Kumar at the forefront of reviving Nettoor petti and other traditional wooden boxes in Kerala

At his workshop in Thiruvananthapuram, he restores, renovates and makes a wide range of wooden boxes typical in Kerala

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

Ari petti (to store grains), arrappu petti (to keep spices for daily use), kaal petti, (for elders to keep their clothes and documents in) and kai petti, a slim briefcase-like box with compartments, carried by karyasthan (manager) of a wealthy landlord or merchant, have all got takers. Marunnu petti (medicine box) was a common fixture in Ayurveda dispensaries. With multiple drawers, it was used to store medicines, herbs and powders.

Instead of making them only in teak or rosewood, as in the past, Suresh now makes the boxes in jack, wild jack and mahogany also.

In the sixties and seventies, his father Viswanathan Achari, a master craftsman, revived the Nettoor petti from the brink of extinction. Suresh recalls that his father had held training sessions to teach craftsmen to make the Nettoor petti under a project of the Government of Kerala.

Used by wealthy families and aristocrats to store valuables and ornaments, the Nettoor petti, also called the aada petti, usually made of teak and rosewood, was ornamented with brass and had compartments and secret chambers inside. However, the box fell into disuse due to the increasing use of metal cupboards and lockers.

Showing a Nettoor petti which he believes is around 250 years old, he says the owner has given it to him to restore it. “Once, it was covered with beautiful paintings that resembled murals in Kerala. However, someone who had it polished 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.

Instead of simply replicating the boxes of yore, Suresh has given it a new look for present-day buyers. So, the Nettoor petti and Aatta petti come with paintings in different colour palettes. “While some customers insist on maintaining the old look, there are others who want it to be painted with mural-like work. Some want us to carve the boxes. We customise it for them,” he explains.