Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, featuring Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra, a vampire-superhero inspired by Kerala folklore, is reshaping the landscape of female-led South Indian cinema. Directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, it has achieved remarkable box office success, becoming the highest-grossing female-led South Indian film, surpassing the ₹120 crore mark within just eight days. The film entered the ₹100 crore club in a record seven days, making it the 12th Malayalam film and the third-fastest to reach this milestone, with a domestic net collection of ₹54.35 crore (₹63.50 crore gross) and an international revenue close to $7 million. Due to its box office achievements, the Hindi version was released in theaters starting September 4.
The film’s innovative storytelling has garnered attention and support from celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra, who celebrated India’s first female superhero, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and expressed enthusiasm for the Hindi release. Alia Bhatt described the film as “a big step in cinema,” praising its unique combination of mythic folklore and mystery. Akshay Kumar praised Kalyani’s performance on X (formerly Twitter), calling her “brilliant” and noting that “talent runs in the family.” Additionally, filmmaker Nag Ashwin from Kalki 2898 AD also expressed admiration for the film.
The Hindi version of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra debuted on September 4, 2025, capitalizing on its popularity in Kerala and among Tamil and Telugu audiences, with Dulquer Salmaan announcing, “The world is expanding.” Collection projections suggest further success is on the horizon. However, the film’s success was overshadowed by controversy following its release. Criticism emerged regarding perceived political messaging, particularly about the portrayal of Bengaluru in certain dialogues that hinted at party culture, drug use, and women, prompting outrage over potential misrepresentation. Bengaluru’s Police Commissioner responded by instructing the Cyber Cell to examine the contentious material, indicating official scrutiny. Filmmakers and activists voiced their opinions, with director Mansore condemning the trend of negative representations and Rupesh Rajanna calling for accountability.
In light of the backlash, Wayfarer Films publicly apologized and committed to revising or removing the contentious dialogue. Besides the strong lead performance by Kalyani Priyadarshan as Chandra or Kalliyankattu Neeli, the film features Naslen in dual roles as Sunny and a British Raj Army officer, along with Arun Kurian.