Introduction
Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra is a 2025 Malayalam-language dark fantasy / superhero film written and directed by Dominic Arun, and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under Wayfarer Films.
The film marks a bold attempt at launching a new Indian fantasy superhero universe, with Kalyani Priyadarshan playing the lead role of Chandra, a woman who emerges from myth into the present, with supernatural powers and a mission.
Plot / Premise
Chandra Ananya, after retrieving a mysterious package and escaping forces that pursue her, is summoned from Sweden to Bangalore. There, she works night shifts, lives under the radar, and stays aloof. She crosses paths with Sunny (an unemployed graduate) and his friends. The narrative begins to unfold as Chandra intervenes when a co-worker is attacked, revealing that she possesses supernatural strength.
There is a criminal underworld at work: an organ-trafficking ring led by a crime boss named Gajendran, reportedly aided by corrupt elements in the police. Inspector Nachiyappa starts investigating Chandra, suspicious of her abilities. After being kidnapped and attacked, Chandra transforms into a yakshi (a mythic supernatural entity often associated in Kerala folklore with female spirits / witches / spirits), revealing that she is in fact Kalliyankattu Neeli, resurrected or recruited by the ancient priest Kadamattathu Kathanar to serve “Moothon,” an entity or secret force that protects balance, hidden order, or mystical equilibrium.
As the plot thickens, Chandra and her allies go into hiding. Nachiyappa himself begins to show signs of becoming a yaksha (male supernatural entity). Eventually there is a final confrontation, government intervention via a force called Garuda Force, and Chandra defeats Nachiyappa. The film ends with her going underground, pledging to return if necessary. There are mid- and post-credits scenes that tease a larger universe: cameos, mysterious supernatural forces, a cave expedition, etc.
Cast, Characters & Performances
Kalyani Priyadarshan plays the protagonist, Chandra / Kalliyankattu Neeli. As the first major female superhero in Malayalam cinema, she carries a heavy burden of expectation. She largely succeeds: reviews highlight her confidence, poise, and how she anchors the film.
Naslen plays Sunny, the more ordinary person who becomes a kind of ally / window into the audience’s perspective. He brings a needed emotional grounding. Inspector Nachiyappa Gowda, played by Sandy, offers the moral conflict, the antagonist with shades, especially as he transforms. The supporting cast—Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Vijayaraghavan, others—add texture to the world. Cameos also surprise and tease future directions.
In terms of performances, the technical crafting supported them: the visual design, score, action choreography, and cinematography allow the actors to inhabit a larger-than-life world without losing emotional stakes. Chandra’s transformation, her physicality, the moments of vulnerability—all of these are handled with care. Some parts of the supporting cast do not get as much screen time or development, but within the constraints of launching a universe, the core characters are convincing.
Visuals, World-Building, and Technical Craft
One of the film’s strongest assets is its visual ambition. Nimish Ravi (cinematographer) delivers striking imagery, especially in sequences that blend folklore, fantasy, and modern settings. The art direction (production designer Banglan) builds sets and spaces that sometimes feel mythic, sometimes grounded, helping the film shift between everyday life and supernatural conflict.
The effects (VFX), stunts, and action choreography are generally well-executed. The supernatural transformations, fight sequences, and the climactic battle are immersive, even if not flawless. The film does demand suspension of disbelief, especially in moments of spectacle—but that is somewhat unavoidable in fantasy-superhero films, and Lokah mostly pulls it off.
Music by Jakes Bejoy adds emotional weight and pace. The background score helps build tension, underscores action, and supports quieter scenes. Editing (Chaman Chacko) mostly keeps the pace dynamic, though as with many films that have heavy world-building, some expository or myth-backstory parts feel a little elongated.
Themes & Underlying Ideas
Myth, Folklore, and Identity
Lokah weaves Kerala’s folklore (yakshi, yaksha, Kadamattathu Kathanar, etc.) into a modern superhero framework. This allows it to explore identity not just as “who am I in the world” but “what myth do I belong to, what stories define me.” Chandra is a powerful symbol: a myth reborn, tasked with restoring balance. In doing this, the film asks how ancient stories still matter in modern society, and how belief and folklore inform morality.
Power, Corruption, and Balance
The presence of an organ-trafficking ring, corrupt police elements, and societal decay serve as the “evil” that Chandra must confront. What is interesting is that the film does not make the antagonist purely external—there is internal conflict (Nachiyappa’s transformation), moral ambiguity, and a sense that power, both supernatural and institutional, corrupts. At the same time, the idea of balance (through Moothon, through Chandra as protector) suggests that power also demands responsibility.
Gender and Representation
A notable theme is female empowerment. Chandra is explicitly presented as a “Superwoman” figure in a cultural landscape where female superheroes are rare in mainstream Indian cinema. The film leans into both her strength and vulnerabilities, giving her agency, not just as someone reacting to male antagonists but as a force in her own right. This marks a significant shift.
Universe-Building and Continuity
By including mid-credits/post-credits scenes, cameos, and hints of deeper supernatural forces, Lokah positions itself as the first chapter of a larger universe. This carries both opportunity and risk. The film must balance telling a self-contained story while leaving enough mysteries unresolved for future instalments. It uses these elements to raise expectations.
