Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra

Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDominic Arun
Written byDominic Arun
Additional screenplaySanthy Balachandran
Produced byDulquer Salmaan
StarringKalyani Priyadarshan
Naslen
Arun Kurian
Chandu Salimkumar
CinematographyNimish Ravi
Edited byChaman Chakko
Music byJakes Bejoy
Production
company
Distributed byWayfarer Films
Release date
  • 28 August 2025 (2025-08-28)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra is an upcoming 2025 Indian Malayalam-language superhero action thriller film directed by Dominic Arun and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under his banner Wayfarer Films.[1] The film stars Kalyani Priyadarshan in her first superhero role, alongside Naslen in the lead.[2] The cast also includes Arun Kurian, Chandu Salimkumar, Nishanth Sagar, Raghunath Paleri, Vijayaraghavan, Nithya Shri and Sarath Sabha.[3]

Cast

Cameo appearances

Production

Lokah - Chapter 1: Chandra is the seventh production venture of Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films.[2][1] It is touted as the first full-fledged Malayalam superhero cinematic universe, with ambitions for multiple chapters.[2][6] Dulquer Salmaan aims to redefine Malayalam cinema by building an indigenous cinematic universe rooted in local culture, folklore, and mythology.[7][8] Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen joined as the main cast after both were seen in Varane Avashyamund. Kalyani practiced martial arts for the film.[9]

The film is written and directed by Dominic Arun, known for Tharangam (2017).[10][11] Dominic Arun stated that the idea for the film was discussed as early as 2020 and developed organically, emphasizing that creating a female superhero was not a deliberate attempt to break the mold.[10] Santhy Balachandran has contributed to the additional screenplay.[10][3]

The film's pre-production began on 13 September 2024.[12] Principal photography commenced with a muhurat pooja ceremony on 12 September 2024.[12][13] The shooting for the film was completed by 30 January 2025.[14] Shooting lasted for 94 days.[15]

The technical crew includes Nimish Ravi as the cinematographer,[3] Chaman Chakko as the editor,[3] Jakes Bejoy for music,[3] Banglan as the production designer,[3] and Yannick Ben handling action choreography.[3] Melwy J, who worked on Bramayugam and Minnal Murali, is handling costume design, collaborating with Archana Akhil Rao for specific sequences, including Kalyani Priyadarshan's looks.[10] Jom Varghese and Bibin Perumballi are serving as executive producers.[1][2]

Release

The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in August 28th, 2025 worldwide, during the Onam festival period. The film will be releasing on IMAX worldwide, with the standard version of the movie. [16][17]

The film is expected to kickstart another cinematic universe for Malayalam cinema after the Weekend Cinematic Universe that kicked off with Minnal Murali (2021) and Detective Ujjwalan (2025).[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films Launches Malayalam Cinema's First Superhero Universe with 'Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra'". OnlookersMedia. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dulquer Salmaan launches superhero universe: Naslen-Kalyani Priyadarshan to lead 'Lokah - Chapter One: Chandra'; First look poster out". The Times of India. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Naslen-Kalyani Priyadarshan film titled 'Lokah Chapter One: Chandra'". The New Indian Express. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  4. ^ "'Lokah - Chapter 1: Chandra': Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen headline Dulquer Salmaan's superhero universe film". The Hindu. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  5. ^ "All the movies getting released by Dulquer Salmaan's production house Wayfarer Films in Kerala, full list". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Dulquer Salmaan Unveils 'Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra'; First Malayalam Superhero Universe Is Here!". News18. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Dulquer Salmaan launches Malayalam cinema's first superhero universe with Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra". Bollywood Hungama. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b "'लोका – चैप्टर वन: चंद्रा' में सुपरहीरो अवतार में दिखेंगी कल्याणी प्रियदर्शन, पोस्टर देख फैंस में बढ़ी एक्साइटमेंट". NDTV. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  9. ^ "ദുൽഖർ നിർമിക്കുന്ന ചിത്രത്തിനായി മാർഷ്യൽ ആർട്സ് അഭ്യസിച്ച് കല്യാണി പ്രിയദർശൻ". Mathrubhumi News. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "Dominic Arun on helming a female superhero film: Not a deliberate attempt to break the mould". The Times of India. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  11. ^ ""Lokah – Chapter One: Chandra" Launches Malayalam Superhero Universe". The Hindu Press. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Dulquer Salmaan's Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen starrer goes on floors - See post". The Times of India. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen team up for new film". Cinema Express. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Kalyani Priyadarshan and Naslen's film wrapped up; here's latest update about Dulquer Salmaan-produced film". OTTPlay. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  15. ^ "കല്യാണി പ്രിയദര്‍ശന് നായകൻ നസ്ലെൻ; ടൈറ്റിലും ഫസ്റ്റ് ലുക്കും എത്തി, പോസ്റ്റർ കണ്ട് ഞെട്ടി മലയാളികൾ". Asianet News. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Lokah: Naslen & Kalyani Priyadarshan's fantasy thriller to clash with Mohanlal's Hridyapoorvam?". OTTPlay. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Malayalam's superhero universe, spearheaded by Dulquer's production house, features Kalyani in a never-before-seen avatar". Mathrubhumi News. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.

Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra at IMDb