A Yakshi is a mythical figure, an apparition/ghost/spirit of a woman who had an unnatural death, returning to the world to avenge those who destroyed her life. Yakshis who are popularly thought to be capricious, bewitchingly beautiful, blood sucking supernatural beings, entice wayfarers to their doom using their sexual charm. The fear and aggression in the male psyche are clearly projected on to these figures.
On a deeper political analysis, the literature and myth surrounding these demigoddesses unravel how feminine beauty is manifested as a weapon to gain the upper hand over patriarchy and masculine hegemony.
The legend of Kalliyankkatt Neeli is one of the most enduring and notorious Yakshi tales amongst the folklores of Kerala. The story of Neeli has undergone innumerable retellings and versions. In one of these versions, Neeli is the heiress of a rich feudal landlord who is married by a cunning trader eyeing her wealth. Eventually, during one of their sojourns in a dense forest, the husband brutally murders her by hitting her with a rock on her head. As she lay there with eyes wide open in mortal agony realizing that her beloved husband has become a fiend ready to murder her who was carrying his baby, without an iota of remorse, she vouches to returns to Earth to avenge her death. She gets reincarnated the same night as a baby to a couple. The girl child possessed by the spirit of Neeli soon becomes the talk of the town due to her evil ways. She shows no human emotion, visits graveyards, murders cattles, goats and other animals to drink their blood. Her terrifying demeanor soon attracts priests and magicians but nothing can stop her. Neeli avenges her betrayal by inhabiting palm trees of the Kalliyankkatt forest waiting to kill all men who crosses her path. Her terrorizing figure with blood curdled fangs, loose hair, fiery eyes and uncontrollable power haunts the Malayali psyche to this day.
Neeli is a rebel. She is a free spirit who has a significant impact even to this day because of the ever rising cases of violation of women’s rights all over the world. Neeli does not succumb to patriarchal, regressive gender norms and customs and instead questions and mocks the denial of independence of women in the society.
Works cited:
The Aphrodisiac Ghost of Kerala: Telling and Retelling the Yakshi tales by Neethu Das. K
SONG CREDITS
Lyrics : Dhanya Suresh
Mohan Veena - Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
Vocals and Violin - Govind Vasantha
Lead Guitar - Mithun Raju
Rhythm Guitar - Ashok Betty Nelson
Keys - Ruthin Thej
Bass - Vian Fernandes
Drums - Anish T N
Mixed by Rajan K.S
Mastered by Jayakrishnan Nalinkumar
Composed and Produced by Thaikkudam Bridge
VIDEO CREDITS
Director - Naren Ajith
DOP - Janamejaya Daroz
Executive Producer - Bibin Boban
Associate Director - Yadav Shashidhar, Glen Gerard
Editor - Siddharth Kapoor
Colorist - Yash Soni
Costumes - Gloria Saji
Art director - Ashif Edayadan
Art Assistant - Ratheesh Kunoolmadu
Makeup - Harsha Pathu
Cast - Simran Sivakumar and Vaishak Menon, Sanvi S Shankar, Bhadra, Mukesh, Shanu
Focus Puller - Jupally Rao
Camera Attenders - Anil M Dhuri, Subhash Bhiva
Lights and grips - Lumiere Visual Media - Santosh, Sujith, Arol, Dipu, Shinu, Eldose , Eleen, Rathesh
Titling Design - Akilan Nagarajan
VFX & Title animation - Vrajesh Pithadiya
Making - Vyshakh Bhasi
Extras Coordinator - Arun
Stock - Kodak India
Processing - Film Lab PVT LTD
Scanning - Koushik Bhattacharya
Location Managers - Athul Narayanan (Kodanat Mana) , Ginessh (Athirapally)
Subtitle Credits - Ranjini Achuthan
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