Movie Overview

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is a groundbreaking 2025 Malayalam superhero film that marks Malayalam cinema's bold entry into the superhero genre. Directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films, this film introduces the ambitious "Lokah" cinematic universe, positioning itself as the first chapter of a larger franchise.

Cast & Crew

Main Cast

• Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra/Kalliyankattu Neeli (a Yakshi) - The titular female superhero

• Naslen K. Gafoor as Sunny - Chandra's neighbor who becomes infatuated with her

• Sandy Master as Nachiyappa Gowda - The antagonist, a misogynistic police officer

• Chandu Salimkumar as Venu - Sunny's friend and roommate

• Arun Kurian - Supporting role providing comic relief

• Vijayaraghavan as Dr. Verghese Kurien

• Nishanth Sagar as Prakash

• Sarath Sabha - Supporting role

• Durga C. Vinod as young Chandra

Special Cameos

• Dulquer Salmaan (Producer cameo)

• Tovino Thomas

• Mammootty

• Soubin Shahir

• Balu Varghese

• Anna Ben

• Ahaana Krishna

• Sunny Wayne

Technical Crew

• Director & Writer: Dominic Arun (known for Tharangam 2017)

• Producer: Dulquer Salmaan (Wayfarer Films)

• Additional Screenplay: Santhy Balachandran

• Cinematographer: Nimish Ravi

• Music Director: Jakes Bejoy

• Editor: Chaman Chakko

• Production Designer: Banglan

• Action Choreographer: Yannick Ben

• Costume Designer: Melwy J. (with Archana Akhil Rao)

Production Details

Budget & Collection

• Production Budget: ₹30 crores (surprisingly modest for a superhero film)

• Shooting Duration: 94 days (September 12, 2024 - January 30, 2025)

• Total Worldwide Gross: ₹271+ crores (as of 25 days)

• India Net Collection: ₹156+ crores

• Kerala Collection: Over ₹100 crores

• Overseas Collection: Over ₹100 crores

Box Office Records

• Highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time (surpassing Mohanlal's L2: Empuraan)

• Second Malayalam film ever to cross ₹100 crores in Kerala

• Sixth highest-grossing Indian film of 2025

• One of the highest-grossing Indian films with a female lead

Story & Plot

Setting

The story is set in Bangalore, where Chandra, a mysterious young woman with supernatural abilities, arrives with a hidden mission. She works night shifts at a café while living in a dingy apartment.

Main Plot

Chandra (Kalyani Priyadarshan) is revealed to be Kalliyankattu Neeli, a Yakshi from Malayalam folklore - a supernatural being with mystical powers. The story follows her as she:

• Moves to Bangalore under mysterious circumstances

• Works night shifts at a café while concealing her true identity

• Gets noticed by her neighbor Sunny (Naslen), who becomes infatuated with her odd routines

• Intervenes when her café colleague faces harassment from gangsters connected to an organ trafficking mafia

• Faces off against Nachiyappa Gowda (Sandy), a misogynistic police officer who becomes her primary antagonist

• Navigates between her supernatural heritage and modern urban life

Themes

The film intelligently weaves:

• Malayalam folklore and mythology with contemporary superhero elements

• Feminist themes through India's first female superhero

• Urban loneliness and migration experiences

• Indigenous storytelling rooted in Kerala's cultural heritage

Critical Reception

Review Scores

• IMDb: 8.1/10

• Indian Express: 4/5 stars

• New Indian Express: 3.5/5 stars

• Gulf News: 4/5 stars

• Times of India: 3.5/5 stars

Critical Praise

• Visual Excellence: International-level cinematography and production design

• Strong Performances: Kalyani Priyadarshan's confident portrayal of Malayalam cinema's first female superhero

• Technical Brilliance: Outstanding visual effects, background score, and action choreography

• World-building: Intelligent integration of Malayalam folklore with modern superhero elements

• Cultural Authenticity: Rooted in local culture while maintaining universal appeal

Minor Criticisms

• Slow start in the first half

• Some overstretched cameo sequences

• Plot primarily focused on character establishment and world-building

• Some emotional depth limitations in character portrayal

Technical Achievements

Cinematography

Nimish Ravi's visual expertise creates stunning imagery with:

• Magical color palette featuring vibrant reds, deep navy blues, and starry skies

• Hollywood-level production quality

• Immersive atmospheric visuals

Music & Sound

Jakes Bejoy's background score:

• Maintains high energy throughout the film

• Perfectly complements the mystical and action sequences

• Features the promo song "Thani Lokah Murakkaari" by Jyoti Nooran

Action Choreography

Yannick Ben's stunt coordination:

• Seamless blend of real-time action with slick animation

• Maintains Chandra's mysterious aura

• International-standard fight sequences

Franchise Future

Lokah is designed as the beginning of a full-fledged Malayalam superhero cinematic universe with:

• Multiple planned chapters exploring mythological legends

• Confirmed appearances by Dulquer Salmaan, Tovino Thomas, and Mammootty in future installments

• Tagline: "They live among us" setting tone for expanded universe

• Focus on indigenous storytelling rooted in local culture and folklore

OTT Release

As of September 2025, the film continues its theatrical run with no confirmed OTT release date. The makers and lead actress have encouraged audiences to experience the film in theatres for its full visual and audio impact.

Significance

Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra represents a watershed moment for Malayalam cinema, successfully:

• Establishing the first female superhero in Malayalam cinema

• Creating an indigenous superhero universe rooted in local folklore

• Achieving international production standards on a modest budget

• Breaking multiple box office records

• Paving the way for Malayalam cinema's expansion into the pan-Indian market

This film demonstrates that vision, craft, and cultural authenticity can create compelling superhero content without massive Hollywood-level budgets, marking a new chapter in Indian cinema's superhero genre.