Claim: Tholan (manual of acting in Aattaprakaarams) is believed to have lived in the 9th century AD and to have been the first Namboothiri poet.
Evidence: The manual of acting in Koodiyattam, Aattaprakaarams, is attributed to him. Believed to have lived in the 9th century AD, Tholan is thought to have pioneered the use of Manipravalam (Malayalam and Sanskrit mix) in poetry. Tholan is believed to have been the first Namboothiri poet of Malayalam.