THE LINE OF INHERITANCE is a fascinating story of an ancient matriarchal family of South Malabar and their Tharavad--the joint family home--known as Puthanveedu. It spans across several generations with its formidable Karanavans (senior most uncles) and Matriarchs who ruled the family with an iron hand. It is also the story of the protagonist, the gentle Sridevi, the last of the Matriarchs who overcomes the tragedies of her own life only to realize that life is ephemeral and the day is not far off when she would lose her beloved Tharavad.