Kalliyankattu Neeli in Kerala popular retellings

Record summary

Kalliyankattu Neeli is a prominent Kerala legend concerning a dangerous female supernatural figure, often classified in popular retellings as a yakshi. Versions describe deceptive beauty, nocturnal predation, and movement between socially attractive and monstrous forms. The story is useful for comparing yakshi narratives with chudail and serpent-woman motifs, particularly themes of gender, sexuality, roads, and male vulnerability. It is a transmitted legend with substantial variation, not a verified incident. Researchers should identify the particular Malayalam text, performance, television adaptation, or local telling being cited.