New Delhi: Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, Malayalam cinema’s first female-led superhero film, has outperformed Mohanlal’s Hridayapoorvam at the box office.
Written and directed by Dominic Arun—known for the 2017 black comedy Tharangam—Lokah has struck a chord with audiences. The film has collected over Rs 25 crore within the first four days of its release.
Meanwhile, Mohanlal’s Hridayapoorvam, which was also released on 28 August, has earned Rs 12.6 crore so far. Despite the actor’s strong box office track record this year, with L2: Empuraan and Thudaram crossing Rs 200 crore, Hridayapoorvam fell short in this clash.
Onam 2025 saw four theatrical releases. Apart from Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra and Hridayapoorvam, Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira and Maine Pyar Kiya were also released.
Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, which also stars Kalyani, didn’t perform well at the box office.
“Lokah connected with the youth,” said film critic Ramesh Bala. “It’s India’s first female Superhero movie with folklore roots. Other Onam releases are family entertainers. So, being different helped it connect with the audience.”
Fresh take on fantasy
Lokah, produced by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, stands apart from the typical big-budget fantasy dramas.
Unlike the recent Indian fantasy or superhero films that rely on loosely adapted mythological references to tap into blind faith, director Arun’s narrative is deeply rooted in the rich and nuanced folklore of Kerala.
At the heart of the story is Chandra, played by Kalyani Priyadarshan, who moves back to Bengaluru from Sweden. Soon, she discovers that she is a non-human being and the mythological creatures from folk tales are real.
The story reveals the origin of Chandra’s superpowers, which she uses to fight evil and protect people. The film blends Indian mythology, science fiction, and fantasy with modern settings and storytelling, without overselling or being unrealistic.
Bala calls Lokah a fresh take on the fantasy genre.
He lauds the visual appeal of the film, highlighting that it didn’t take a toll on the writing. The two aspects went hand in hand, rare in India’s fantasy cinema.
“The movie is made at a much lower budget compared to Hollywood movies… and has great camera work and VFX,” Bala said.
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Who is Kalyani Priyadarshan?
Bala is all praises for Kalyani’s performance as Malayalam cinema’s first female superhero. According to the film critic, the actor has delivered her “career’s best performance”.
Kalyani is the daughter of filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Lissy. Her debut Telugu film Hello (2017), earned her the Filmfare South Best Female Debut award and a SIIMA.
She entered Malayalam cinema with Varane Avashyamund in 2020, winning SIIMA Best Debut Actress. She captivated audiences with emotionally nuanced roles in Hridayam (2022) and Bro Daddy (2022), with the latter earning her SIIMA Best Actress.
“Kalyani’s film career stands out not just for her film legacy, but for her thoughtful role choices, adaptability across languages, and gradual rise to notable performances,” Bala said.
He called the actor’s journey in Malayalam cinema phenomenal.
“She’s become a compelling figure to watch.”
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)