The Tanur royal family lost many of its members during the invasion by the Kingdom of Mysore in the 18th century.
Raja Rama Varma, the then ruler of Tanur despite his exile to Travancore, sent a petition to the EIC through his secretary Chandu Menon requesting that the royal family be appointed manager of the estate/kingdom on behalf of the EIC, as Tanur had formerly belonged to him and his ancestors.