The Velakkathala Nayar (or Vilakkithala Nair, Vilakkithallvan) are a caste found in Kerala state, India, who traditionally barbered the Nambuthiris . They were historically allowed to marry higher subdivisions of the Nair community, and Christopher Fuller noted in 1975 that they were " regarded as being 'real' Nairs ,and they are ranked by most people - Nairs as well as non-Nairs - considerably below 'real' Nairs, being accorded a status approximately equal to the artisan castes".
References
Velakkathala Nayar Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA