This week saw the theatrical release of a Malayalam film that quite literally erupted across social media. Reactions were pouring in from every corner of the internet, and I felt like SpongeBob peeking out of a window – confused, overwhelmed, and fascinated by the chaos outside. People were shouting, “Masterpiece!”, “Mind-blowing!”, and a hundred more superlatives. As the excitement kept growing, I finally reached a point where I told myself, Let me see what is going on. So I walked into the theatre to watch Lokah Chapter One: Chandra, a film that has already sparked heated discussions, comparisons, and plenty of curiosity.
No Hindi dub exists at the moment; it’s released purely in Malayalam. And the very first thing that impressed me – just like it impressed almost everyone – is its budget buzz. A number close to ₹30 crore began circulating online, with many saying that the film was made on that amount. But at the same time, there are other reports stating that the total cost, including production, marketing, release, and distribution, reached ₹105 crore. And that number comes directly from the film’s lead actress – the one who plays Chandra – who rumoured to publicly said that producer Dulquer Salmaan raised 10 million pounds to make this film.
Why am I bringing these numbers upfront? Because the perception of the movie completely changes depending on which figure you believe. If the film truly cost ₹30 crore, then what they achieved on the screen is nothing short of unreal. There are mainstream films burning ₹200 crore budgets that still fail to deliver visuals of this scale. But if the actual cost is indeed ₹105 crore, then the visuals make sense – they are impressive, ambitious, and clearly crafted with serious intent. Either way, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is setting a new benchmark for Malayalam cinema.
A Superhero Story Wrapped in Mystery
I walked into the film knowing almost nothing about its story. Social media only told me that it’s a “superhero film”, but I avoided all plot explanations, and I’m glad I did. So without giving spoilers, let me tell you what the film offers – because its structure is a big part of its charm.
The movie begins with three boys hanging out at home. One day, the protagonist notices a girl in the opposite building. She’s new to the neighbourhood, and naturally, the trio begins trying to impress her. But something about her is… not normal. Her presence feels mysterious, the situations around her feel unsettling, and the film intentionally keeps you guessing.
The pacing is slow but intriguing. Little clues about the girl are dropped one by one, and I vividly remember reaching the 20–25 minute mark and thinking, Wait, this is not what I thought it was going to be. And the film never confirms anything too early – there’s no spoon-feeding. Instead, the mystery keeps unfolding like a puzzle you must solve yourself.
Eventually, it becomes clear that this film is the beginning of a cinematic universe. And trust me, I know the immediate reaction many people might have: Oh no, another one? But Lokah is different. It genuinely feels pre-planned – mapped out with clarity and not assembled randomly. Within the first 3-4 minutes, the film throws cinematic-universe cues at you, cleverly woven into the narrative.
A Love Story That Evolves into World-Building
The first half focuses more on the boys and their interactions with the mysterious girl. It even makes space for a budding love story. But once the interval passes, the film shifts gears. The love angle takes a back seat, and the film dives head-first into universe exploration. This is where the ambition becomes truly visible.
The film creates an entire new world – its people, its superpowers, its mythology, its unexplained terrains and energies. But it refuses to hold your hand. No character pauses the story to give long explanations. No narrator jumps in to define the rules. You are simply placed inside the world; if you understand it, that’s your reward. If you don’t, well, the film trusts you enough to figure it out later.
Unknown faces suddenly appear as cameos, playing characters with weight and history. Some are powerful, some are mysterious. The film never tells you outright who they are – you infer it from their actions, their lines, their interactions. And I genuinely appreciated this confidence. The film respects the audience’s intelligence and avoids the “open your mouth, here comes the spoon” approach we often see in big superhero franchises.
This minimalist storytelling style makes Lokah feel refreshing and distinct, especially considering how many cinematic universes India is currently trying to build. Despite joining the race late, this one stands out due to its clarity, consistency, and the promise of long-term planning.
A Villain Who Truly Gets Under Your Skin
One of the biggest highlights of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is its villain. Let me be honest – I started hating him the moment he appeared. His misogynistic attitude, his unsettling presence, and the way the film frames him are enough to make anyone’s blood boil. Every time he returned to the screen, I found myself thinking, Oh God, he’s back.
His performance is genuinely chilling, and the way his character shapes the story makes the movie significantly more interesting. Yes, the film uses a very classic superhero trope surrounding the villain – one that has been done countless times – but despite its familiarity, it works effectively here because of the actor’s intense screen presence.
Visual Scale and Action: Ambitious but Limited by Budget
The movie knows that many people outside Kerala might walk in with low expectations. Maybe they think it’s a “regional film with unfamiliar faces,” or they assume the scale won’t match up to mainstream Bollywood. But from the very first frame, the film proudly declares, Look at what we have created.
The visual scale is impressive. The production design, lighting, and colour palette all show meticulous effort. The action sequences, however, fall somewhere between “good effort” and “budget limitations.” You can clearly see the team’s vision – the choreography, the energy, the ideas – but you also sense that constraints prevented the action from fully reaching the level it aimed for.
Still, I would say the action works more than it fails. You enjoy watching it, and the intention behind it is strong and clear.
Cameos, Credits, and the Promise of Something Bigger
The film sprinkles in cameos, and I personally recognised three actors. These appearances are not random – they hint at the scope of the universe they are building. There is a mid-credits scene you should not miss, and apparently there is something even after the final credits roll, although I didn’t stay long enough to see it.
The scale of the world and the ambition behind it made me think: if this universe succeeds, the day may not be far when someone like Fahadh Faasil appears in it. The thought alone is exciting.
The Hype vs. The Reality
Now this is the part I want to emphasize the most.
The hype around this movie is enormous. Too enormous. And hype is dangerous. It can make people expect a masterpiece before the film even begins. So here is my honest, balanced conclusion:
Lokah Chapter One: Chandra is a very good film – solid, ambitious, fresh, exciting – but it is not a mind-blowing masterpiece.
Go in expecting a strong first chapter of a cinematic universe, not a cinematic revolution. That way, you will truly appreciate what this film achieves.
Because even if the film indeed cost ₹105 crore, the scale they deliver for a first installment is commendable. This is a universe built with planning, feasibility, and vision – qualities rare in our industry.
Among the existing Indian universes, the only one that comes close in terms of planning and world-building is Maddock’s horror-comedy universe. And with their upcoming films, it will be interesting to see whether these universes end up colliding in theatres – both figuratively and literally.
Final Verdict
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is an exciting, confident, and well-planned start to a Malayalam cinematic universe. It brings freshness, strong characterisation, a chilling villain, and a carefully built world that refuses to spoon-feed its audience. While some action moments feel constrained by budget, the overall experience is engaging and promising.
It may not match its massive hype, but it remains a film worth watching – especially in theatres.
Rating: 4/5
