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 Simbhalan
Panickar. Though he is 74 years old, he is fit as a
bull and fights like a fox. He is an expert in Varma Kalai,
a division of the ancient martial art, Kalaripayattu.
The word 'varma kalai', which originated from the word
marmam (meaning 'secret' in Tamil) involves attacking the
opponent at specific vital points of the body so as to
cause maximum injury. These vital points are believed to be
junction points of blood vessels, which when struck from a
specific angle and with a particular speed can result in
temporary paralysis, extreme pain, loss of consciousness or
even immediate or delayed death. This can be executed
efficiently only by an expert after decades of training.
Simbhalan Panickar has learnt two types of Kalaripayattu
for 8 years and specialised in Varma Kalai, which he
studied formally for 6 years. From then on he has been
practicing and improvising in his own style for 42 years.
 Like
all martial art masters, Panickar Gurukkal, (as he is
popularly known), is secretive about his skills and has
taught very few students, all of them renowned martial art
masters of the city. In 1983, he was featured as the most
dangerous man in Chennai, in a book released by BBC called
'Way Of The Warrior' which chronicles the various martial
art forms of the world. He appeared in the television
programme of the same name, in 1982.
Panickar has many more dimentions than martial arts alone.
He has worked as Manager at Dasprakash hotels, has learnt
acting, acted in a few films and has also taught at the
Film Institute, Chennai, for six years as visiting
lecturer. Now Panickar is involved in popularising
Kalaripayattu in Chennai.
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