Community of Maruthuvars who also play nagaswaram and thavilNational

The original occupation of this caste is believed to have been that of a surgeon for men and of a midwife for women. It later took up barbering and playing music, says Terada Yoshitaka, Japanese scholar. But it is not clear when the community doubled as musicians, who once performed at funeral ceremonies in Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli

from | The Hindu