He had a younger brother named Nalankilli who ruled from Kaveripattanam (modern Poompuhar city). Nalankilli was a brave warrior unlike Nedunkilli and also a able ruler. There was a continuous conflict going on between both brothers. Nedunkilli provocated Nalankilli so badly that Nalankilli decided to wage a war on his brother. On hearing this, Nedunkilli nearly got a heart attack. He was panicked and seized his Avur fort and stayed inside as he has no dare to face his younger brother. Days passed, people inside the fort began to suffer. All goods and supplies for them were exhausted.
They managed for some time but a point have reached where situation became unbearable. Hunger began to gnaw at them. Babies had no milk, for their mothers were starving. Even in rich houses there was nothing to eat. The king's battle elephants went without food. But king Nedunkilli did nothing. He was neither prepared to fight nor willing to surrender.
Kovur Kilar, a great poet of that time, came to know the situation at Avur. He was very sorry for the innocent people shut inside the fort without any food. So he decided to speak to the king Nedunkilli. As poets were held in great reverence by all, the besieging forces allowed Kovur Kilar to pass and he reached the king. The poet spoke with courage and frankness, his words in the form of poem. He spoke passionately of the hunger and misery of the people locked up inside the fort. Then he reminded the king that he had no rightful claim to the fortress and must either give it up or fight it out with his rival.
"Either be man of right or be a man of might," said the poet. "Being neither amounts to cowardice and it is a shame on your part to keep hiding like this while people suffer."
No one knows what happened after this. No records were found regarding the next incidents. I think as Nalankilli was a able ruler, he would have understood the suffering of the people inside the fort and for their sake, he would have left with out attacking Nedunkilli.
Battle of Kariyaru :
There was a mention of battle at a place called Kariyaru which was mentioned in Manimekalai. This was the epic battle in which the younger brother of Nedunkilli, Nalankilli fought against allied forces of Pandyas and Cheras. With his outstanding war tactics he defeated both Pandyan and Chera kings. It was said that he also killed his elder brother Nedunkilli as he was provocating him and as he was a threat to his kingdom. Thus Nedunkilli was killed by his younger brother Nalankilli.
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