It’s not the usual big-budget, star-studded extravaganza that’s ruling the box office this week. Instead, Lokah Chapter One – Chandra, a mid-sized Malayalam superhero film led by Kalyani Priyadarshan, has quietly taken cinemas by storm and impressed industry experts.
Produced by Dulquer Salmaan and directed by Dominic Arun, the film has smashed the ₹100 crore mark in India in less than two weeks — a remarkable feat for a regional superhero story centred on a woman.
Strong and consistent interest is indicated by Kerala's enormous contribution of Rs 63.65 crore, which included an astounding Rs 4.90 crore on its second Monday.
A significant contribution has also been made by Tamil Nadu, which increased the total outside of Kerala by about Rs 39 crore. In just 12 days, the total domestic haul is a healthy 102.65 crore.
But the success isn’t limited to India. Lokah has been warmly received overseas, crossing the USD 10 million milestone — a rare achievement for a Malayalam film, and notably the first to do so without the legendary Mohanlal in the cast.
For comparison, Mohanlal’s blockbusters L2 Empuraan and Thudarum hold the top two spots overseas with USD 16.90 million and USD 11.06 million respectively. Analysts now believe Lokah could soon overtake Thudarum to become the second highest-grossing Malayalam film internationally.
Globally, the film’s earnings are just shy of ₹200 crore, an extraordinary accomplishment for a film that dares to blend folklore, social themes, and a female-led superhero story.
Here’s a quick look at the numbers so far:
Kerala: Rs 63.65 crore
Rest of India: Rs 39 crore
Overseas: Rs 95 crore
Worldwide total: Approximately Rs 197.65 crore in just 12 days
Lokah Chapter One – Chandra follows Chandra, a woman who discovers mystical Yakshi powers while fighting crime and corruption. The film features notable cameos from Tovino Thomas and Dulquer Salmaan, with veteran actor Mammootty lending his voice as a mysterious narrator — all of which add layers of depth and intrigue.
Given its success, fans are alreadyexcited for a sequel and eager to see the story expand and explained into a larger cinematic universe. The filmmakers have confirmed that Lokah Chapter 1 is just the beginning of the Wayfarer Cinematic Universe (WCU), and a cleverly crafted post-credits scene has dropped some exciting hints.
In that scene, Tovino Thomas appears as Chathan, a mischievous goblin-like figure who supports the protagonist, Neeli, and her friends. Things take a fascinating turn when an unknown character confronts Chathan about a failed archaeological expedition, showing a photo that seems to feature Chathan himself — adding a playful mystery that has fans buzzing about what’s next.
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