The makers of the upcoming Malayalam film Kathanar have unveiled the teaser trailer, offering a glimpse into its mythological world. The film has been one of the most anticipated projects since its announcement. Kathanar, popularly known as Kadamattathu Kathanar, is widely considered a legendary or mythological figure rooted in 9th-century Kerala folklore rather than a strictly documented historical person. While he is associated with the ancient Kadamattom Church, the tales of his magical powers, sorcery, and miracles are largely part of folklore, though a priest named Paulose is believed to have inspired the legends.
Kathanar teaser trailer
On Tuesday, the makers of the Jayasurya and Anushka Shetty-starrer unveiled the teaser trailer. Directed by Rojin Thomas, the video offers a glimpse of the scale at which the story has been envisioned for the big screen. The two-minute-long teaser introduces the first looks of several characters, including Jayasurya as Kathanar. Anushka Shetty plays the popular ghost Neeli (who was also portrayed by Kalyani Priyadarshan in Lokah).
Jayasurya and Anushka Shetty’s looks and characters
In August last year, marking Jayasurya’s birthday, the makers unveiled his first look from the film, raising excitement among fans. The production house Sree Gokulam Movies shared the poster on its Instagram page on August 31.
Releasing the poster, the team wrote, “Not the tale you know, but the one rewritten by time. An epic reborn for a new era. Happy Birthday, dear Jayasurya—the face of our wild sorcerer, Kathanar.”
Actress Anushka Shetty, who plays one of the leads, also wished Jayasurya on the occasion. A month later, in November, the makers introduced her character Nila (likely inspired by Neeli).
About the excitement around Kathanar
The film, first announced in 2023, has generated significant interest among fans and film enthusiasts. One major reason is the makers’ claim that the film will feature technology never before used in Indian cinema.
At the time of the launch, the makers stated that Kathanar would utilise advanced virtual production techniques, including Tech-Viz, Stunt-Viz, and Post-Viz workflows. They also revealed the use of full-body 3D scans through a 200-DSLR photogrammetry rig and Vicon-based infrared motion capture technology.
They further noted that Hollywood films like The Jungle Book and The Lion King pioneered similar technologies, and expressed excitement about bringing such innovations to Malayalam cinema.
Directed by Rojin Thomas, Kathanar is produced by Gokulam Gopalan and co-produced by VC Praveen and Baiju Gopalan. Written by R Ramanand, the film features cinematography by Neil D`Cunha and music by Rahul Subrahmanian.
