Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra becomes highest-grossing Malayalam film, surpasses L2: Empuraan

Lokah: Chapter 1 — Chandra breaks history

What started as a bold experiment in myth-meets-superhero storytelling has now officially become Malayalam cinema’s biggest-ever success.

Dominic Arun’s Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, featuring Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen, has soared past every box office record to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.

The film, produced by Dulquer Salmaan under his banner Wayfarer Films, has been drawing crowds since its release on 28 August — and remarkably, it’s still going strong well into its fourth week.

Celebrating the film’s massive run, the production house recently shared a long list of packed theatres across Kerala, proudly calling it “Mollywood’s biggest blockbuster.”

History books rewritten! Don't miss the epic superhero film everyone's talking about! #Lokah#TheyLiveAmongUs@DQsWayfarerFilm@dulQuer@dominicarun@NimishRavi@kalyanipriyan@naslen__@jakes_bejoy@chamanchakko@iamSandy_Off@santhybee@AKunjammapic.twitter.com/oU1y9bVp6g

— Wayfarer Films (@DQsWayfarerFilm) September 20, 2025

In their social media post, they added, “History books rewritten! Don’t miss the epic superhero film everyone’s talking about!” — and with good reason.

According to trade data, Lokah has earned Rs 130.50 crore net in India and a staggering Rs 266 crore worldwide in just 23 days. That puts it ahead of the lifetime collections of major hits like L2: Empuraan (Rs 265.5 crore), Manjummel Boys (Rs 240.5 crore), and Thudarum (Rs 234.5 crore).

But why is everyone so devoted to Lokah? Fundamentally, it is an account of ancient mythology presented from a contemporary perspective. Kalyani plays Chandra, or Neeli, a powerful yakshi (a supernatural vampire-like being) who is called upon by her group’s leader Moothon (voiced by none other than Mammootty).

Her quiet life is disrupted when her kind-hearted neighbour Sunny (Naslen) falls for her, unaware that he’s stepping into a world full of secrets, magic, and danger. Along the way, the film introduces other fantastical beings — an odiyan/shapeshifter named Charlie (played by Dulquer himself), and a goblin named Chathan (Tovino Thomas).

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The final moments hint at what’s next — a deeper dive into Chathan’s origins, as the film builds towards a larger five-part universe filled with folklore and fantasy.

With appearances by Santhy Balachandran (who also helped write the story), Soubin Shahir, Anna Ben, and more, Lokah has connected with audiences in a way few films do — leaving them asking not “what just happened?”, but “when’s the next one coming?”