Strengths of Lokah
The film’s ambitions are among its greatest strengths. It is rare for Malayalam cinema to attempt such a large fantasy / supernatural universe with superhero tropes, and doing so with rooted mythology gives Lokah fresh appeal. The combination of folklore and fantasy makes for a visually and emotionally engaging canvas.
Kalyani Priyadarshan’s performance is a strong anchor; her presence ensures that the emotional stakes are believable, even when the film leans into spectacle. The technical departments—cinematography, music, set design—deliver on scale, giving viewers moments of awe: fights, transformations, mythic interludes, etc.
The pacing is also generally well-handled. The first half, with its mystery and character introductions, draws you in. The film blends action, suspense, emotion and myth. For many viewers, the film delivers satisfying thrills, and the world-building is immersive enough to make you want more.
Box office reception and audience response are evidence of its success. The film has crossed large revenue milestones quickly, becoming one of the top grossers in Malayalam cinema recently. This shows that its appeal is not just among critics but also with mass audiences.
Weaknesses / What Could Have Been Better
Despite its many strengths, Lokah is not without flaws. Some parts of the narrative feel overburdened by the need to explain mythology and set up future chapters. The exposition, flashbacks, mythic history sometimes slow down the momentum. There are scenes early on where the audience may feel confused, especially as various supernatural mythologies and character identities are introduced.
The second half leans more heavily into action and setup rather than the emotional arcs of certain supporting characters. Some relationships are under-explored: the emotional cost for characters allied with Chandra (or those caught between loyalty and conflict) could have been more deeply developed.
While the VFX/action are ambitious, there are moments when the visual effects do not match the scale or expectation (especially in wide shots or digital extensions). Given the high standard audiences now expect from superhero/fantasy cinema worldwide, these minor lapses are noticeable.
Also, the risk of sequel overload is present: with so many teasers, cameos, hints of future mythology, Lokah walks a fine line between promising a universe and depending too much on future payoff. If sequels don’t match or surpass this first chapter, the setup may feel hollow or unresolved for some.
What Makes It Unique
Lokah stands out for several reasons. It’s the first Malayalam film to feature a female superhero of this scale, not as a supporting character but the central figure. This alone is culturally significant.
It merges local mythology (folk tales, supernatural beings like yakshi, references to priestly mythos) with global superhero tropes. This hybridization allows the film to feel both familiar (for those used to fantasy/superhero cinema) and distinctly rooted in Kerala culture. The casting and technical craftsmanship amplify this uniqueness.
The film is also ambitious in its scope: launching a cinematic universe is rare in Indian regional cinema, especially with a mythic/supernatural backbone rather than a straight comic-book import. The commitment to multi-language release (Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi etc.) shows confidence in the story’s universal potential.
Impact and Reception
The audience and box office response has been very strong. Lokah has crossed major revenue benchmarks worldwide within its first week/few days. It has done especially well in overseas markets, and the dubbed versions (Telugu etc.) are also performing well.
Critically, the film is being praised for its visual scale, its world-building, Chandra’s character, and for successfully weaving myth + fantasy with superhero storytelling. In many reviews, the film is seen as a promising start to something larger. Some critique the pacing or exposition, but generally the reception has been positive.
Culturally, Lokah may become a reference point in Malayalam cinema: for female-led action / fantasy, for ambitious myth-based storytelling, and for what’s possible when regional cinema embraces spectacle without entirely sacrificing roots.
Comparison with Similar Films / Genre Position
To appreciate Lokah fully, it helps to see it in relation to other recent Indian superhero / mythological films. Compared to Minnal Murali (Malayalam), Krrish (Hindi), Hero (Tamil), Brahmastra, etc., Lokah brings folklore more integrally into the origin myth. While many superhero films have mythological references or powers, Lokah makes folklore (yakshi, ancient priests, etc.) central to both character identity and plot.
Also, the female superhero lead differentiates Lokah. Indian regional cinema has rarely placed a woman at the centre of such a large fantasy / supernatural universe with so much spectacle and expectation. In that way, Lokah might be more comparable to global films where female superheroes are central (e.g. Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel) but with a cultural texture unique to Kerala.
In terms of world-building and franchise setup, Lokah feels closer to the “phase one” pattern in large franchises: introduce the hero, hint at larger powers, tease villains, show existing corruption, finish with a promise of return. Some of its pacing and exposition challenges are common to such “first chapter” films.
Final Verdict
Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra is a bold, ambitious, and largely successful film. It’s not flawless, but its strengths are enough to make it a standout in Indian superhero/fantasy cinema. It delivers strong performances, especially from Kalyani Priyadarshan, immersive visuals, and a mythology-rich story that respects its roots while aiming outward.
For viewers who enjoy fantasy, superhero tropes, folklore, and high-concept world-building, this film offers much to savour. If you prefer hard realism, minimal spectacle, or tight plotting without much mythic expansion, some of its parts may test your patience (especially the myth backstory and second-half setup).
On balance, Lokah is the kind of movie that promises more. It establishes a universe, teases larger conflicts, and creates emotional roots you want to follow. As a first chapter, it hits many of its marks, and leaves enough intrigue and excitement for what comes next.
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