Poomathe Ponnamma is a female character found in the Northern ballads. She was a Dalit woman, and in those times, women from oppressed castes were unfortunately objectified to satisfy the desires of upper caste men.
The local landlord, captivated by Ponnamma's beauty, sought to have a sexual relationship with her. However, she bravely refused his advances, outrightly rejecting him.
Feeling insulted and humiliated by Ponnamma's rejection, the furious landlord devised a malicious plan. He spread a false rumor throughout the village, accusing her of having an illicit relationship with another man.
To further tarnish her reputation, he enlisted the help of Ayithira, another Dalit woman, to slander Ponnamma. Tragically, the entire village believed this fabricated story and turned against her.
The village leader, influenced by the false allegations, ordered that Ponnamma's head be shaved, and she was exiled from the community. Unable to bear the weight of this unbearable shame, Ponnamma took her own life. In death, her spirit yearned for vengeance against those who had tormented her.
Her spirit appeared before Ayithira, terrifying her immensely.
In fear, Ayithira confessed the truth to the villagers. She admitted that she succumbed to the temptation of accepting gold and money offered by the landlord to spread the scandalous lies about Ponnamma.
As a result of their cruelty and deception, tragedy struck the landlord. A fire engulfed his house, destroying his entire wealth. The tale of Poomathe Ponnamma serves as a poignant reminder of the injustices and hardships faced by marginalized women in those times.