By Team Mangalorean (With inputs from Jagannath Shetty Bala)
Pics Rajesh Shetty

Mangalore April 15, 2010: Badila Guthu house at Kannur on NH-48 is on the threshold of celebrating glorious 100 years! This Guthu house that sheltered traditional undivided Bunt family was designed by the skilled architects from Kerala when it was built back in 1909, at a cost of Rs. 35000/-. This house was built by Dooma Rai in lieu of the Muli Straw roofed Badila Guthu house that was devastated in a fire incident in the year 1904.

Dooma Rai was the founder president of Bunts Maathra Sangha(Mother Association) and during those days, he had also owned a famous Tile factory. The Badila Guthu house had a private judiciary system where justice was given to people living in the village and this Guthu family also held the right to run the Temple rituals in the surroundings.

This majestic structure has been built on a vast expanse of land and has 21 rooms. It also has the Chaavadi of Dhoomavathi Daiva with artistic pillars with wood carvings on them.

Senior member of Badila Guthu Mr Premadas Shetty has already arrived here from Bangalore, few days ago to oversee the celebrations. “On the wake of centenary celebrations, I have prepared the family tree of all the members of Badila Guthu family,” Mr Shetty said adding that he has put in lot of efforts to invite as many family members as possible for the centenary function from all over the world.

Mr Shetty said that the senior most members of the family including Sitaram Shetty, Gulabi Alva, Rathna, Vasanthram Shetty and Kasturi Ajila were felicitated during a felicitation ceremony organized on April 14, 2010 in honour of the senior members of the Guthu house. According to Mr Shetty this Guthu house has a history of over 800 years.

Speaking to our correspondent, one of the senior members of the family Sukhalatha Shetty reminisced that the Badila Guthu Kambala was famous until recently. The Guthu house also possessed paddy fields that produced over 3000 Mudis of rice, she said.

Three families belonging to the Badila Guthu house, namely Sathish Rai, his brother Suresh Rai and Vasanthram Shetty, still live in the ancestral house. Premadas Shetty also lives here with his relatives when he visits from Bangalore. He has also formed a Trust to maintain the house.

Mr Shetty says the house was not only well known for its elegant architecture, but has appeared in many films too. About 18 years ago, the shooting for Tamil film 'Thannikatte Rajan' starring Rajnikanth was done in this home and only last year, Arjun Sarja did the shooting session for his nephew Chiranjeevi Sarja's film 'Vaayuputra' here. Last month, Yogaraj Bhat's film 'Pancharangi' was also shot here.

Today, there are 310 families associated with this Guthu house and the total number of family members has exceeded 700, says Premadas Shetty.