Sambar as we know it today may have actually originated in the kitchens of the Thanjavur Marathas.
There are many local legends that surround the kayir katti kola urundai. Some that suggest that this is essentially a kebab or shunti (Marathi) that morphed into a local dish.
Many train commuters from Thanjavur to Madras (now Chennai) packed these crunchy snacks for their overnight journey. It's why the name Pattanam Pakoda has stuck.