Kadamattathu Kathanar (Cattanar): The Enigmatic Priest-Wizard of Kerala

One of my friends recently asked me about the folklore of Cattanar after watching a new Malayalam thriller starring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen. Without giving away spoilers, let me share the traditional story of Kadamattathu Kathanar, which may or may not be the same as what is shown in the movie.

Kadamattathu Kathanar, also known as Father Poulose—or Cattanar, as older texts call him—was a legendary ninth-century priest from Kadamattom Church in Kerala. While hard historical proof of his life is limited, his name continues to live on in Kerala’s folklore, where faith, mysticism, and supernatural heroism blend seamlessly.

Poulose was born into poverty and orphaned at a young age. He was taken under the care of the Persian bishop Mar Abo, who raised him, taught him Christian liturgy, and eventually ordained him as a priest. Over time, Poulose became more than just a clergyman. Stories began to circulate about his extraordinary powers, which some say he gained from encounters with mystical tribal communities who shared their knowledge of the occult.

Among the many tales of Kathanar, his clash with Neeli remains the most famous. Neeli, known as Kalliyankattu Neeli in folklore, was one of the most feared Yakshis—female spirits who were said to be both alluring and deadly. She had once been a woman wronged in life, and in death became a vengeful, vampire-like being who haunted lonely paths and forests, luring travelers to their doom. According to Kerala’s great folklore collection, Aithihyamala by Kottarathil Sankunni, Neeli brought terror to the Kadamattom region until Kathanar decided to face her.

Drawing upon his Christian prayers and the esoteric knowledge he was believed to have learned from tribal mystics, he subdued Neeli and trapped her spirit. In some versions of the story, she was sealed into a palm-leaf book of spells; in others, she was chained within a hidden chamber beneath Kadamattom Church; in others her spirit was nailed to a tree. Even today, people in the region whisper that Neeli’s presence lingers, which is why certain wells and forests around Kadamattom are avoided after dark.

For many, the battle between Kathanar and Neeli is more than just a ghost story. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, of faith over fear, and of wisdom over destructive power. Through these tales, Kathanar was transformed in the popular imagination from an ordinary village priest into a protector-saint who defended the people against dark forces.

The cultural memory of Kathanar endures to this day. Pilgrims still visit Kadamattom Church, where his tomb is believed to offer blessings and protection. Folk rituals and storytelling traditions keep his legend alive in Kerala’s villages. In modern times, he continues to appear in television serials, novels, and now films, often portrayed as Kerala’s own supernatural hero-priest.

Watching him on the big screen again has been a visual treat, filled with childhood nostalgia for many Malayalis who grew up hearing his tales.