Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, the Malayalam superhero film starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, has emerged as a blockbuster sensation. Directed by Dominic Arun, the film released on August 28 and received thunderous reviews, steadily igniting the box office. It has now become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time, surpassing the ₹300 crore mark worldwide.
Kalyani Priyadarshan Shares Heartfelt Note on Lokah’s Success
The makers celebrated the milestone with a special poster on Instagram, tagging Kalyani and producer Dulquer Salmaan, boldly declaring “300 crore GBOC” (Gross Box Office Collection). Kalyani expressed her gratitude on Instagram Stories:
“Everyone who stood behind, beside, and in front of the camera, and everyone who filled the theatres… We made history. Beyond grateful.”
“Everyone who stood behind, beside, and in front of the camera, and everyone who filled the theatres… We made history. Beyond grateful.”
A Record-Breaking Milestone for Malayalam Cinema
Lokah is the first Malayalam film to cross this landmark, surpassing previous box office giants like Prithviraj Sukumaran’s L2 Empuraan (₹265.5 crore), Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi’s Manjummel Boys (₹240 crore), and Mohanlal and Prakash Varma’s Thudarum (₹234.5 crore).
Introducing Malayalam Cinema’s First Female Superhero
Lokah marks a historic debut with Kalyani portraying Chandra, a powerful, mythology-inspired heroine navigating a world where folklore and fantasy intertwine with modern-day challenges. Directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, the film blends mythology with contemporary storytelling.
About the Film
The story follows Chandra/Neeli (Kalyani), a yakshi/vampire who finds herself in conflict with Nachiyappa (Sandy), an egotistic and misogynistic policeman. The cast also includes Naslen, Sandy, Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Nishanth Sagar, Raghunath Paleri, Vijayaraghavan, Nithya Shri, and Sarath Sabha. Cameo appearances feature Dulquer Salmaan, Tovino Thomas, Anna Ben, Soubin, Santhy Balachandran, and Mammootty.
Shortly after the film’s release, the makers announced Lokah Chapter 2, which will be headlined by Tovino Thomas as Michael, a chathan/goblin. Dulquer Salmaan, who portrays an odiyan/ninja named Charlie, may also return in the sequel.Lokah Chapter 1’s unprecedented success solidifies its place as a landmark film in Malayalam cinema, blending mythology, fantasy, and superhero storytelling in a way never seen before.
